Manufactur3D has always been at the forefront of reporting all the latest happenings in the Indian 3D Printing Industry. This year, Covid-19 pandemic brought unprecedented woes to the world affecting every single person on this planet. The 3D printing industry was no exception but still we saw a rapid response from the 3D printing industry including the Indian 3D printing companies in helping out the frontline workers in fighting the pandemic.
Besides the pandemic, Indian 3D printing industry also saw numerous firsts and developments and that is the aim of this article – to highlight the work done by the Indian players.
Let us dive into some of the key events that shaped the Indian 3D printing industry this year.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Wipro 3D signed an MOU for Metal 3D Printing Adoption in Aerospace
The year started with a partnership between Wipro 3D & Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Indian state-owned aerospace and defence company headquartered in Bangalore and Wipro 3D, the metal additive manufacturing (AM) business of Wipro Infrastructure Engineering (WIN). Both signed an MOU to design, develop, prove-out, manufacture and repair of Aerospace components using metal 3D printing technology. This MoU also accentuates development, prove-out and application of new material for use in metal 3D printing technology.
This path breaking initiative focuses on development, prove-out and production of Aerospace applications including MRO, using metal Additive Manufacturing. Prove-outs and certification of components developed using Metal 3D Printing is also a key element of this co-operation.
Mr. Ajay Parikh, Vice President & Business Head, Wipro 3D, said, “The MoU will provide significant manufacturing and MRO flexibility and freedom to existing, upcoming, and legacy Aerospace programmes. The Additive Technology capability Wipro3D has built over years in Aerospace and Defence verticals will help us in collaborating with HAL”
Made in India: Intech Additive Solutions Launched iFusion Series of Metal 3D Printers
Intech Additive Solutions Pvt. Ltd. the Pioneers and Industry experts in Metal Additive Manufacturing in India, launched a truly ‘Made in India’ range of Metal 3D printers.
Intech Additive Solutions has been a pioneer in the Metal Additive Manufacturing in India providing end-to-end solutions starting from concept design to fully functional Production parts for various industries such as Aerospace, Automotive, General Engineering and Medical Market segments in India and Abroad.
Talking about the iFusion series of metal 3D printers, Sridhar Balaram, MD & CEO of Intech Additive Solutions said, “The iFusion series of Metal 3D Printers, based on the Selective Laser Melting technology and the first of its kind in India, are designed for high precision, stability, reliability and to deliver unmatched performance with higher build rates. These cost-effective machines are part of Intech’s 3D eco system with softwares bundled in for machine parameter optimization and build process being sold as a package. The overall target of Intech is to reduce the cost of acquisition, cost of operations and First Time Right with a quick Go to Market.”
Surat-based STPL3D 3D Printed World’s Smallest Replica of the “Statue of Unity”
STPL3D, a Surat-based 3D printing service provider, created the world’s smallest 3D printed replica of the “Statue of Unity” with a mission to create a high quality and the precisely detailed miniature Statue of Unity. The replica size is just 13 mm whereas the original statue of unity stands 182 meters tall at the bank of Sardar Sarovar dam in Kevadiya near Vadodara, Gujarat.
The company has claimed to be the first in successfully printing small scale miniature sculpture using stereolithography (SLA) technique of 3D printing. The India Book of Records and World Records India have validated the company’s claim of making the smallest 3D printed statue. 3D printing is a revolutionary technology that has created a buzz recently because of its ingenious concept that has been utilised in the invention, and the huge potential to impact the current manufacturing process.
T-Works Showcased Four 3D Printed UAVs at Wings India 2020
T-Works, India’s largest prototyping centre in Hyderabad, showcased 3D printed UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) at the Wings India 2020 event in March. The four 3D printed UAVs were printed and assembled in-house by a three-member team of T-Works and was fully funded by the government.
The UAV division was set up just four months prior to the event to incorporate 3D printing to make drones affordably with better capabilities and the development of four UAVs shows the success of the project.
