Additive Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing

Making impossible parts possible with cutting-edge machinery and leading engineering minds

Our capability

Unlock the potential of additive manufacturing 

We specialise in working with organisations looking to get more from their additive manufacturing (AM) processes or increase their knowledge of what’s possible. As the National Centre for Additive Manufacturing (NCAM), we are at the forefront of additive technology and have access to the widest range of additive expertise and facilities in the country, making us uniquely placed to take on your project, no matter how complex it may be.

We work with organisations of all sizes, from SMEs to large multinationals, across multiple sectors including Aerospace, Space, Defence, Power & Energy and many more. Our experts help these organisations unlock the benefits of additive manufacturing to enhance product performance through increased design freedom, enable the creation of complex geometries and show them how to reduce part count through consolidation of component assemblies.

We also help organisations develop AM solutions which provide them with the capability to reconfigure supply chains for reshoring production or addressing part obsolescence. Additive manufacturing can contribute to improved environmental credentials compared to conventional methods as well as minimise inventory and accelerate time to market.

Ruaridh Additive expert

Meet Ruaridh, our Additive Manufacturing Expert

Ruaridh is an Additive Manufacturing Expert at the MTC, home of the National Centre of Additive Manufacturing (NCAM). He supports new enquiries across Metal, Polymer, and Ceramic AM, and has experience building and running AM operations and research teams. His current interests include addressing qualification challenges, space applications in AM, developing large AM applications, and commercialisation of AM. Ruaridh also serves on the AMUK steering board and TCT AM Editorial Advisory Board.
 

Proud to be the National Centre for Additive Manufacturing

MTC in Coventry is the National Centre for Additive Manufacturing (NCAM), with the mission of advancing additive manufacturing (AM) technologies and supporting the adoption of AM in various industries. It offers expertise, research, and development capabilities to help businesses leverage AM for innovative product development and improved manufacturing processes. It's the home to cutting-edge and unique equipment and experts who are leading the development and adoption of AM in the UK.

MTC engineer operating additive manufacturing machinery

Utilising additive manufacturing expertise to deliver innovation 

Improve Product Performance

Improve product performance

Create intricate and complex geometric structures that may be challenging or impossible to achieve with traditional manufacturing methods, enhancing performance and enabling the production of highly customised and tailored components, using advanced materials. 

Decrease Cost

Decrease cost

Create complex assemblies as a single, consolidated part, reducing the need for multiple components, simplifying assembly processes, and lowering production and storage costs. 

Reduce Lead Time

Reduce lead time

Enable rapid prototyping, allowing for the quick iteration of designs and speeding up the product development cycle. This accelerates the overall production timeline as products can be manufactured on demand, eliminating the need for extensive tooling and part inventories, reducing the time between order placement and product delivery. 

Minimise Waste

Minimise waste

Build objects layer by layer, adding material only where needed. This precision minimises waste, improving the environmental credentials of components. Some additive manufacturing technologies allow for the use of recyclable materials.

Simplify Supply Chains

Simplify supply chains

Make on-site or local production of components easier, reducing reliance on complex and lengthy supply chains. Additive manufacturing also enables the production of components on demand, reducing the need for extensive storage and simplifying supply chain logistics.  

Knowledge Transfer

Knowledge transfer

We often work with organisations as part of their team and when progress is made, we help share the knowledge with their teams, allowing them to continue working independently integrating a new process or machine as part of their additive offering. 

Our approach

A structure approach to additive manufacturing covering:

Additive manufacturing strategy
Additive engineer at work

Additive manufacturing strategy

Whether you need help assessing if parts are right for additive manufacturing, developing a business case, or creating a technology roadmap we’ll help you work out what steps to take next.

A trusted partner

  • The UK’s government-appointed National Centre for Additive Manufacturing (NCAM), the UK’s independent additive manufacturing body
  • European Space Agency AM benchmarking centre and ASTM AM Centre of Excellence
  • Experts in the end-to-end process chain for complex or large-scale AM components
  • Access to the widest selection of end-to-end AM capabilities in the country including metal, polymer, and ceramic AM technologies
  • Extensive academic, industrial, and governmental networks
  • Process and vendor agnostic, ensuring that customers receive truly independent advice on the right additive manufacturing technologies for them
  • Industry-leading research and project experience in all key AM areas – Advanced materials, complex/large parts and sustainable practices
     
MTC additive engineer  programming robot

Our Additive Manufacturing Equipment

MTC is home to cutting-edge and industry first additive equipment

As the National Centre for Additive Manufacturing, we are able to showcase the latest and most advanced equipment in the UK. Designed to push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of AM. Discover our extensive list of metal powder bed fusion, polymer AM, ceramic AM, bind and sinter and direct energy deposition (DED) equipment here.
 

View all AM machines
EOS AMCM M290-2 Nlight

FAQs

Your questions answered

What is additive manufacturing and how is it different from 3D printing?

Additive manufacturing and 3D printing can be used interchangeably. However additive manufacturing is typically used in an industrial context. 

Are additive manufacturing components suitable for end use applications?

How many different types of additive manufacturing are there?

What is NCAM?

Do you have to be a member to work with MTC?

Get in touch

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