The Rise of 3D Printing in South Korea - 3DPrint.com

South Korea has been steadily growing its involvement in additive manufacturing (AM), notably within the post-2010s, with the federal government’s “Manufacturing Innovation 3.0” technique putting AM on the forefront. This initiative, modernizing manufacturing and fostering sensible factories, has propelled 3D printing integration. Authorities grants and the creation of AM-centric industrial parks have additional spurred adoption amongst SMEs. A notable enhance in worldwide AM collaborations and standardizations, coupled with a considerable $70 million R&D funding in 2023 by the Ministry of Science and ICT, marks a big push in creating 3D printing expertise. With round 400 lively AM corporations, South Korea is diversifying its AM functions throughout medical, aerospace, protection, automotive, and different industries, highlighting its rising affect within the world AM panorama.

Normal Tendencies in South Korea

The 3D printing {industry} in Korea is rising persistently, with many corporations investing in productiveness enchancment, provide chain reorganization, and manufacturing innovation. One of many important tendencies within the Korean {industry} is the event of AM course of automation, which incorporates all the AM course of, resembling workflow, tools operation, and post-processing. This pattern is in response to the growing demand for digital manufacturing as a part of Trade 4.0.

One other pattern is elevated on-demand and customized product manufacturing utilizing AM expertise. As digitization, AI, and AM expertise proceed to advance, on-demand manufacturing and customized product manufacturing utilizing AM expertise are gaining extra attraction within the manufacturing {industry}. Particularly, the manufacturing of custom-made merchandise, resembling implants, prosthetic limbs, and sneakers, is growing considerably within the medical/dental and attire/style industries, the place digitalization is being promoted.

Moreover, the scale of 3D printed half output within the Korean AM market has elevated, with world AM corporations like EOS providing elevated output sizes by means of the discharge of AMCM machines that print over 1,000 mm in measurement. Because of this, there was a rising variety of customers adopting giant scale AM options for unprecedented functions within the automotive and semiconductor industries.

The Korean market additionally sees an growing demand for highly-strength and heat-resistant engineering plastics that may change metallic components within the electrical/digital, automotive, and equipment industries. Particularly, within the quickly rising electrical automobile {industry}, the usage of engineering plastics is growing considerably to answer environmental rules along with efforts to scale back weight. The demand for metallic AM expertise in high-value-added industries resembling aerospace, automotive, protection, medical, and dental can also be growing, additional increasing the associated market.

Nevertheless, the home 3D printing {industry} remains to be within the strategy of improvement with the choice for international merchandise is deepening because of the excessive expertise and utility {industry} know-how of international corporations resembling Stratasys, 3D Programs, EOS, and Materialise. Regardless of this, Korean corporations are making important progress in creating their AM-related applied sciences and functions, and the market is predicted to develop additional.

Peek into the Korean Panorama: 10 Industries

1) Aerospace

The aerospace sector in South Korea has been making important strides in integrating 3D printing applied sciences, primarily for prototyping functions. This integration is pivotal in elements like engines and communication gadgets, although the applying stays restricted because of the lack of established requirements and constraints in materials capabilities.

Key gamers within the {industry}, resembling Korean Air, are on the forefront of utilizing 3D printing for manufacturing environment friendly engines, indicating a shift in the direction of modern manufacturing approaches. Equally, the Korea Aerospace Analysis Institute (KARI) has efficiently utilized metallic 3D printing expertise to manufacture a twin regenerative cooling combustor for a one-ton thrust liquid oxygen/methane engine. This utility of 3D printing has notably decreased the prototype manufacturing time by a 3rd.

One other important contribution comes from the Korea Institute of Industrial Know-how (KIIT), which developed a way utilizing 3D printing for spacecraft propellant tanks. This innovation resulted in a 12% enhance in house effectivity and a 27% discount in element weight in comparison with conventional components, showcasing the potential of 3D printing in enhancing the efficiency and effectivity of aerospace elements.

Regardless of these developments, the sector faces a number of challenges that hinder wider adoption. The absence of particular efficiency requirements for 3D printed components in aerospace is a big hurdle, making efficiency analysis and sensible utility troublesome. Moreover, the present limitations in materials properties and technological capabilities prohibit the load-bearing capability of printed components, which is essential in aerospace functions. The market measurement for these superior functions remains to be creating, resulting in slower progress in tools funding. There’s a urgent want for industry-specific 3D printing processes and tools improvement tailor-made to fulfill the calls for of the aerospace sector.

2) Automotive/Mobility

The automotive {industry} is an important a part of the Korean manufacturing {industry}. Because of this, it has huge potential for AM progress within the nation. AM has grow to be more and more common within the automotive {industry} as it will probably rapidly create prototypes and reverse engineer components. That is notably helpful in a sector the place design necessities usually change, and time is of the essence.