Commenting about the 3D printed UAVs, said Sujai Karampuri, Chief Executive Officer of T-Works said, “It can fly at up to 200 km/hr. We will analyse the data generated by the test flight.”
He added, “Rapid prototyping (3D Printing) will help reduce the drudgery in making the UAVs and drones, allowing people to experiment with more innovative designs.”
think3D helps Indian Navy to Quickly Produce Replacement Parts
think3D, one of India’s largest 3D printing company, helped out the Indian Navy to produce quick replacement parts of centrifugal pump impellers on-board its ships. The 3D printed parts resolve the Navy’s long pending need for rapid replacement of critical components.
The Indian Navy has been trying to solve one of its major problems of frequent impeller breakdowns due to displacement of the eye of impeller during rotation and due to foreign particles in the sea hitting the impeller. This is a common occurrence esp. when these impellers rotate at high speeds for longer time periods. Replacement parts for these impellers have to be manufactured using sand casting process and it takes around 3 months turn-around time to manufacture a new impeller. Each ship has multiple such pumps and thus multiple such impellers and constant breakdowns of these are creating a major impediment to Navy in carrying out their regular tasks.
The Vizag Navy reached out to the Vizag-based think3D with a hope of finding a solution to their problem. think3D team spent few days with the Navy team to understand the problem statement in detail, visited the ships to see in real various forces acting on the impellers and collected few data sheets on material properties required and boundary conditions. Based on the initial discussions, think3D took on the project.
3D printing substantially reduced the time to manufacture the part to just two days. In traditional case, the same part would have taken close to 3 months to manufacture. Additionally the total cost of ownership is 40% lower for 3D Printed part compared to the traditionally manufactured part. Another add-on benefit of 3D printing is that the impeller is lighter in weight than the traditionally manufactured one. The actual metal impeller used to weight 9 kilograms (approximate) whereas the 3D printed impeller weighed just 1 kg. This reduction in weight would result in better fuel efficiency of the ship.
Gujarat adopted 3D Scanning & 3D Printing Technology to Investigate Serious Crimes
Researchers at Gujarat Forensic Sciences University (GFSU), the world’s first and only university dedicated to forensic and allied sciences, are using 3D scanning and 3D printing technology to analyse physical forensic data without damaging or contaminating original evidence.
The researchers are working to develop a proof of concept for this new data analysis method. The team will study & analyse physical forensic data like fragmented bones, tooth and skull for the first time in India.
Till a few years ago, it would have been impossible to even think of analysing forensic evidence without damaging or contaminating it. With 3D printers, it has become possible to scan and create unlimited replicas of bones – each curve, break and imperfection intact. And, Gujarat, which has been at the forefront of forensic investigation in the country, is all set to become the first State to adopt 3D scanning and 3D printing technology to investigate serious crimes, all the while preserving the original evidence.
Proudly made in India, Imaginarium PPE goes aggressive against COVID-19
Imaginarium, India’s largest Rapid Prototyping and Advanced Manufacturing Center, announced its efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic by commencing the production of 3D printed face shields and other PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) in its existing facility. Bypassing the multiple sourcing hurdles, Imaginarium rapidly 3D printed face shields and other PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) and delivered it to the frontline workers fighting the pandemic.
Speaking about this initiative, Kamlesh Parekh, MD, Imaginarium, commented, “There have been multiple efforts at the grassroots level in response to the supply chain challenges for PPE availability. We’ve come up with a unique concept to protect the entire face of an individual by creating a 3D printed face shield that provides complete coverage of the face, ears and neck. With an ergonomic, lightweight design, it is a product designed for comfortable usage during long working hours. The 3D printed face shield is the first in a line-up of products shortlisted by our team for design and manufacturing during this time. We have also been working on the development of Safety Goggles, Aerosol Intubation boxes, Ventilator Components and other critical supplies that can be distributed to every part of the country immediately.”
