AML3D to establish R&D Facility

AML3D to establish R&D Facility

Highlights

• AML3D is joining BAE’s and Flinders University’s ‘Factory of the Future’ to further enhance large scale additive manufacturing
• BAE are a global leader in defence and aerospace; collaboration highlights the best-in-class technology AML3D has built
• AML3D’s relationship with world class Flinders University continues to grow, with the partnership expected to lead to further technological breakthroughs

AML3D Limited (ASX:AL3) (‘AML3D’ or ‘the Company’) is pleased to announce it will establish a Research and Development (R&D) facility at the state-of-the-art ‘Factory of the Future’ under development by Flinders University and BAE Systems Maritime Australia at the Tonsley Innovation District in Adelaide.

AML3D announces the Company’s expansion into Tonsley following collaboration with Flinders University and BAE Systems Maritime Australia in large-scale metal additive manufacturing.

AML3D Managing Director, Andrew Sales, said the establishment of an AML3D Arcemy® unit at the ‘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,” Andrew said.

Sharon Wilson, Continuous Naval Shipbuilding Strategy Director at BAE Systems Maritime Australia, said additive manufacturing would be a core element of the ‘Factory of the Future’ concept and testing and trials of metal additive manufacturing systems would soon be 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,” Sharon said, “This supports the growth of an enduring and uniquely Australian sovereign industrial capability that supports the nation’s continuous naval shipbuilding strategy for generations to come.”

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 additive manufacturing curriculum and training modules relevant to the ‘Factory of the Future’ and digital shipbuilding requirements. Flinders University will also provide access to testing and validation equipment during the project.

Flinders University’s Pro-Vice Chancellor Research Impact, Professor John Spoehr, welcomed the announcement saying that the additive manufacturing facility will attract strong interest from students and researchers eager to explore applications of AML3D’s additive manufacturing technology. 

“The additive manufacturing R&D facility is a shining example of the capacity for collaboration in advanced manufacturing at ‘The Factory of the Future’ pilot site, which will enable joint research into and enhanced uptake of technologies and processes, so we can leverage the potential benefits for shipbuilding and advanced manufacturing in Australia,” Professor Spoehr said. “The opportunities for additive manufacturing are endless and our researchers and students look forward to collaborating with AML3D to explore all the potential applications.”

AML3D is a leader in freeform large-scale metal printing, incorporating robotics, welding science, metallurgy, Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) and software, to produce automated wire-fed 3D printing in a large freeform environment. The Company holds a recently granted patent for its Wire Additive Manufacturing (WAME®) process and several trademarks together with quality accreditation and certifications from Lloyd’s Register, DNV-GL and SAI Global.

Additionally, AML3D recently entered a Joint Research Program with Flinders University’s Microscopy and Microanalysis and the Flinders Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, to investigate corrosion resistance properties of WAM® produced components for marine environments. 

AML3D has a fully developed portable 3D printing system, the Arcemy®, currently in commercial operation, incorporating design for additive manufacturing and WAMSoft® which is a proprietary software that can be applied to a wide range of weldable materials and alloys.

Collaboration will commence on a research project and evaluation program on large metal additive manufacturing, based on AML3D’s WAM® technology that will involve trials of alternative source materials and the application of WAM® in a scale production environment. In addition to products and processes, the project will also involve knowledge building and skills acquisition in WAM® and the establishment of relevant training curriculum.

Awareness raising activities within the potential shipbuilding supply chain on WAM® as a large-scale metal additive manufacturing technology will also be part of the project.

This announcement has been authorised for release by the Board of AML3D.

Source: AML3D to establish R&D Facility PDF, Press Release, Company News