3D Systems and Dussur agree joint venture to expand Additive Manufacturing in Saudi Arabia
March 30, 2022
3D Systems, Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA, has signed a joint venture agreement with Saudi Arabian Industrial Investments Company (Dussur) to expand the use of Additive Manufacturing within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and surrounding regions including the Middle East and North Africa.
Announced during a ceremony in Riyadh on March 29, 2022, the joint venture will see a Center for Innovation and Additive Manufacturing established which will enable the development of Saudi Arabia’s domestic Additive Manufacturing production capabilities. Said to be consistent with the Kingdom’s ‘Vision 2030,’ which is focused on diversification of the economy and long-term sustainability, the facility will initially focus on energy, with planned expansions into other industrial sectors as well as healthcare solutions.
The Center for Innovation and Additive Manufacturing will reportedly be modelled upon 3D Systems’ application development and advanced manufacturing sites located in Littleton, Colorado, and Leuven, Belgium. The new facility is expected to open in late 2022 and is expected to include a wide range of metal and plastic Additive Manufacturing technologies.
“Our partnership with Dussur will accelerate the adoption of Additive Manufacturing in the region, enabling diversification of the Saudi Arabian economy,” stated Dr Jeffery Graves, president and CEO, 3D Systems. “While the energy segment will be one area of focus, a broad range of applications across industrial, aerospace, and healthcare segments will be addressed. We are excited about the partnership and believe it will provide a strong foundation within the Kingdom to expand local engineering and manufacturing and encourage green energy sources.”
Dr Raed Al-Rayes, CEO, Dussur, commented, “Establishing in Saudi Arabia the first Center for Innovation and Additive Manufacturing with a world-class player such as 3D Systems will unlock further localisation initiatives across the supply chain. This partnership is linked to Dussur’s mission to support the Kingdom’s industrialisation journey and localise disruptive technologies that will revolutionise the way we think of manufacturing. We are looking forward to commencing our work with 3D Systems to contribute to the security of supply in the region and build local capabilities for the jobs of the future.”
