ST Engineering has partnered with the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) to co-develop additive manufacturing (AM) processes for applications in aerospace MRO.

The three-year programme will aim to enhance the end-to-end AM process in manufacturing aerospace parts and components, with the long-term view to extend the enhancements to other industries.

The AM research programme will initially focus on research and development in the following areas:

• Feedstock material management and qualification
• Process improvement and qualification
• Post-process enhancement to AM products

Commenting on the partnership, ST Engineering’s president of commercial aerospace said: “As the aviation industry moves towards greener practices to reduce carbon footprint, we see additive manufacturing, with its potential for zero waste and ability to create lighter yet stronger and more enduring parts, as key in supporting this transition.

“Our collaboration with SIMTech will allow us to build on our existing capabilities in additive manufacturing, leading to greater cost efficiency and broader applications across more products, and helping to address our customers’ increasing needs for sustainable parts replacement and manufacturing solutions.”

SIMTech’s executive director Dr David Low added: “In recent years, additive manufacturing technologies and capabilities have advanced significantly. Our collaboration with ST Engineering will help to drive further translation to industrial applications by offering performance, cost and sustainability benefits unique to additive manufacturing.

“Public-private partnerships such as this collaboration continue to play a key role in encouraging local businesses to innovate and adopt advanced manufacturing technologies to become more competitive. We are excited to co-create solutions with ST Engineering for the additive manufacturing ecosystem in Singapore.”

At the end of the research and development phase, the programme will move into commercialisation, which will involve identifying suitable SMEs, and transferring knowledge of the findings so that they can have the technical capabilities to provide these services commercially in Singapore and regionally, the two companies said.