At the Additive Manufacturing Technology Consortium (AMTC) conference in Munich, representatives from seven of the world’s leading companies and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the intention of establishing/founding the “Bavarian AM Cluster” (BAMC).
AUDI AG, EOS, GE Additive, Linde, MTU Aero Engines, Oerlikon, and Siemens are the seven leading companies and founding members of the BAMC. Together with the TUM, they have agreed to form the “Bavarian AM Cluster” (BAMC) as a non-profit organisation in the spring of 2023.
Bavarian AM Cluster (BAMC)
The goal of the Bavarian AM Cluster is to facilitate a state-supported, close consortium collaboration between companies and universities in order to overcome technical and economic barriers to the industrialization of additive manufacturing.
With the ability to create significantly lighter structures with the same function using less raw material and also to set up production in a decentralised manner, additive manufacturing can make an important contribution to the sustainability of industrial products.
Members of the cluster decide on research priorities and projects that are carried out collaboratively or as part of research contracts with TUM. In addition to launching new integrative research and development approaches, the cluster hopes to form alliances with other commercial enterprises and academic partners, create innovative education and training concepts, and launch lighthouse projects to demonstrate the benefits of additive manufacturing.
The association’s headquarters will be located on the Garching campus, in the same building as the relevant TUM chairs and the TUM-Oerlikon AM Institute.
“With the Bavarian AM Cluster, the industry in Bavaria is clearly preparing for the future. In addition to the AMTC congress and the AM Institute founded in February between Oerlikon and TUM, this is the third initiative for joint cooperation for the industrialization of AM that we are launching. I am convinced that with the cluster, we are taking a decisive step towards the full integration of additive manufacturing into the industrial process.”
– Prof. Michael Süss, Executive Chairman of Oerlikon
Prof. Thomas Hofmann, President of TUM adds, “With the AM Cluster, we are further expanding research and development activities in the field of additive manufacturing here in Munich, thus maintaining Bavaria’s leading position in this technology field.”
On approximately 10,000 square metres on the TUM Campus Garching, teaching, research, and development are carried out and transferred directly to the production of economically appealing, technologically advanced products. The university and the company collaborate on research under one roof, which is unique. This means maximum efficiency through the mutual provision of cutting-edge research infrastructure and a rapid exchange of knowledge along the value chain and across all stages of maturity.
Final construction activities are currently underway so that the Chair for Materials Technology of Additive Manufacturing (Prof. Mayr), the Chair for Laser-based Additive Manufacturing (Prof. Wudy), the TUM-Oerlikon-AM Institute, Siemens, and Oerlikon can move into the building as soon as possible. It is planned to begin research operations this winter, and the “Bavarian AM Cluster” will be established in spring 2023.