Anatomiz3D Develops and Delivers Cost-Effective 3D Printed Face Shields for COVID-19 Protection
Realizing the pivotal role of technology in combating the spread of COVID-19 virus, Anatomiz3D, one of the industry leaders in 3D Modelling and 3D printing for healthcare in India, developed state-of-the-art 3D printed face shields to offer end-to-end protection to essential workers.
Speaking about the development of the 3D printed face shields, Firoza Kothari, Founder, Anatomiz3D explained, “We are working round the clock to mass-produce and optimise our 3D printed shields. Till date we have distributed more than 48,000 units to essential workers, cementing our core objective of contributing to a healthier world with cutting edge technologies.”
India’s Biggest 3DP Firm Divide By Zero Steps up Efforts for Fighting Covid-19 Pandemic
Divide By Zero (DBZ), one of India’s largest homegrown 3D printing companies today announced that it has significantly stepped up its support to the fight against Covid-19. Since the announcement of lockdown in the country, DBZ initiated the manufacturing of 3D printed PPEs for the frontline workers and has significantly ramped-up the production.
Till June 2020, the company had already supplied more than 1.5 lakh 3D printed PPEs to 28 hospitals in Mumbai, Pune and Delhi including Mumbai’s Nair Hospital, Sion Hospital, Kasturba Hospital, MGM Hospital, among others. Even the Indian army was supplied with 25,000 face shields.
DBZ is also catering to the mounting need for ventilators and UV sterilisation robots using 3D printing. In two months, DBZ manufactured 350+ ventilator component sets and 650+ UVC disinfection boxes. These UVC disinfectant boxes can be widely used by individuals as well as at an organizational level, especially by banks. These disinfection boxes are useful for disinfecting cash, incoming courier parcels, reusable masks, wallets, mobile phones, etc.
“3D printing is the key to manufacturing in the modern world especially with tool development capabilities, during these extraordinary times. PPE and related manufacturers have expressed the challenges of ramping up production which include export and import restrictions due to the pandemic and the ongoing lockdown. 3D printing, on the other hand, does not require raw materials in specific shape or form. 3D printed products are faster to manufacture are not dependent of traditional supply chain models and also ensures scalability,” said Swapnil Sansare, Founder and CEO of Divide By Zero.
HP India and Redington 3D produceed 1.2 Lakh 3D Printed Ventilator Parts in 24 Days
Right in the midst of the pandemic in June 2020, HP Inc., a leader in industrial end-to-end 3D printing solutions, revealed that they partnered with Redington 3D in India to produce 1.2 lakh 3D printed ventilator parts for AgVa Healthcare, a leading ventilator manufacturer from India. Through this collaboration HP managed to manufacture all the parts in just 24 days.
As a part of this collaboration, 12 categories of parts were 3D printed so as to manufacture around 10,000 ventilators. Some of the parts 3D printed by HP include the inhale and exhale connectors, oxygen nozzles, valve holders, and solenoid mounts.
Speaking about the potential of 3D printing technology, Rajat Mehta, Country Manager, 3D Printing and Digital Manufacturing, HP India Market said. “The successful execution of the AgVa Healthcare project is a testament of the capabilities of HP’s 3D printing technology and how it can remove the limitations of designing by producing complex products in short time.”
Wipro 3D, in collaboration with SCTIMST launched AirBridge, an Emergency Breathing Assist System
In July 2020, Wipro 3D, a business of Wipro Infrastructure Engineering, in technical collaboration with Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST, Trivandrum, an Institute of National Importance under the Department of Science and Technology, GoI), launched AirBridge, the Wipro Chitra Emergency Breathing Assist System (EBAS).
Mr. Ajay Parikh, Vice President & Business Head, WIPRO 3D, said, “AirBridge can provide ventilator support to both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 related emergencies in hospital wards and during transportation of patients in ambulances till conventional mechanical ventilation support is provided in an ICU.”
