3D Systems, a provider of comprehensive 3D printing products and services, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AIPMA’s AMTEC to promote the use of additive manufacturing in the plastics industry. With over 20,000 member companies, AIPMA is India’s oldest and largest plastics association.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Deelip Menezes, Managing Director of 3D Systems India, and Patrick Dunne, Vice President of Advanced Application Development at 3D Systems, as well as Kishore P. Sampat, President of AIPMA, and Arvind Mehta, Chairman of the AIPMA Governing Council.
AIPMA and AMTEC
The All India Plastics Manufacturers’ Association (AIPMA), founded in 1945, is the country’s oldest and largest apex body dedicated to the development and growth of the Indian plastics industry. The MSME sector accounts for 90% of AIPMA membership. To address employment issues in the plastics industry, AlPMA promotes plastic parks and holds job fairs on a regular basis in collaboration with technical institutes. Regular seminars, conferences, and webinars are held on relevant industry topics.
The Arvind Mehta Technology and Entrepreneurship Centre (AMTEC) of AIPMA was launched on February 16, 2021 in Mumbai with the goal of assisting MSME’s in the plastics and its application industries in reducing overall time to design, develop, and rapidly roll out products, thereby increasing speed to global market and competing with China in global market.
The Center of Excellence aims to promote five major verticals in the areas of Reverse Engineering & Metrology, Design and Engineering, Plastics Packaging, Management Programs, and 3D Printing.
During the inauguration, in 2021 it was announced that AIPMA’s AMTEC will sign Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with international knowledge partners such as 3D Systems to assist MSME’s in the plastics industry.
Adoption of Additive Manufacturing in the Plastics Industry
India has a well-established plastics industry that employs approximately 40 lakh people and consists of approximately 30,000 processing units and 2,000 exporters. According to the union government’s Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), 85-90 percent of processing units are small and medium-sized enterprises (May 2021). The APIMA represents most of this industry and by promoting additive manufacturing in the plastics industry, the sector may get a boost.
Patrick Dunne, who was invited as the guest of honour at the MOU signing ceremony between AIPMA’s AMTEC and 3D Systems, also inaugurated the Additive Manufacturing lab at AMTEC’s Mumbai headquarters, which houses a Figure 4 Standalone 3D printer from 3D Systems.
Figure 4 Standalone is an affordable and versatile solution for low volume production and same-day prototyping for fast design iteration and verification, offering speed, quality, and accuracy with industrial-grade durability, service, and support. It is part of 3D Systems’ scalable, fully integrated Figure 4® technology platform. Figure 4 Standalone’s compact and simple design provides industrial-grade durability at an affordable price and low total cost of operations.
The additive manufacturing lab at the AMTEC will prove to be a crucial partner in promoting the use and adoption of additive manufacturing in the plastics industry. The 20,000 member organisation will now be exposed to a market leader like 3D Systems and this can prove to be a game-changer.
The AMTEC is located in the Marol MIDC or Andheri, in Mumbai.
About Manufactur3D: Manufactur3D is an online magazine on 3D Printing. Visit our Indian Scenario page for more updates on 3D Printing News from India. To stay up-to-date about the latest happenings in the 3D printing world, like us on Facebook or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
