LEITAT, IDONIAL AND AIMEN, TOGETHER WITH AITIIP LAUNCH READI TO PROMOTE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES

The project creates a network of excellence in 3D printing oriented to the industry formed by IDONIAL, LEITAT, AIMEN and AITIIP. It has a budget of almost four million euros and has the support of the Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Center for Industrial Technological Development, within the Cervera program.

The Network of Excellence in Additive Manufacturing (READI) was born from the commitment of IDONIAL, LEITAT, AIMEN and AITIIP, four technology centers that combine their experience and enhance their capabilities in the field of additive manufacturing in order to facilitate its implementation at an industrial level. Specifically, the project is built around four strategic axes: technological strengthening and applied research; human resources training and improving the competitiveness of researchers; internationalization and strategic positioning; and technology transfer to industries and market entry.

READI, with a budget close to four million euros, has the support of the Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Center for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI), within the framework of the Cervera program. The project began its activity last August and is scheduled to end in December 2022.

READI’s objectives are focused on training centers in each of the stages of the additive manufacturing value chain, from the development of new materials to the design of multifunctional structures and innovative circular economy models. Thus, the consortium will work both at a technological level and in a transversal manner on possible market barriers including business models and intellectual protection.

The complementary capacities of the four members of the consortium make it possible to cover the entire spectrum of additive manufacturing of metallic, powder and wire, and polymeric materials, whether thermoset or thermoplastic. Regarding innovative materials, hybridizations of metals and ceramics with plastics will be carried out, with the aim of achieving new functionalities and improving current performance. Regarding technologies and processes, the purpose of READI is to present novelties in portable systems and systems for large dimensions of 3D printing and process monitoring, to later analyze the finish and the operability of the pieces obtained, improving their quality.

The main goal of the READI network is to transfer the developments to the industry, with which a permanent dialogue will be maintained to detect needs, providing solutions and technological support to the sectors most demanding of this technology and with high economic impact and social, such as aerospace, land transport, consumer goods or industrial equipment and tools. To achieve this, process and product demonstrations will be carried out to the aforementioned segments, training sessions will be offered and various types of events will be organized. Likewise, it is worth highlighting the contribution of READI to the circular economy through the monitoring of energy and materials consumption to optimize the saving of these resources.

The four READI partners are European benchmarks in additive manufacturing, cover the entire value chain and have enormous potential in terms of prior knowledge and equipment of their facilities.