Prof. Asha Kishore, Director, SCTIMST said, “We took into consideration the potentially fatal respiratory complications of COVID -19 and the shortage of ventilators to meet the unprecedented requirement of ventilators to treat such patients in many cities. A team of engineers from the Department of Medical Devices Engineering and the Department of Anaesthesia of the Institute developed the design and knowhow of the technology. It is not a replacement for a mechanical ventilator, but it does not require an intensive care specialist to operate it and can be a life saving device in both Covid and non-Covid emergencies for providing short term respiratory support “.
India Bats for Imposing Customs Duty on Computer Aided Design files for 3D Printing
July 2020 also saw the Indian delegation proposing the World Trade Organization (WTO) to end its e-commerce moratorium and allow developing countries, like itself, to impose customs duties on computer-aided design, or CAD files, which are the basis for 3D printing. It pitched for the consent to tax electronic transmissions which, at present, are immune from taxation.
As the world is rapidly adopting new digital technologies like 3D Printing, products can now be manufactured from anywhere around the globe simply by sharing a CAD file. If such CAD files originating from developed countries are sent to developing nations like India to 3D print products, then this act will lead to “disruption in traditional manufacturing, resulting in job losses and declining incomes” and more so in sectors such as textiles and clothing, footwear, auto-components, toys, mechanical appliances and hand tools,
India is strongly supported by South Africa and both have been vociferous in their argument that the e-commerce moratorium has led to loss of revenue and had taken away policy space from developing countries.
India has unequivocally rejected their proposal and has countered the OECD argument with facts from recent studies stating that if current growth of investments in 3D printing continues, 50% of the manufactured goods will be ‘3D printed’ in 2060 and if investments in 3D printing doubles, this target will be achieved in 2040.
think3D’s Exemplary Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
In response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, how could think3D, operating in India’s first dedicated medical device manufacturing zone – the Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone, hold back and so they developed and delivered essential products like PPEs (personal protective Equipment), Testing kits, and Ventilators.
Think3D collaborated with various stakeholders like government organizations, customers and business partners. The company empowered those by sharing their cutting edge technological resources to bring out innovative and rapid solutions. Their technologies include 3D printing, Laser Cutting, Injection Moulding, CNC milling, CNC turning, Vacuum casting, and 3D Scanning. With its technological capabilities, think3D was able to quickly manufacture and deliver Face Shields, COVID-19 Test Cartridge, Ventilator Splitters, 3D Printed Face Mask, and Exhalation Valve for Face Mask, Other COVID-19 Support like the AshaFIT IR Thermometers and COVID-19 Testing Devices.
Deltasys E-Forming, a 3D Printing Startup from Belgaum, Receives Grant from Karnataka Government to Develop a Composite 3D Printer
Deltasys E-Forming, a 3D printer manufacturing startup from Belgaum, Karnataka, announced the receipt of a grant from Startup Karnataka, the Startup Cell of the Government of Karnataka, to develop large-format Hybrid Composite 3D Printer.
The fledgling company is working on the composite 3D printer since a long time and with the grant, it will soon introduce one for the Indian market.
Deltasys E-Forming participated in the Elevate Call2 program organised by Startup Karnataka in March 2020 in Bengaluru. The event was aimed at identifying the most innovative Startups and elevating them to the next level of entrepreneurship.
After several pitching rounds, the company was evaluated on novelty, business model, socio-economic impact, team strength, and budgetary allocation. Based on this, Deltasys E-Forming was adjudged as one of the winners of the competition.
India’s Space-Tech Startup Skyroot Aerospace Unveils 100% 3D Printed Dhawan-1 Rocket Engine
Skyroot Aerospace, a Hyderabad-based Startup working towards Democratizing Space Access, unveiled its 100% 3D printed cryogenic engine named Dhawan-1 in September this year.
The Dhawan-1 rocket engine will be operating on 100% cryo propellents like Liquid Natural gas (LNG) and Liquid Oxygen (LoX).
