Large scale metal 3D printing company AML3D will today unveil its multimillion-dollar South Australian headquartered WAM Technology Centre at an event for customers and industry.
The company's Australian patented WAM (Wire Additive Manufacturing) technology reportedly disrupts current metal making processes such as cast, forged and billet machining, providing customers in the defence, automotive, resources and maritime industries significant reductions in lead times.
The WAM Technology Centre was funded through a $9 million IPO and $7 million dollar capital raising initiative in 2020.
“We are really excited to officially open the doors to our headquarters this month and welcome industry and our peers to see our facilities and experience our patented WAM technology for themselves," AML3D Managing Director, Andrew Sales, said.
“The opening of this incredible facility has been a long time dream of AML3D and marks yet another significant milestone for our company and our journey alongside the recent granting of our patent. Our new premises will enable AML3D to keep up with accelerating demand in 3D printing, while continuing to push boundaries in technological research and development."
Following the unveiling of the new facility, the company is estimating a further 20-25 percent in jobs growth for the business over the next 12-18 months.
AML3D further announced today that the company will establish a Research and Development (R&D) facility at the ‘Factory of the Future’ under development by Flinders University and BAE Systems Maritime Australia at the Tonsley Innovation District in Adelaide.
Andrew Sales said the establishment of an AML Arcemy unit at the pilot Factory of the Future will form the basis of a formal Additive Manufacturing R&D facility at Tonsley.
“The trials and research projects to be undertaken at the facility in conjunction with BAE Systems Maritime Australia and Flinders University will enable AML3D to further develop its large-scale metal Additive Manufacturing capability through added features such as in process measurement, monitoring and adjustment that will improve quality,” Sales said.
Sharon Wilson, Continuous Naval Shipbuilding Strategy Director at BAE Systems Maritime Australia, said AM would be a core element of the Factory of the Future concept and testing and trials of metal AM systems would soon get underway for the potential application in naval shipbuilding.
“The establishment of a permanent Line Zero facility will support the development of new manufacturing techniques and technologies within a factory-like environment that will ultimately be adapted to the state-of-the-art digital shipyard at Osborne, and beyond,” Wilson said.
Flinders University students will be able to participate in the design and delivery of metal AM research projects and operation of the Arcemy unit, together with development and introduction of metal AM curriculum and training modules relevant to the Factory of the Future and digital shipbuilding requirements. Flinders will also provide access to relevant testing and validation equipment during the project.