Nevertheless, whereas AM expertise is principally used for prototyping within the manufacturing of components resembling battery modules, inside elements, robotic sensor brackets, wheels, dashboards, door panels, and steering wheels, the main problem for widespread adoption is assembly {industry} requirements and maintaining with mass manufacturing volumes on account of sturdiness points and better manufacturing prices in comparison with conventional strategies.

Regardless of these challenges, the way forward for AM within the automotive {industry} appears to be like promising. Metallic 3D printing for components manufacturing, City Air Mobility (UAM) functions, and autonomous robotic merchandise for weight discount are potential instructions for the {industry}. These developments may create extra sturdy components and cut back manufacturing prices, finally main to raised merchandise for shoppers.

Within the Korean market, 3D Resolution is among the notable gamers within the automotive discipline, having grow to be an official vendor of Hyundai Motors in 2020 and supplying 3D-printed jigs to be used of their manufacturing strains. Ajin Industrial, one in every of Hyundai’s main companions, has adopted EOS tools and can also be actively researching metallic AM applied sciences. These corporations are working in the direction of making AM extra environment friendly and cost-effective whereas protecting it the core driver of innovation, which may result in a big enhance in the usage of AM within the automotive {industry}.

Hankook Tire makes use of metallic AM expertise to mass-produce next-generation tire cuffs and plans to do the identical for built-in tire molds.

3) Medical/Dental:

The first use of AM has been to create patient-specific medical elements and surgical guides to make sure effectivity. Each polymer and metallic supplies have been adopted for creating medical gadgets resembling prosthetic pores and skin, phonetic molds, implants, intervertebral fusion gadgets, spinal cages, and extra. Surgical guides resembling pores and skin most cancers surgical guides are additionally produced utilizing AM. Simulation instruments resembling simulators and drug improvement within the pharmaceutical {industry} are additionally a number of the functions of AM.

Anymedi Options is a AM firm specialised in surgical functions. They’re identified for creating patient-specific surgical guides, notably for complicated most cancers surgical procedures and aortic reconstructions. A major achievement was the event and commercialization of the world’s first 3D-printed, patient-specific surgical information for breast most cancers resection, which has been acknowledged as an modern medical expertise and is in use at top-tier medical establishments. They did 700+ medical demos, printed 13 papers, and registered three patents. Their breast most cancers information obtained FDA/CE certification & is in use globally.

Medical IP, which developed AI-driven MEDIP software program to rework CT and MRI scans into 3D fashions, was the primary Korean firm to obtain FDA/CE approvals for medical software program. Their developments have led to the event of 3D printing options that mimic the bodily properties of human organs, a big breakthrough in medical 3D printing expertise.

Dentium, a widely known dental firm in Korea, launched the ‘Rainbow Metallic Printer’ in 2021, a metallic AM machine designed to cater to the dental {industry}’s wants. This machine is at the moment getting used to provide spinal cages for medical functions. It’s being additional developed to serve a variety of dental functions, showcasing Dentium’s dedication to advancing dental expertise by means of AM.

AM additionally extends to bio 3D printing functions. T&R Biofab, a Korean pioneer in 3D bioprinting expertise, is transferring in the direction of its first FDA approval for a Craniofacial Implant (CFI), a big step in the direction of world market enlargement, highlighting the potential of 3D bioprinting in medical functions.

4) Energy/Plant:

The sector adopts 3D printing for localization of energy components manufacturing, utility of high-performance, difficult-to-machine supplies, and optimization of producing processes. Gasoline turbine elements and nuclear cooling pump components are among the many present makes use of, specializing in localizing components and increasing discipline functions.

Doosan Enerbility has developed over 1600 AM components, together with 400 small-scale produced objects. One in all their notable accomplishments was the manufacturing of an independently manufactured “Gasoline Turbine Combustor Nozzle” utilizing AM expertise.

Hanwha Aerospace has additionally begun to localize gasoline turbine components utilizing AM expertise. They’ve launched the nationwide undertaking ‘Growth of supplies and components manufacturing expertise for composite shapes of nickel-based tremendous heat-resistant alloys’ in 2022, which goals to develop AM supplies and localize components manufacturing expertise for nickel-based tremendous heat-resistant alloys utilized in gasoline turbine tools for energy era and propulsion engines for the aerospace {industry} by 2025.

In addition to, Korean Western Energy efficiently demonstrated the primary discipline utility of ten out of fifteen components created utilizing 3D printing in 2020, proving their sturdiness with a three-month operational interval free from efficiency degradation like vibration or leaks, showcasing the reliability of 3D-printed elements in sensible functions.

5) Protection/Navy:

The motive behind adopting AM on this sector is to provide discontinued or difficult-to-source navy components. The expertise spans plastic and metallic, with present utilization for components in numerous navy tools, producing elements for unmanned aerial automobiles (UAVs), and creating digital development simulations.

