Let’s Talk: Advanced manufacturing
need new materials. Particularly in polluting industries like aviation and the automotive sector, demand for lighter, cleverer, more locally sourced materials is booming. The search is also on for metals capable of withstanding higher temperatures (and therefore more efficient) is growing rapidly. As well as decarbonisation, the other trend driving demand in advanced manufacturing is miniaturisation. Electronics companies are looking to fit more computing power into increasingly smaller forms - which need to be supported by highly specialised metal structures. Think wearable tech that can handle ever more powerful AI. These are not fleeting trends, but fundamental shifts that are defining the products and innovations of tomorrow’s economy. And advanced manufacturing is the driving force capable of delivering them to market at the speed and scale needed. What’s more, the use of ever more sophisticated 3D printing technology offers significant advantages for advanced manufacturing. Particularly in a hostile
demand for technological innovation is only growing. In the UK, the potential is enormous. Last year, the advanced manufacturing sector turned over £117.1bn and received £15.4bn of investment. It is growing at 2.0% per year, while some sub verticals are performing even better. The metal Additive Manufacturing industry, for example, grew by around 15%, far outperforming traditional manufacturing sectors and demonstrating resilience in challenging conditions. With the government urgently seeking sectors of the economy capable of driving immediate progress on its highly prized ‘growth agenda’, advanced manufacturing can’t be overlooked. There’s an innovation argument of course. A renewed focus on putting innovative products at the heart of the UK economy again would bring with it investment, business support and skilled employees - all of which are beneficial for growth. Seizing the moment But there’s a real argument for why advanced manufacturing specifically should be the sector to drive this growth right now. On an international level, we need to reduce our carbon emissions - and quickly. In the race to achieve goals on decarbonisation, manufacturers
Machinery & Manufacturing 21
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