The Additive Manufacturer Green Trade Association now counts more than two dozen member companies across the global 3D printing industry.
Greener Manufacturing
Founded in late 2019, the AMGTA defines itself as “a non-commercial, unaffiliated organization open to any additive manufacturer or industry stakeholder that meets certain criteria relating to sustainability of production or process.” The organization is dedicated to promoting additive manufacturing as a more environmentally-conscious means of making than traditional technologies.
There are certainly some strong legs to stand on with that mission. Additive manufacturing does just that: manufactures additively. That is, while traditional milling technologies remove materials to create required geometries, additive manufacturing adds material to reach the shape. Material waste is inherently lessened, as only the needed material (plus any required supports) is used. Many AM processes are also increasing their ability to reuse material, sometimes as much as 100%, to be recycled into new print jobs.
And that’s only one quick at-a-glance benefit. Certainly there are many other aspects of “greening up” manufacturing, from energy usage to shortening supply chains leading to smaller carbon footprint.
There is the issue of “greenwashing” claims of environmental stewardship. That is, claims made just to look good that don’t really hold up to scrutiny. The AMGTA holds their members accountable, requiring actual action.
The organization put out a video last October that digs in a little more into the mission and research they support:
AMGTA Expansion
At less than two years old, the AMGTA is still rather a young organization. But it’s growing up quickly, with several membership expansions since its founding. The latest, announced this week, brings eight more members into the sustainability fold.
Stratasys is joining as a new Founding Member. The company joins Founding Members ExOne, QC Laboratories, Sintavia, and Taiyo Nippon Sanso.
“These five Founding Members will determine the strategic direction of the AMGTA, provide governance oversight, and consider future research projects that members may vote to commission,” the announcement notes.
New Participating Members announced in this join are:
- 3D Metalforge, a global AM company providing greater value to its customer through new and innovative additive manufacturing technologies
- 3D Systems, the leader in enabling additive manufacturing solutions for applications in growing markets that demand high-reliability products
- 3YOURMIND, an agile manufacturing software solutions provider dedicated to optimizing the additive manufacturing workflow
- AMT, a global leader in automated chemical vapor smoothing (post-processing) systems for additively manufactured parts
- Hyperion Metals, a Tennessee-focused company developing sustainable, zero carbon titanium metal powders for the growing additive manufacturing industry
- NatureWorks, a world-leading biotechnology company using plants to turn greenhouse gases like CO2 into a biopolymer called Ingeo
- The Barnes Global Advisors, the world’s largest independent advanced manufacturing engineering consultancy
“I’m elated to welcome aboard our new Founding Member Stratasys, as well as each of our new Participating Member companies,” said Sherry Handel, Executive Director of the AMGTA. “Their collective pledge to support the AMGTA’s mission well-positions our trade group for accelerated growth and investment in new sustainability research projects in additive manufacturing. I look forward to working with each of our members as we expand the AMGTA as the key industry resource committed to advancing sustainability in the AM industry.”
Participating Members of the AMGTA also include AMEXCI, BASF 3D Printing Solutions, Danish AM Hub, DyeMansion, EOS, Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT), GE Additive, HP, Materialise, National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, Rusal America, Siemens Digital Industries Software, SLM Solutions, Stryker, TRUMPF, and 6K.
Via AMGTA and BusinessWire
