At the Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, a new research infrastructure for additive manufacturing has been inaugurated with AM@Chalmers and the WISE Additive Node. The platform aims to provide scientists and industry with access to state-of-the-art metal and multi-material 3D printing technologies, paving the way for more efficient and resource-conscious production methods.
Additive manufacturing, also known as industrial 3D printing, builds components layer by layer, enabling complex geometries that are difficult or impossible to produce using conventional methods. In addition to lightweight design and functional integration, it is considered a key technology for more flexible and material-efficient production. However, its widespread industrial adoption has so far been limited by restricted access to high-quality equipment and process expertise.
“Additive manufacturing is evolving rapidly and is already making a significant impact in industries like aerospace, biomedical, and energy. With this new infrastructure, both researchers and industry gain access to the full spectrum of powder-based metal and multi-material additive manufacturing technologies,” says Eduard Hryha, director of AM@Chalmers and CAM2, Centre for Additive Manufacture – Metal.
“AM@Chalmers provides a strong platform to build critical mass and research depth to take a lead in the field of additive manufacturing. The potential goes beyond material efficiency and improved manufacturing operations. At the user or customer end, additive manufacturing will strengthen flexibility and responsiveness to deliver customized products in times of crisis and instability, such as operational environments with low predictability of market demand.”
“This collaboration across several universities facilitates external access to research infrastructure in an efficient way, which we hope will lead to additive manufacturing enabling more sustainable materials science.”
“We are very happy that WISE is able to provide researchers from all over Sweden access to this state-of-the-art infrastructure, at Chalmers as well as at the other nodes. I believe this to be an impactful investment that can really make us take big steps toward more sustainable production.”
The initiative is part of the national program Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability (WISE), which views additive manufacturing as a central tool for sustainable materials science. In addition to Chalmers, the universities of Uppsala and Linköping are also participating with their own WISE nodes.
According to Hryha, the infrastructure is intended not only to accelerate research but also to help companies develop new material combinations and microstructures, thereby further advancing the use of additive manufacturing in industrial practice.
“Sweden already has a strong footprint in additive manufacturing and is a recognized leader in metal powder production. But we’ve only scratched the surface of what’s possible. This infrastructure aims to provide a breeding ground for future innovation and help accelerate the development and industrial implementation,” says Eduard Hryha.
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