Over the course of the last one year, we have seen a lot of new and exciting news coming out from the Indian 3D printing industry. From Chennai scientists growing 3D printed implantable ears to opening of think3D’s new 3D printing facility in Vizag, Manufactur3D has covered it all.
Through this article, we highlight some of the key developments of the Indian 3D printing industry in the passing year 2018.
Chennai Scientists Grew 3D Printed Implantable Ears
Research by a group of Indian scientists, from SIMS Hospital and SRM University, Chennai, resulted in successfully growing a 3D printed implantable ear. These scientists stated that they used this technique to 3D print cartilage which continues to survive and grow normally in rabbits.
The Indian scientists dedicated more than two years to this research and achieved positive results. This granted them permission to continue their experiments.
According to Dr. K Sridhar, SIMS Hospital Medical Director & a senior plastic surgeon, “We still have a long way to go before we give this to a child with a birth defect, but we now have a definite path. We will be doing a large scale animal study to reconfirm our results before we start any human trial.”
ISRO to Build Igloos on Moon Using 3D Printers
In what is touted to become the country’s biggest space programme in the coming years, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) planned to build igloos on the moon. Known as “lunar habitats”, these igloos will be built with the help of robots and 3D printers and materials found on the moon.
Wipro3D opened a Metal 3D Printing Solution and Experience Centre in Bengaluru
In March, Wipro3D, the additive manufacturing arm of the India-based Wipro Infrastructure Engineering opened a metal 3D printing solution and experience centre at its base in Bengaluru. The inauguration was carried out by Wipro Chairman, Azim Premji.
Wipro3D was established in 2012 in Bangalore, and since then it has become a leading provider of metal Additive Manufacturing solutions throughout India. Wipro offers solutions such as AM consulting and road mapping, AM adoption, component realization services, finally moving up to the design and deployment of captive AM centres.
3D Printing Business Incubator ‘FIRST’, was Inaugurated at Sastra University, Tamil Nadu
In March, the Foundation for Innovation & Research at Sastra: Technology Business Incubator (FIRST) for 3D Printing and Internet of Things (IoT) was inaugurated at the Sastra University in Tamil Nadu.
The centre was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit. TN Governor at the inauguration said, “Science and technology serve as the beacon of light for economic prosperity.” He added, “In recent years, 3D printing has gone from a cutting-edge novelty to a growing and popular industry for new Startups.”
Mumbai-based Sahas Softech used 3D Printing to Immortalise Bahubali’s the Mahishmati Kingdom
The grand set showcased in SS Rajamouli’s Bahubali – one of the greatest movies of Indian cinema was immortalised through 3D printing technology. The project conceptualised by Celebcity Indoor Attraction LLP was designed, printed, painted and assembled by Mumbai-based 3D printing service provider, Sahas Softech LLP. The 3D printed structure is now being displayed at one of India’s largest theme parks, Adlabs Imagica, in Maharashtra.
Two Kids Received Artificial Limbs Manufactured at “HASTHA” a New 3D Printing Facility in India
Understanding the revolutionary capabilities of additive manufacturing, a 3D printing facility for artificial limb manufacturing ‘Hastha,’ was inaugurated at Kasturba Hospital, on 20th July 2018. Two children were called at the same 3D printing facility and there they received their customised 3D printed artificial limbs on the 24th of July.
Rever Industries Launched FabSilk, a Silky Smooth Filament
Nashik-based 3D printing filament manufacturer, Rever Industries (Fibreel) developed and launched a new FDM filament – FabSilk. The new filament was unveiled at the 3D Print Expo 2018 in New Delhi on 6th August 2018. As per the company, this is the first time any Indian manufacturer has developed a silk filament.
The FabSilk gives a smooth surface finish and a shiny lustre which will attract enthusiasts to use it for their projects. With this launch, Rever Industries also becomes the first 3D printing filament manufacturer to develop such a filament in India.
Indian Researchers Developed World’s Strongest 4D Printed Parts
Two Indian researchers from the Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Burla, Odisha, developed two 4D printed prototypes, which the researchers claim, are the world’s first & strongest prototypes built to date.
