Western Sydney is set to become a hub for 3D metal additive manufacturing after the NSW government signed a deal with GE Additive to develop an industrial-scale 3D printing operation.
The operation will be built at the Western Sydney Aerotropolis surrounding the under-construction Western Sydney Airport and is expected to create 200,000 jobs through the establishment of a new high-skill jobs hub across aerospace and defence, manufacturing, healthcare, freight and logistics, agribusiness, education and research industries.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian recently toured the GE Additive Customer Experience Centre in Munich, which provides access to 3D printing experts and specialised training for companies of all sizes.
“3D printing is on the cutting edge of manufacturing globally and this deal will help make Western Sydney the nation’s leader,” Berejiklian said in a statement.
“Our partnership with GE Additive will create many hi-tech jobs across the aerospace, medical and automotive sectors.”
GE Additive president and chief executive officer Jason Oliver said he is looking forward to seeing what this agreement will mean for 3D manufacturing across the Asia Pacific region going forward.
“Adopting an ecosystem approach to additive manufacturing will drive the adoption of this new technology and the development of new businesses and skilled jobs,” Oliver said.
“Given NSW’s rich seam of talent and ambition for the future, we are particularly excited at the impact our work together could have, not just in NSW, but nation-wide and more broadly across the APAC region.”
Berejiklian said the additive manufacturing capabilities will be a key component of a new space industry hub at the Aerotropolis.
“We are aiming to triple the size of Australia’s space sector to $12 billion by 2030, creating up to 20,000 new jobs in this industry alone,” Berejiklian said.
“This agreement demonstrates our commitment to look globally to bring the best opportunities to NSW.”
The announcement followed an agreement signed in December between the NSW government and 18 NSW space companies, research and education institutions, as well as the CSIRO, to establish a new Space Industry Hub at the Aerotropolis.
Ms Berejiklian and Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres are on a trade mission to the UK and Germany from August 11 to 16.
News Source : Western Sydney set to be 3D printing capital
