On January 23, 2025, a real-world laboratory for powder-based 3D plastic printing was opened at the technical center of Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbH (NMB). The inauguration took place in the presence of State Secretary Tobias Gotthardt from the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy. The new SLS demo factory is intended to investigate the process stability of selective laser sintering (SLS) at an industrial scale and expand its potential applications.
In his speech, State Secretary Gotthardt emphasized the growing importance of additive manufacturing processes for various industrial sectors such as the automotive and aerospace industries. The end-to-end automation of the process chain makes it possible to test and further develop new manufacturing approaches, he said.
NMB Managing Director Holger Ruckdäschel explained: “This is a real flagship project for non-university research. With its focus on additive manufacturing, the NMB has been successfully bringing research and practice together for many years. As the Free State of Bavaria, we are happy to support this important branch of research, as it is becoming increasingly important for industrial production. Whether in the automotive industry or aviation – 3D printing and alternative materials are increasingly becoming the standard. The new SLS demo factory takes this development into account. From today, process stability can be examined here in a new kind of depth. I wish the NMB continued success in the future.”
The SLS process is currently mainly used for smaller series production. However, the digital and automated process chain of the new demo factory will also be used to research applications for larger production volumes. In addition to material science issues, the focus is also on the automation and digitalization of the entire production process. The aim is to further optimize the industrial series use of additive manufacturing and reduce production costs in the long term.
“The fully automated process chain not only enables innovative solutions for current challenges, but is also a pioneering real-world laboratory for the future of additive manufacturing. The demo factory is a prime example of NMB’s investment strategy. We are driving forward new technologies in order to secure the competitiveness of the business location,” says Ruckdäschel.
The investment sum for the project amounts to 1.9 million euros, with the Free State of Bavaria as the main shareholder of NMB financing the majority with 1.7 million euros. The topping-out ceremony for a new tool center was also celebrated as part of the event. The new 600 square meter building will serve as a central storage facility for plant technology and house a mechanical workshop. Completion is scheduled for April 2025, with the Free State of Bavaria contributing 2.8 million euros of the total construction costs of 3 million euros.
With these investments, the NMB is continuing its two-decade-long success story as a leading state research institute for materials science. The funding from the Free State of Bavaria underlines the strategic importance of additive manufacturing for the industrial production of the future.
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