Future developments embody increasing AM functions to provide key metallic components for the Korean Amphibious Assault Autos (KAAV) and different protection {hardware}.

Between 2019 and 2021, the South Korean Ministry of Nationwide Protection utilized AM to provide over 13,000 components, leading to roughly 2.1 billion received in value financial savings.

LIG Nex1 signed an MOU with Optisys to design and develop metallic 3D printed antennas and set up a cooperation system in digital manufacturing expertise in 2022. LIG Nexon has been making use of metallic AM expertise to the protection discipline since 2020 by establishing an in-house metallic 3D printing facility.

6) Client Electronics/ICT:

In South Korea’s electronics sector, 3D printing has been primarily used for prototyping and spare half manufacturing. Whereas electronics are an important a part of the Korean financial system and maintain nice potential for AM, its utility stays restricted primarily because of the manufacturing value and productiveness. Nevertheless, there’s potential for AM for use for producing high-end electronics and peripherals, in addition to to cater to small-volume customized product calls for for additional adoption sooner or later.

LG Electronics Changwon R&D Middle has utilized 3D printing expertise to scale back the mannequin manufacturing time by 30% and prices by 700 million KRW yearly on the LG Electronics Fridge Analysis Institute.

7) Attire/Trend:

Whereas the benefit of making fashion-related prototypes is the first purpose for 3D printing adoption, some Korean corporations are producing income by means of customization companies resembling tailor-made fits and customized glasses.

Breezm, leveraging 3D scanning and 3D printing applied sciences, affords a custom-made glasses body tailor-made to particular person facial dimensions, shapes, and pores and skin tones, demonstrating AM’s versatility and personalization capabilities in client functions. Breezm has 9 shops in Korea, and about 50,000 clients have visited their shops previously 5 years, with a cumulative gross sales quantity of 15 billion received. Based mostly on its expertise, Breezm plans to open an offline retailer in Manhattan within the first quarter of 2024.

8) Constructing/Building:

Within the development {industry}, AM has been adopted for productiveness enhancement, value financial savings, and ESG administration practices. Though present Korean legal guidelines prohibit the usage of 3D printing in liveable constructions, resulting in minimal income era, there’s potential for future development functions.

Hyundai Engineering & Building received the 2021 Architizer A+ Product Award for its distinctive bench-making expertise that makes use of 3D printing. Additionally they received the primary prize on the ‘2023 IDEA Design Award’ for his or her ‘Rabbit Playground,’ an residence playground facility.

9) Semiconductor:

AM within the semiconductor {industry} is in its early phases, and a few technical challenges have to be addressed earlier than it may be absolutely utilized. The necessity for high-resolution printing, appropriate supplies, and new requirements and certifications are a number of the hurdles that have to be overcome. Nonetheless, AM can doubtlessly revolutionize the {industry} by facilitating extra environment friendly design, manufacturing, and testing processes. It may assist semiconductor corporations keep competitiveness within the quickly altering technological panorama. As expertise continues to evolve, it’s anticipated to play an more and more necessary position in shaping the {industry}’s future.

Wonik IPS, a semiconductor tools producer, put in the EOS’ AMCM M450-1kw metallic machine of their facility earlier this 12 months. As well as, Dongwon Components, a producer of components for semiconductor tools, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with EOS for technical cooperation in increasing metallic 3D-printed semiconductor components and put in a machine in home.

10) Shipbuilding:

AM is at the moment used within the Korean shipbuilding {industry} to develop numerous ship elements, together with propellers. Nevertheless, there are challenges for the broader adoption of standard AM applied sciences on account of limitations in assembly particular necessities resembling half measurement, weight, power, and different company-specific wants. Regardless of the present limitations, there’s a future outlook towards producing giant engine components utilizing AM expertise within the {industry}.

In 2022, main South Korean entities, together with Hyundai Heavy Industries, KITECH, the Electronics and Telecommunications Analysis Institute (ETRI), Ulsan Data Trade Promotion Company (UIPA), DNV GL (Norwegian classification society), SY Metallic, and Okay-AMUG signed a enterprise settlement for the event and classification certification of ship propellers primarily based on AM expertise.

Conclusion

In conclusion, South Korea’s involvement in 3D printing displays a strategic, multifaceted method throughout numerous industries. From aerospace and automotive to protection, medical, client electronics, and style, the nation is leveraging AM for innovation, effectivity, and customization. Regardless of the challenges generally confronted within the Asian market like cautious integration method, prioritizing clear, incremental advantages and effectivity in AM adoption, South Korea is progressing in the direction of integrating this expertise in conventional manufacturing and exploring new functions. The federal government’s important funding and assist, mixed with the collaborative efforts of {industry} gamers, are setting the stage for South Korea to be a key participant within the world AM panorama.

Characteristic picture: Doosan Enerbility’s AM facility in Changwon. Picture Courtesy: Doosan Enerbility