Every year, the amount of 3D printing Southeast Asia produces goes up, contributing to the revolutionising of the production and prototyping sectors in the region. The process is known as additive manufacturing and involves using computer-aided designs (CAD) and special, layered liquid-form raw materials to create three-dimensional objects.
The 3D printing trends Southeast Asia is witnessing conclude that the most common types of printing materials used include:
- Plastics like polylactic acid
- Powders like polyamide and aluminide
- A liquid polymer known as resin
- Metals like stainless steel, bronze, nickel, and aluminium
- Other materials like graphite, graphene, and carbon fibre
According to the BMJ Journals, the penetration of three-dimensional printing is relatively small in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The leaders in the market include Singapore with 40%, Thailand with 25%, Malaysia with 15%, and other parts with about 1%. Manufacturing hubs like Vietnam are juggling traditional and modern ways as the new technology disrupts multiple industries.
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Singapore has led the way in the region since it started investing in layering technology many years ago. In 2016, it invested USD 30 million to open a large facility at Nanyang Technological University. Then, its Economic Development Board (EDB) partnered with the National University of Singapore and the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster and invested USD 18 million. The plan was to use the money to open another additive manufacturing facility.
Benefits and challenges of 3D printing
3D printing in Southeast Asia has its benefits and challenges, but it has the potential to become an essential technology on the market. Here are some of its advantages:
Good for sustainability
With environmental protection coming to the forefront in recent years, finding, manufacturing, or using eco-friendly solutions is vital. Additive manufacturing reduces waste by using layer after layer of special inks made from resin and other materials. Other producers subtract multiple pieces to create an object, which adds to waste management issues.
Cheap recycled materials can make the special inks, meaning there will be less electronic waste in landfills. Moreover, it reduces emissions because one person can operate the 3D printers, which helps to reduce the carbon footprint created by the company’s large labour force.
Reducing costs
Since 3D printing does not require a substantial workforce, startups can save money on recruitment, onboarding, and training employees. Secondly, competition in the industry is bringing down the cost of purchasing new printers. A third aspect is that more startups are participating in the sector, leading to more significant innovation of faster and cheaper equipment for additive manufacturing.
Conserving resources
Businesses tend to produce many goods for their inventories, which means Southeast Asians will use up resources as they manufacture and store them in warehouses. For example, when they travel to collect their products in storage, it contributes to pollution. 3D printing removes that problem by allowing business owners to build their products on demand, saving energy costs.
The main challenges include a lack of adequate expertise in the industry, insufficient funding, the high cost of raw materials, low adoption rates, and fears about the quality and reliability of the final products. The regulatory side is not well established either, and some rules could ensure no one is injured. For example, there could be policies regarding whether the medical implants designed are safe for patients.
Finally, the additive manufacturing industry is a fragmented ecosystem, and stakeholders should do more to get companies working together.
Impact of 3D printing in ASEAN
The 3D printing Southeast Asia currently sees indicates that industries are benefiting from the complexity of the designs the printers can produce. Being able to customise the products also enhances its appeal. Furthermore, startups can reduce production costs by first creating the final object on a computer and being efficient when finalising the item’s development.
Its impact is apparent more in the healthcare sector, as doctors get to create medical devices and prosthetics that suit their patients. They can manufacture precision medical tools and use them to personalise implants. Also, they can use 3D bioprinting—a technique for making biomedical solutions that imitate human tissues—to replace some of their patient’s body parts, such as cartilage.
Other examples are 3D-printed concrete for construction companies and drones for agriculture.
The traditional way of prototyping required lots of labour. However, now, technicians, machine operators, and others are watching as one person handles operations seamlessly on their 3D printer. This sped-up process also helps create better models, which is great for making prototypes to send to the manufacturer to produce the final product.
The 3D printing trends Southeast Asia is experiencing indicate that the industry will grow into a juggernaut in the coming years. It will play a significant role in designing patient-specific solutions and innovating medical devices. Governments should encourage cross-industry collaboration to boost the sector and address challenges while providing funds and promoting additive manufacturing training in the entire region.