3D-printing for innovative solutions for Swedish industry and research

Important results from the project

The main goal was to identify the industrial needs and challenges that are relevant to maintain a competitive production in Sweden. Also, the group was aiming to grow, yielding a complete value chain, from machine designer via academia to end users with real case needs. The group has expanded to 11 partners, where big industrial players, such as Höganäs and SAAB Aeronautics, showed huge interest and commitment. The focus has evolved from a machine- and material development towards the real need: applied research on additive manufacturing (AM) structures, simulation and verification.

Expected long term effects

Relevant challenges were identified and a road map to innovative solutions and sustainable competitiveness in Sweden has been elaborated. Challenges to be faced are: create and spread AM knowledge to ensure innovative and superior AM-products and services test and verify simulations of AM test specimen and apply this knowledge to ensure a high, measurable and secured quality within the production design a communication and exploitation plan for AM with respect to large scale production achieve thorough knowledge about the AM marked, costumers, specifiers and consumers

Approach and implementation

During the pre-project, the growing group met twice in Stockholm, in May and September. Further, the project managers from SP met all parties at their locations to discuss in depth needs and expectations related to AM. The meeting in an early stage in May was of crucial importance as it changed the project focus to the industry-driven needs that were identified at this meeting. Gaps in the project group were identified and filled with further techniques and a wider group of demanding parties from industry to insure a project group with a broad competence that can tackle common challenges.