President Joe Biden to Announce New Voluntary Initiative with Large Manufacturers to Promote 3D Printing in Domestic Supply Chains

The new initiative, called “Additive Manufacturing Forward” (AM Forward), will pair major manufacturers with US-based suppliers to help them make more use of 3D printing technology, according to the fact sheet. AM Forward aims to strengthen and strengthen supply chains in the United States, help reduce costs and stimulate investment in small or medium-sized companies, an employee told reporters.

The man added that the federal government will help small and medium-sized manufacturers raise capital to install 3D printing equipment, provide technical assistance, develop a workforce training curriculum with those involved in AM Forward, and help participants to set new standards.

During his trip, Biden will again call on Congress to act expeditiously to pass a bipartisan innovation law that includes investment to develop the use of 3D printing, as well as additional critical investment in local U.S. manufacturing, according to one official.

The House of Representatives and the Senate have adopted different versions of the bill, and the conference process, during which the two houses are negotiating a final bill, is about to begin. The White House will continue to engage with Congress and emphasize the importance of a “quick” conference process, according to one official.

Additive manufacturing, more commonly called 3D printing, is a way to produce parts of digital design files that can be cheaper, more agile, and more efficient than more traditional manufacturing methods, according to the Congressional Research Service.

US manufacturers participating in the AM Forward initiative include GE Aviation, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Siemens Energy, according to the fact sheet.

These companies will make public promises to buy 3D printed parts from US-based suppliers, help educate their suppliers’ workers on this new technology, provide technical assistance and participate in the development of industry standards, according to officials and the fact sheet. .

AM Forward, according to the fact sheet, will be supported by the Organization for Applied Science and Technology Research (ASTRO), a non-profit organization.