3D printing: The future of Mexican industries?

In order to enhance the scientific, technological, and innovation cooperation of the center-north region of the country, the first Additive Manufacturing Consortium (CONMAD) was created in Latin America .

Also known as 3D printing , additive manufacturing encompasses technologies that allow for the automatic construction of tridimensional objects by adding layer upon layer of materials, building physical objects from a digital design.

An agreement was signed for the integration of the consortium in which various institutions, such as the Center for Research and Advanced Studies (CINVESTAV) , confirmed their commitment and collaboration through the development of joint projects.

Industry, government, higher education institutions, and public research centers will participate, such as the CINESTAV Querétaro Unit , the Center for Industrial Engineering and Development (CIDESI) , and the Advanced Technology Center (CIATEQ) .

A ceremony was held for the signing of this agreement, attended by the director of the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) , Enrique Cabrero ; the governor of Querétaro , Francisco Domínguez Servien ; the Minister of Sustainable Development of this entity, Marco Antonio del Prete ; and the director of General Electric in Querétaro , Vlatko Vlatkovic .

All the parties, jointly, undertook to design, manufacture, repair, and characterize parts and components through additive manufacturing.

In so doing, regional companies will seek to validate and explore the manufacturing processes as viable technologies, aiming towards their implementation in assembly lines without acquiring them in advance.

Additive manufacturing is a recently adopted feature among industries, though it has the potential to strengthen the manufacturing capacity of several industry branches such as the automotive industry, aeronautic sector, medical and household appliances, among others.

It is estimated that by 2020, 70% of the total auto parts production in the automotive, aeronautic, medical, and household appliances sectors, among others, will be produced through this technology

, according to CONACYT .

The investment budgeted for the implementation of the infrastructure contemplated in the consortium is of more than 13 million dollars , which will be contributed by all the participating parties.

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