The TCT Group has introduced the discharge of its complete TCT UK Person Group 2024 report, following the second TCT UK Person Group Assembly which befell on 4th June 2024.
The report highlights the important thing findings from the complete day of discussions between UK customers of additive manufacturing applied sciences, detailing the challenges and alternatives inside UK use of AM. Notably, the report emphasises the necessity for strategic assist from governmental and machine OEMs to harness the complete potential of this quickly evolving sector.
Various Meeting of Trade Customers
The TCT UK Person Group Assembly 2024, held in Birmingham, was sponsored by Additive Manufacturing Options (AMS) and 3T Additive Manufacturing (3T-AM) and attracted a broad spectrum of attendees from main UK producers, SME’s and educational establishments, together with {industry} leaders, engineers, and researchers. This numerous meeting fostered a wealthy trade of concepts, addressing each technical challenges and the broader implications of AM on UK manufacturing.
Attendees engaged in dynamic discussions on expertise and supplies, software discovery, economics, sustainability, and the combination of AM into broader manufacturing. The assembly underscored the very important function of collaboration inside {industry} to drive innovation and progress within the sector.
Key Matters and Suggestions
The report particulars the important thing areas the place present UK customers are discovering roadblocks to reaching the complete potential of additive manufacturing:
- Expertise improvement and schooling: Excessive on the agenda was the scarcity of additive manufacturing expertise. It was extensively agreed that additional efforts are wanted to encourage the youth in the direction of the fields of engineering and manufacturing, making certain that industry-standard instruments are inside attain of academic institutions, and rejuvenating the UK’s apprenticeship mannequin will assist to shut this hole.
- Repeatability and reliability: To deal with persistent points associated to repeatability and reliability, customers are urging machine OEMs to undertake a extra open strategy, permitting prospects to play a job within the improvement of their {hardware} and software program to make sure they’re match for actual use circumstances.
- Supplies choice and sustainability: To reinforce person information and foster better belief within the merchandise provided, customers are urging supplies producers to implement an industry-wide categorisation of supplies primarily based on suggestions and knowledge from skilled AM customers. Moreover, producers ought to take a step again and prioritise high quality and sustainability of the supplies over selection.
- Provide chain: The UK provide chain for components manufacturing wants assist, with customers seeking to each the UK Authorities and the Catapult networks. Producers want to see direct communication channels to specific their wants, supported by initiatives that can tackle these challenges.
Accessing the Full Report and Future Gatherings
For these concerned with delving deeper into the insights and proposals outlined within the TCT UK Person Group Assembly 2024 Report, register now for TCT3Sixty 2025 and get entry to the complete report forward of common launch subsequent yr. Trade stakeholders and lovers are inspired to discover the detailed findings and contribute to the continued dialogue about the way forward for additive manufacturing.
The following TCT UK Person Group Assembly, supported by AMS and Additive Manufacturing UK, is scheduled for third June 2025, promising one other alternative to convene thought leaders and innovators from across the UK to proceed shifting the discussions ahead. The assembly will happen throughout a full week of AM-focused occasions together with TCT 3Sixty, TCT Awards, and parallel actions from the MOD’s undertaking TAMPA, ASTM, AM UK, and the Aerospace Know-how Institute.
