Ports | Supercharg3d

How useful is 3D printing for ports?

3D printing is an emerging business model that could transform the ports and terminals sector, a technology company has said.

As 3D printing becomes an increasingly viable reality for businesses, ports and terminals can use this technology to “reimagine their business models wholesale”, explained INFORM.

“After all, if cargo can be printed at the destination, this will significantly reduce the need for the plethora of long and environmentally damaging voyages containerships take on a daily basis,” said Matthew Wittemeier, marketing manager, and Karsten Schumacher, senior consultant at INFORM’s logistics division.

MPA to launch on-port additive manufacturing facility in Singapore

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), a statutory body under the Ministry of Transport of Singapore Government, has signed two memoranda of understanding (MoU) relating the country’s application of additive manufacturing in maritime.

The first MoU is signed with Port Singapore Authority International Pte Ltd (PSA), one of the largest port operators in the world, Singapore’s National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC), and metal additive specialist 3D MetalForge Pte Ltd.

In the second MoU, the MPA enters into an agreement with NAMIC and the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA).

Realizing the potential of 3D printing in the maritime industry, Ong Kim Pong, PSA’s Regional CEO Southeast Asia, said, “I am heartened that PSA, alongside MPA, NAMIC and 3D MetalForge can be pioneers in developing this technology for use in our industry,”