Singapore Polytechnic and A US-based distributed recycling and the additive manufacturing company announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at accelerating the adoption of metal Additive Manufacturing and metal recycling technology for the maritime and offshore industry. The collaboration also seeks to digitally transform the supply chain and drive sustainability within the sector.
The signing ceremony took place at the MarineTech Exhibition, held in conjunction with the Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) 2022, and was witnessed by the Senior Minister of State for Transport Chee Hong Tat.
The MoU will see both parties enter collaborative efforts through:
- Advocating industry best practices in AM of ship components and spare parts for digital inventory and innovations in materials recycling to improve sustainability in the maritime and offshore industry
- Developing new metal alloys and AM processes to expand the range of materials suitable for the maritime and offshore industry
- Building a shared database for AM data and knowledge
- Training the industry workforce to ensure that the professionals in the maritime and offshore sectors are equipped with the right mix of skills, knowledge and competencies to adopt and implement AM.
Both parties have planned to engage more than thirty (30) local maritime and offshore companies to initiate joint industry and R&D projects and recruit over ten (10) students to be part of the growing deep tech start-up ecosystem in Singapore.
The Deputy Principal (Development) at Singapore Polytechnic stated that Additive Manufacturing is a promising technology that creates opportunities in driving sustainability and transforming sustainable business practices in the maritime and offshore sectors. Under the collaboration, Singapore Polytechnic‘s Innovation Centre for Additive Manufacturing will contribute and share its expertise and facilities to accelerate the design maturity and adoption of Additive Manufacturing in Singapore.
Singapore Polytechnic and its partners share a common vision – harnessing the potential of this emerging technology to foster innovation in metal materials development and recycling and reduce the costs in new materials production and digital inventory management.
As part of its sustainability education efforts, Singapore Polytechnic are committed to equipping industry professionals and young learners with the knowledge, competencies and values to apply this technology to make a greater sustainability development impact on the maritime and offshore businesses.
The Global Chief Executive Officer at the additive manufacturing company stated that the firm is pleased to partner with Singapore Polytechnic, jointly applying its expertise to accelerate Additive Manufacturing capabilities for the maritime industry by enabling the use of green, low carbon, sustainable metal alloys.
The company’s expansion into Singapore brings local production of existing and new alloys, further enhancing the capabilities of the local AM ecosystem for the maritime sector which has been developed over recent years with various stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the Assistant Chief Executive (Industry), Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) stated that MPA welcomes the partnership between Singapore Polytechnic and the US-based additive manufacturing company; their collaboration will complement Maritime Singapore’s efforts to promote greener materials for AM supply chain and supports upskilling of talents and capabilities.
He added that Singapore’s maritime industry has been an early pioneer in Additive Manufacturing (AM) technology for ships and port technologies. Over the last three years of joint industry programmes, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, together with the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster and the Singapore Shipping Association, has catalysed a growing community of maritime users, and service providers and technology developers for AM.