Singapore: UPS has announced that its partner Fast Radius, will open a 3D printing factory in a UPS facility in Singapore by the end of 2016, expanding the on-demand 3D printing network to Asia. The facility will enable customers to increase their supply chain efficiency with additive manufacturing.

It also will establish an Advanced Solutions team in Asia to create a Centre of Excellence that develops supply chain solutions and promotes 3D printing with customers. Businesses can use the Fast Radius On Demand Production Platform to produce industrial parts, which are expedited for delivery via UPS.

“3D printing will have a significant impact on industrial manufacturing and 21st Century supply chains,” said Ross McCullough, president of UPS Asia Pacific region. “We believe that much like ecommerce digitised and transformed retail, 3D printing will have a similar impact on manufacturing.”

UPS announced the expansion during a press event that also was attended by representatives from the Singapore Economic Development Board, Fast Radius and SAP.

“Having Fast Radius’ factory connected to UPS’s network means customers can send their 3D printing orders by 5pm and have them delivered to their customers in most major Asian cities within 24 hours. This vastly changes how manufacturing companies in Singapore and the region will operate, especially at the proto-typing stage, before products are taken to the market.”

Wohlers Report 2016 predicts the 3D printing industry will grow from US$5.2 billion in 2015 to US$26.5. The report says that if 3D printing penetrates just five percent of the world manufacturing economy, it would reach $640 billion annually.

APMEN Sept 2016, Web Exclusive News