The Dhawan-1 rocket engine was aptly unveiled on the occasion of the 100th birth anniversary of Dr. Satish Dhawan. According to a statement released by the Startup, it said that the engine has been named after the celebrated scientist and mathematician to honour and respect his critical role in the development of the Indian space sector and taking ISRO to new heights of success during his term as the ISRO Chairman in 1972.
Skyroot Aerospace also mentioned that the Dhawan-1 rocket engine in a completely 3D printed cryogenic engine and proudly revealed that it is 100% “Made in India” product.
Speaking at the launch, Naga Bharath Daka, Co-founder and COO, Skyroot Aerospace said, “Our rocket engine is named ‘Dhawan-1’ in honour of eminent Indian rocket scientist Dr. Satish Dhawan, who played an instrumental role in the development of the Indian Space Programme. Dhawan-1 rocket engine is a 100 percent 3D printed cryogenic engine with regenerative cooling.”
Make3D Installs Pratham 3.0 FDM 3D Printer at Northeast Frontier Railway Zone, Assam
Make3D, a renowned 3D printing startup from India, revealed that it has installed its Pratham 3.0 FDM 3D printer at the Northeast Frontier Railway Zone (NEFR) of the Indian Railways located in Guwahati, Assam. The 3D printer will quicken the pace of product development carried out for the regional coaches.
The NEFR coaching depot is one of 183 such depots in India and carries out the primary maintenance activities of the railway coaches for that respective region. The NEFR will use the 3D printer for research and development purposes.
The new 3D printer is a part of Make3D’s Flagship FDM 3D printer series called Pratham. The Pratham 3D printer series is developed specifically to perform heavy-duty tasks and aid in rapid prototyping and product development. It is tested to continually run for more than 157 hours with reliable and repeatable output.
As revealed by Make3D Co-founder Tejas Diyora, “This is not the first such installation, earlier this year in May, we supplied Pratham 3.0 to the Railway workshop of North Western Railway, Jodhpur in Rajasthan. This was an urgent order by the Ministry of Railways considering the fact that a nationwide lockdown was in place in May 2020.”
Wabtec Corp. Inaugurates India Additive Manufacturing Center in Bengaluru
Wabtec Corporation, a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions and value-added services for freight and transit rail, inaugurated an Additive Manufacturing Center focused on accelerating the design and production of integrated 3D printed components in Bengaluru, India in September this year. The centre named as ‘Wabtec India Additive Manufacturing Center’, was launched in collaboration with HP and Redington.
This new Center of Excellence (CoE) will offer end-to-end solutions like consulting, part identification and production for locomotives, transit entities and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The new Wabtec India Additive Manufacturing Center will operate out of Wabtec India’s Engineering and Technology Center in Bengaluru, Karnataka which was inaugurated in December 2019. It builds upon Wabtec’s growing additive strategy to leverage the technology to design and prototype 25,000 production parts by 2025.
3D Printing in India has the potential to become $1 billion Industry in coming years: Santosh Kasture – Director of Fast Track Management Consultants
In an exclusive interview with Manufactur3D Magazine, Mr. Santosh, the Director of Pune-based Fast Track Management Consultants – a dynamic and fastest-growing Corporate Solutions Provider company offering customized corporate solutions for business growth, shares his valuable insights about the 3D printing market penetration in India, industry size, the challenges, and the way forward…
Speaking to Manufactur3D, Santosh said, “Indian 3D printing industry is still at a nascent stage. However, it offers huge growth opportunities in coming years. In numbers, Indian 3D Printing Industry is currently below $100 million, but holds the potential of becoming $1billion in coming few years”.
