Siemens makes major investment in additive manufacturing

55 advanced manufacturing jobs are being created in Worcester after Siemens committed £27m to a new 3D printing factory.

Materials Solutions, which was taken over by Siemens in 2016, is to create an additive manufacturing factory at Worcester Six Business Park.

The additional jobs, which will increase the workforce to 80, will help to create a global centre of excellence for the sector.

“This significant investment underlines our belief that there is huge potential for innovation and growth within the Additive Manufacturing sector,” said Siemens UK chief executive Juergen Maier.

“It is also the next step towards achieving our ambition of pioneering the industrialisation of 3D printing and demonstrates how we are leading the way for the fourth industrial revolution.”

Maier recently led the Made Smarter review for Government, which called for much greater national investment in additive manufacturing, arguing it will significantly boost industrial productivity and create new highly skilled jobs.

He added: “If the UK’s manufacturing sector is to grow and thrive, we must embrace digital technologies and build new industries based on them. Our vision and ambition for Materials Solutions perfectly represents how we are putting this strategy into practice.”

The building is scheduled to open in September and will enable the company to increase its fleet of 3D printing machines from 15 to 50 over the next five years.

Phil Hatherley, general manager of Materials Solutions, said: “We were incredibly proud to have achieved a world first last year – the production of a successfully tested 3D printed gas turbine blade – and I believe our new factory will facilitate similar achievements for our customers operating in other highly demanding environments, allowing us to maintain our position at the leading edge of this incredibly exciting industry.”