The prototypes are made from PLA material which is embedded with shape memory alloys (SMA) Ni-Ti and fabricated using FDM 3D printing technology. The Ni-Ti sheet adds strength to these 4D printed parts. A strength report of these parts shows that these 4D printed parts have a compressive strength of 150MPa which is closely equivalent to high strength concrete.
Tvasta, an IIT Madras Alumni Startup, Indigenously Developed India’s First 3D Printing Construction Technology
In a first in the country, Bangalore-based startup Tvasta Manufacturing Solutions (Tvasta), founded by IIT Madras Alumni, constructed India’s first 3D printed structure in close collaboration with the Civil Engineering Department at the prestigious institution.
The structure, a simple 3D room module, was constructed using an indigenously developed 3D printer by the Tvasta Team and the IIT Madras faculty. The 3D printed structure is only a prototype which will serve as a base model for future R&D, testing and analysis purpose.
According to Professor Koshy Varghese, lead author of the study quoted that, “We have been working on developing 3D printing technology in construction since 2016 and have conducted international workshops and awareness sessions for this in Chennai.”
DMG Mori integrated Optomet as it bought 30% stake in INTECH DMLS – A leader in Metal 3D Printing in India
It has been an eventful last week for INTECH DMLS, one of the leaders in metal 3D printing in India. The company made a string of high-profile announcements starting from 30% stake sale to DMG Mori AG, a part of the Japanese-German machine tool giant DMG Mori.
INTECH DMLS, established in 2012, is one of the first service providers of metal 3D printing in India (Wohlers Report, 2015). It boasts of a strong team with metallurgy and machining expertise.
DMG Mori is a significant part of the Japanese-German machine tool giant DMG Mori. It is one of Germany’s largest manufacturers of cutting machine tools and a manufacturer of CNC-controlled Lathes and Milling machines. Products include machines, industrial services, and software and energy solutions.
Doctors at Jaipur’s SMS Hospital to Soon Use 3D Printing to Restore Faces of Patients with Oral Cancer
After successfully using 3D printing technology to perform neuro and cardiovascular surgeries with precision, doctors at the Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh Hospital (SMS) will soon be using 3D printing technology to restore faces of patients who have undergone surgery for oral cancer. The technology will help patients undergoing the surgery to get the same face they had earlier.
A report from The Times of India revealed that doctors from the SMS hospital are soon to send a proposal to SMS medical college to open the facility for patients diagnosed with oral cancer.
think3D Inaugurated India’s Largest 3D Printing Facility in Vizag
In July 2017, think3D entered into an agreement with AP MedTech Zone; a medical device manufacturing park located in Vizag to set up India’s largest integrated 3D Printing facility. After 18 months of brisk construction, the facility was ready and was inaugurated by Shri. Nara Chandra Babu Naidu, Honorable Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, on 13th December 2018.
AP MedTech Zone is a novel initiative by the provincial government of Andhra Pradesh, India to make Andhra Pradesh an internationally recognized manufacturing hub for medical devices, help in national agenda of import substitution and reduce healthcare costs in India. Currently, around 70% of medical devices used in hospitals in India are imported leading to a loss in employment, foreign exchange and increased costs for healthcare in India. To solve these issues and make healthcare in India affordable, the government had devised this manufacturing park under the MAKE IN INDIA initiative.
Researchers from IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur 3D Bioprinted Load Bearing Bones
Researchers from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and IIT Kanpur have used a combination of tissue engineering and 3D bioprinting to mimic the development biology pathway through which load-bearing, long bones are formed.
In a study, researchers from both the institutes demonstrated detailed gene expression and sequential signalling pathways that get upregulated when embryonic-stage cartilage transform into bone-like cells.
About Manufactur3D Magazine: Manufactur3D is an online magazine on 3D printing which publishes the latest 3D printing news, insights and analysis from all around the world. Check out our Indian Scenario page for more 3D printing news from India.