Mr. Santosh sees four major challenges for the Indian 3D printing industry as of now:
1. Performance limitations of low-cost printers and expensive nature of advanced Machines
2. Poor industry ecosystem and inefficient supply chain for raw materials to components
3. Limited availability of knowledge, skills, technical support, and experience zones for Indian 3D Printing manufacturers
4. Highly cost-sensitive market due to many players with very low capacity utilization and cheaper CNC options within the limited market place
Mr. Santosh concluded that the 3D Printing OEMs (Machine, Software, and Material Manufacturers) and Component Manufacturers should work together on building a strong ecosystem for the Indian 3D Printing industry.
Fast Track Management Consultants and Manufactur3D announce Strategic Alliance; To serve as a Catalyst in Building 3D Printing Ecosystem in India
Fast Track Management Consultants (A division of Fast Track Corporate Solutions Pvt. Ltd.) and Manufactur3D™ (A division of Advanced Manufactur3D Market Research and Media Pvt. Ltd. and also India’s Leading Media Platform for the 3D Printing Industry), today announced that they have entered into a strategic alliance. The alliance will work together and serve as a catalyst in building the 3D printing ecosystem in India.
Providing details of how the alliance between the two will work towards building a powerful ecosystem for the Indian 3D printing industry in India, Mr. Santosh Kasture said, “We are committed to increasing awareness about the technology by providing the latest Indian and global news, market insights, and analysis for 3D printing technology on Manufactur3D platform. This will greatly help the Indian 3D printing industry in keeping themselves updated and move forward at the pace of the global players. I am confident that our strategic alliance with Manufactur3D will work as a catalyst for future expansion and business growth of the 3D Printing industry in India in the coming years.”
Speaking about the strategic alliance, Mr. Abhimanyu Chavan, Co-Founder of Manufactur3D said, “We welcome Mr. Kasture on the board. We look forward to work closely and achieve many more milestones together in the coming years. With his rich corporate experience and understanding of Indian business operations and marketplace, including 3D printing, in India and overseas; we are excited to work together on many initiatives and projects which will help in building a strong and robust 3D printing ecosystem in India to propel the Indian 3D printing industry to the next level.”
Govt. of India formulating India’s 3D Printing Policy to Develop a Conducive Ecosystem for Local Firms
The 3D printing industry got a pleasant news as the year ended with the Ministry of Electronics and Information (MeitY) of the Government of India revealing that it is formulating India’s 3D printing policy. The policy will be aimed at promoting 3D printing on an industrial scale and helping domestic companies overcome technical and economic barriers so that they can build supportive and ancillary facilities for world leaders in the technology, such as the US and China.
According to IT Ministry’s estimates, the 3D printing industry is forecasted to reach $34.8 billion by 2024, which is growing at a compound annual growth rate of 23.2 per cent.
Speaking to The Indian Express, government officials expressed that India’s 3D printing policy will help develop a conducive ecosystem for design, development and deployment of 3D printing and additive manufacturing.
A senior IT Ministry official commented, “3D printing and a viable industry around it is mostly in the shape of additive manufacturing, wherein companies make specific products for projects where there are very specific demands such as lightweight equipment, etc. Our aim for now is to build around that requirement.”
Expert Analysis: Covid-19 Pandemic – Implications, Challenges and Opportunities for the Indian AM Industry
Manufactur3D Magazine caught up with 11 Indian 3D printing industry leaders to know their views of the implications, challenges, and opportunities the Covid-19 pandemic has brought for the Indian AM industry.
The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted several industries not just in India but across the world. However, in some cases, the technological changes inspired by the Covid-19 pandemic have come to the rescue. One such technology is Additive Manufacturing (AM). Covid-19 has opened up new avenues and has brought about positive change in the AM industry. This is reflected by the positive sentiment from the leaders in the industry. Almost all the executives expressed that Covid-19 has brought noticeable to significant change as more and more manufacturing companies are opening up and ready to evaluate, experiment, and adopt AM technology.
All the experts experienced an increased awareness of the 3D printing technology among the end-users and general public as well. They feel that the Covid-19 pandemic has proved to be a catalyst in promoting the capabilities and importance of 3D printing technology and there is a positive sentiment in support of the technology.
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.
