ULSAN < invest Korea

According to Yonhap News,

(ULSAN=Yonhap News) On October 22, Ulsan Metropolitan City and the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) said that the city and the institute are implementing the Technology Research and Business Development (R&BD) Project of 3D-Printed Environment-Friendly Auto Parts for establishment of infrastructure for development of lighter auto parts and establishment of business foundation.

The project was launched in July 2015 and will be implemented by June 2020, with a budget of KRW 15 billion.

Three-dimensional printing is hailed as one of the core technologies for innovation of the manufacturing industry and creating new markets. It has found its applications in environment-friendly vehicle industries across the developed world.

However, Korean SMEs’ access to the technology is still limited by several factors, including substantial initial investment requirements and the lack of 3D printing equipment and expertise.

Thus, the Ulsan Metropolitan Government opened a 3D printing research center in UNIST in 2015 to overcome such challenges and create opportunities for small and medium auto part suppliers.

In addition, as key tasks under the R&D project, the city set out to develop 3D printing processes for mega-sized carbon composite material and large-sized transparent parts.

Last year, the city supported numerous projects including the development of motor housing for electric vehicles, the development of an aluminum subframe casting method for environment-friendly light vehicles, and the manufacturing of 3D-printed mufflers.

Up until now, the project achieved to produce 44 prototypes, provide 24 cases of technical consulting, and hold 16 technical training sessions.

It also contributed to the improvement of the 3D-printing technology application technologies in their production by creating 46 new jobs and increasing sales to KRW 5.73 billion.

An Ulsan city official said, “We will develop 3D printing technology for businesses in Ulsan and lead the efforts to develop the new growth engine by developing high-value-added parts and secure regional technologies to react to the fourth industrial revolution.

canto@yna.co.kr

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Source Text

** This article was translated from Korean.

Source: Yonhap News (October 22, 2018)