The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)—the Filipino government’s department responsible for the coordination of science and technology-related projects in the country—has announced plans to build a new research-focused manufacturing center.
The facility, named the Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMCen), aspires to be the country’s leading research center in innovative 3D printing technologies, processes, and materials.
The initiative will harness, strengthen, and expand the country’s capabilities in 3D printing and advanced design and manufacturing in Aerospace/Defence, Biomedical/Healthcare, Printed Electronics, Agricultural Machinery, and Automotive.
The AMCen will feature two state-of-the-art research facilities that are seen to spur interest in Additive Manufacturing research.
The first facility will be the “Multiple Materials Platform for Additive Manufacturing” (MATDEV), which will be the laboratory-scale facility for design, materials development, and testing for additive manufacturing prototyping wherein materials such as ceramics, polymers, nanomaterials, and any combination of two or more of these materials will be developed and optimized. The facility guarantees reduction in material cost, lead time, importation, and wastage.
The second facility under AMCen is named “Research on Advanced Prototyping for Product Innovation and Development using Additive Manufacturing Technologies” (RAPPID-ADMATEC).
RAPPID-ADMATEC will provide the technology needed to create more innovative designs and speed up prototyping by reducing fabrication and processing time of components and products. Moreover, it will focus on the development and production of complex metal-based parts and materials using metal powders, cater to the production or localization of obsolete parts or repair and replacement of components to increase availability and reliability of existing equipment, as well as improve manufacturing strategies and product quality through R&D, product development, consultancy and training services.
“Additive manufacturing has limitless potentials—from aircrafts and automobile to medical and fashion applications—it is possible to create products for the same or lower cost without compromising quality,” said Dr. Enrico C. Paringit, Executive Director, DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD).
“We are hopeful that with the establishment of AMCen we can see more research geared towards this cutting-edge technology.”
DOST has many institutes under its banner and covers a range of research topics including Earth observation, volcanology, and advanced materials.
The new additive manufacturing center will be the second such government-sponsored additive manufacturing center in the ASEAN region.