Siemens invests in multimillion-dollar 3D printing factory

Mar. 19, 2018 – Siemens is making a £27-million (roughly C$49.6-million) investment in a new manufacturing facility for Worcester, U.K.-based Materials Solutions Ltd., its 3D printing specialist.

Set to open this September, the new building is expected to help the company increase its fleet of 3D printing machines from 15 to 50 over the next five years. The expansion of the business is said to support the creation of 55 new jobs, increasing Materials Solutions’ team of engineers, metallurgists and manufacturing specialists to 80.

The new factory will be powered by Siemens Digital Enterprise technologies solutions, an end-to-end portfolio comprising software-based systems and automation components which cover the various requirements arising along the industrial value chain.

“This significant investment underlines our belief that there is huge potential for innovation and growth within the Additive Manufacturing sector,” said Juergen Maier, Siemens UK CEO. “It is also the next step towards achieving our ambition of pioneering the industrialization of 3D printing and demonstrates how we are leading the way for the fourth industrial revolution.”

Siemens acquired a majority stake – 85 per cent – in Materials Solutions Ltd. in 2016. The company specializes in the use of Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technology for the manufacture of high-performance metal parts.

“Our new facility will give us the space and scope to continue to innovate for these specialist and demanding industries and achieve a shift in the perception of 3D printing from being a technology associated with prototyping to a viable option for the serial production of additively manufactured parts,” said Phil Hatherley, general manager of Materials Solutions.