3D printing innovation base opens in Wuxi

A 3D printing innovation base under the Ministry of Education's Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing Technology Engineering Research Center was unveiled in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, on Oct 10.

The base, located near the Huishan subway station, is headed by Lu Bingheng, an academician of the China Academy of Engineering.

Construction of the base started in April. It is now home to six innovation and entrepreneurship platforms, offering services to scientific talents and projects, and promoting the application of intelligent manufacturing and 3D printing technology.

Lu, a top scientist in China's 3D printing sector, specializes in rapid prototyping and manufacturing, micro-nano manufacturing, and biological manufacturing.

He is also a pioneer in developing an international advanced ultraviolet rapid prototyping machine, integrated rapid manufacturing equipment, special materials and a set of leading domestic rapid development systems for products, which have raised the equipment's localization rate from zero to 80-90 percent and greatly promoted China's manufacturing industry.

As an important part of intelligent manufacturing, 3D printing has grown to become one of the world's most vigorous emerging industries and boasts great development potential, Huang Qin, acting mayor of Wuxi said, at the base's unveiling ceremony.

He said the government will offer more preferential policies, a more favorable environment and special services to support professionals and teams in the industry to make innovations and start businesses in Wuxi as well as promote the industrialization of their research achievements.

The base will offer technical services and consultation to companies involved in high-end equipment manufacturing, automotive, green manufacturing, biomedical, culture and creativity, industrial design and advanced manufacturing.

It will focus market demand and develop an innovation and entrepreneurship system combining research institutes, leading enterprises, maker's spaces, venture capital funds, docking industries and alumni resources.

It also plans to develop into a demonstration park for the 3D printing industry and help speed up the development of Huishan's intelligent manufacturing sector.