Additive manufacturing in Europe boosted by CECIMO partnerhsip

European 3D printing for end-use production has a new business partner.

CECIMO, the body behind Europe’s additive manufacturing strategy, has announced a new partnership with EPMA, the European Powder Metallurgy Association. Together, under a joint memorandum of understanding (MOU), the two organizations are aiming to promote the adoption of 3D printing throughout established manufacturing industries.

As commented by Filip Geerts, Director General of CECIMO, in the introduction of the European 3D printing strategy, “If Europe aims to remain a leader in advanced manufacturing production, it will need to succeed in the global race to industrialise additive manufacturing.”

The initiative between CECIMO and EPMA then will focus on the integration of 3D printing with existing systems, and its scaleability for series production.

CECIMO connects

CECIMO is the European Association of the Machine Tool Industry responsible for “conveying the concerns of the AM industry to the EU authorities.” A conglomeration of 15 national bodies, including the UK’s Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) and the German Machine Tool Builders Association VDW, the organization serves approximately 1300 industrial enterprises across the European continent (EU, EFTA & Turkey).

The association is involved in helping develop appropriate additive manufacturing standards inline with EU regulations, writing curricula for 3D printing in education, and helping institutions direct their spending to lucrative areas of research. One of CECIMO’s suggested policies, is a drive to “connect fab-labs across Europe,” an initiative similar to the Fab City movement started in Barcelona.

EPMA’s powder bed expertise

EPMA’s role is to raise the profile of powder-based 3D printing practices within the conventional manufacturing sphere. As such, the association has launched a number of educational workshops across the continent, and promoted the technology in an widely-distributed introductory brochure.

In addition, EPMA coordinates a number of international research projects, including the “Quality Test for Selective Laser Melting Powder.” This project is contracted to the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials (IFAM) that is also part of the new Future Additive Manufacturing (futureAM) project led by the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT).

Power combined

Under the terms of the new partnership, CECIMO and EPMA will combine their activities and exchange information in an effort “to better coordinate their own actions and get the utmost of it.”

Additionally, “EPMA and CECIMO will also look for opportunities on EU project proposals in future calls.”

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