Science Business:  GE Healthcare has opened a 3D printing lab in Uppsala, Sweden, which will use technologies including 3D printing and robotics to speed up the launch of healthcare products.

The centre combines advanced manufacturing technology, such as metal and polymer printers and collaborative robots, with traditional machining equipment.

A key to realising the advantages of 3D printing is to ensure the technology is considered from the start of a product design, and the new lab will design, test and produce 3D-printed parts for GE Healthcare products and prepare for final transfer to manufacturing.

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, offers significant benefits. For example, a 3D printed part can combine 20 conventional parts into a single component, and improve performance.

Reducing the number of parts in the manufacturing process benefits sectors such as the biomanufacturing industry, where the processes and manufacturing equipment are complex and made up of hundreds different parts.  Full Article: