New WISE Additive node in Uppsala strengthens Sweden’s 3D printing infrastructure

At Uppsala University, the local node of WISE Additive has been officially opened. The facility is part of a national research infrastructure for additive manufacturing, in which components are created layer by layer using 3D printing. WISE, the Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability, provides long-term support for research on sustainable materials and, as part of its Research Technology Platforms, has brought new equipment to Chalmers, Linköping and Uppsala. Together, the three sites form the WISE Additive RTP platform and are intended to strengthen Sweden’s expertise in metal 3D printing.

In the AM@Å laboratory of the Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala has in particular expanded the process chain for metallic powders. Newly added are systems for powder production, for particle and liquid characterization, as well as for the downstream processing of printed metal components. A micro-CT system makes it possible to analyze internal defects, porosity and microstructural variations non-destructively and thus directly correlate process parameters with component quality. This enables, for example, systematic evaluations of optimizations in laser parameter sets or in the reuse of powder.

At the opening, Cecilia Persson, Scientific Director of WISE Additive, outlined the role of the Uppsala node within the overall structure. Demonstrations of the new equipment and presentations from ongoing projects provided insight into current research priorities. Invited guest Iain Todd from the University of Sheffield presented international developments in metal 3D printing, such as in the recovery, reuse and recycling of powders.

The ceremony concluded with a symbolic ribbon cutting by Pro-Rector Charlotte Platzer Björkman and WISE Co-Director Olle Eriksson, followed by a laboratory tour. The investment is intended to deepen collaboration with industrial and academic partners and, in the long term, to support technological progress and sustainability goals in the field of additive manufacturing – from more efficient processes to resource-conserving material cycles.