Additive manufacturing and material development

Additive manufacturing is a general term for all processes that offer a cost-effective and fast way of producing prototypes and models, as well as end products. In additive manufacturing, the component or model is produced by adding the material layer by layer. Materials can be, for instance, different metals, plastics, ceramics or composites. Additive manufacturing is often used in the context of rapid prototyping, i.e. in the production of prototypes in industry.

Additive manufacturing

Additive manufacturing is a general term for all processes that offer a cost-effective and fast way of producing prototypes and models, as well as end products. In additive manufacturing, the component or model is produced by adding the material layer by layer. Materials can be different metals, plastics, ceramics or composites, for example. Additive manufacturing is often used in the context of rapid prototyping, i.e. in the production of prototypes in industry.

Additive manufacturing is a technology with enormous future potential for Austria as a research and business location and, as an innovative key technology, secures growth and jobs in Europe. For historical reasons, traditional areas of application for additive manufacturing are prototyping and medicine, e.g. in the manufacture of prostheses or dental technology, but also industrial production and toolmaking.

The latter enables, for example, the targeted printing of spare parts for special machines on site. These areas offer interesting opportunities for small and medium-sized Austrian companies in particular, as additive manufacturing enables them to serve niche markets cost-effectively.

The challenges of additive manufacturing for Austrian research and industry lie in the rapid development of expertise across entire value creation networks. The achievement of industrial standards and the establishment of additive manufacturing processes for series production should be the basic motivation for research and development work.

Material development

Materials are characterized by complex property profiles or integrated, functional properties with a wide range of possible applications and are subject to complex manufacturing processes. The production and processing of materials into innovative components and end products, whether in industrial plants, vehicles, energy technologies or consumer goods, opens up new possibilities in terms of function and properties. Accordingly, great market potential can be expected in this innovative product area.

Materials are substances that are used in technical processes to manufacture products. They can consist of a variety of substances and are characterized by specific properties that determine the product. These include mechanical, chemical, electrical and thermal properties.

In the field of engineering, there are a large number of different materials that differ in their specific properties and characteristics. The type and properties of a material significantly influence its use in a technical context.

Innovative solutions are also required to increase the recycling of materials from resource and energy-intensive manufacturing industries in order to achieve the climate targets set out in the EU Green Deal. Solutions must be developed to close material cycles and recover secondary resources that can be reused in production processes.