The Department of Science and Technology- Metals Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC) launched and inaugurated Monday, June 14, the country’s first, world-class hub for additive manufacturing.
The Advanced Manufacturing Center, or AMCen is the agency’s top-of-the-line advanced manufacturing facility and state-of-the-art prototyping laboratory aimed at increasing the technological readiness, business sophistication and innovative capacity of the country’s manufacturing sector, the DOST said.
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DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña said AMCen aims to be the Center of Excellence and premier hub for additive manufacturing.
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“The DOST’s long-term vision is to be the provider of world-class scientific, technological, and innovative solutions that will lead to higher productivity and better quality of life, benefiting the Filipino people,” he said during the launch and inauguration of AMCen on Monday.
"By 2022, the DOST envisions to be a leading Science, Technology, and Innovation Hub in the ASEAN region. Building the AMCen is a crucial strategy in achieving this goal. Today, it will go down in the history of manufacturing in the country as landmark milestone.”
He said the construction of AMCen was given a total budget of US$10 million, including the Materials Development Laboratory of the DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI)
The DOST chief cited the crucial role of Additive Manufacturing (AM) in achieving DOST’s vision to increase the country’s competitiveness “as we seek to join other global players in partaking of opportunities brought about by the fourth industrial revolution or more commonly known as Industry 4.0.”
He described AM as the process of building an object layer-by-layer from a digital model.
"The inauguration of AMCen is just the beginning. The DOST will continue to support AMCen for the development of an AM experts pool, and for the expansion of its capabilities. In the near future, we will explore the applications of 3D printing in other fields, such as bio-printing for medical applications, and 3D printing of electronic components to support the semiconductor industry, among others,” De la Peña said.
“Soon, expect more trained engineers, scientists, and skilled technicians to achieve game-changing breakthroughs in innovative additive manufacturing technologies, products, processes, and materials.”
He expressed the department’s commitment to continuously engage with AM consultants, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and universities, in developing curricula and training materials at different levels of learning – from high school, to undergraduate, and graduate students.
"In parallel, we will open AmCen’s doors to enrich and reinforce those learning. We will also espouse policies that will accelerate adoption and proliferation of AM technologies amongst our people.”
AMCen is expected to offer industrial design and development and rapid prototyping.
De la Peña said under rapid prototyping, “design alterations can be done quickly and efficiently.”
Rapid prototyping has been defined as the fast fabrication of a physical part, model or assembly using 3D computer aided design (CAD). The creation of the part, model or assembly is usually completed using additive manufacturing, or more commonly known as 3D printing, the DOST said.
“AMCen cuts the production time especially in the prototyping stage—which means more savings and we can now develop more complex designs at a shorter, more efficient way as additive manufacturing is better than the conventional subtractive manufacturing,” de la Peña said.
Through AMCen, the Philippines is expected to develop sophisticated products and technologies in the fields of aerospace, defense, health and medical services, biotechnology, automotive, and electronics and semi-conductors.