The UK is taking things seriously… with a new National Strategy directly addressing Additive Manufacturing, this industry is only growing quicker every day.

From 3D Printing Industry:

AM UK, an independent, government-backed collaboration, has published a new Additive Manufacturing National Strategy. Over 44 pages a vision to bring together industry, academia, government and finance bodies and ensure the UK remains a leading high value manufacturing nation is set out. 

With contributions from over 100 3D printing industry experts, the document provides substantial insights into the roadblocks around industrial digitisation and how to ensure opportunities in high value manufacturing are not squandered.

The strategy document notes that the UK, “has world-class additive manufacturing experience in research, design and manufacturing expertise.” However, “many UK companies, especially within the SME community, lack the awareness, resources or confidence to apply additive manufacturing as a core and integral part of their manufacturing toolkit.”

Of particular interest is the effect on the economy:

In the UK, high value manufacturing is forecast to generate £3.5 billion per year by 2025. This gross value added (GVA) figure will support 60,000 jobs. By comparison, the report states that in 2015 high value manufacturing contributed a GVA of £235 million with under 5,000 jobs. The wider manufacturing industry in the UK employs 2.6 million people and earns £168 billion GVA.

If you’re currently 3D Printing, this is you:

“THERE ARE CURRENTLY A SMALL NUMBER OF WELL-TRAINED, EXPERIENCED AM EXPERTS WHO ARE LEADING THE WAY. WE NEED OUR STUDENTS OF TODAY – AND THOSE OF TOMORROW – TO GROW UP WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY IF WE ARE TO REALLY MAKE HEADWAY.”

The Additive Manufacturing UK National Strategy 2018-25 document is available to download here. 

See the full article at 3D Printing Industry