3-D printing/ Additive Manufacturing (AM) is the next generation digital manufacturing technologies. It is providing the necessary impetus to the Industry 4.0 transformation. According to a market trend report from M/s HUBS in early 2022, the market for AM is expected to touch ~$50 billion by 2026-27 and has started to move from rapid prototyping to low volume mass customization to mass production. AM has the potential to enhance the sustainability of manufacturing and supporting broader environmental goals. Additionally, AM provides many opportunities for developing economies due to its ability to support distributed manufacturing which can stop mass migrations & support inclusive growth, market resilience, ability to manufacture low value traditional products along with high value, high precision high technology products for aerospace sector, and lower investment barrier supporting MSME based manufacturing. AM can also support Women-led development through women entreprenurship.

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has released a National Strategy of Additive Manufacturing (NSAM) in February 2022 for the development (R&D) and deployment (manufacturing) of AM in India for next generation digital manufacturing with an aspiration to add $ 1 Billion by 2025 to Indian AM market. A program for implementation of NSAM is ongoing at MeitY focusing on the deployment of AM in its traditional AM sectors and development & deployment in new AM sectors where Indian Manufacturing can benefit with the adoption of AM.

The project entitled “Establishment of National Additive Manufacturing Centre West (NAMCW) at Ganpat University, Gujarat – India” has been evolved in partnership with State Govt of Gujarat and industry. The primary aspiration of NAMC-West is to increase AM adoption by Indian manufacturers in six western states of India (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan) which will assist in achieving NSAM’s aspiration to add $ 1 Billion by 2025 to Indian AM market. Additive Manufacturing (AM) facilities will be developed at Ganpat University under NAMC-W which will cater to creation of ecosystem for implementation of NSAM. The tenets of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ under the the project includes creation of conducive environment for adoption of AM in manufacturing by non-AM Indian Large Enterprises including PSUs and empower AM MSMEs/ existing & new Start-ups to expand and upgrade their product portfolio through IP creation, prototyping, skilled & executive manpower training. This project aims to create Industry 5.0 based products and businesses using Additive Manufacturing benefiting AM manufacturing industry -Large, MSME and start- ups.

The principle objective of the project is to create a section 8 company entitled National Additive Manufacturing Centre West (NAMCW) for deployment of AM in six western states of India (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan) at Ganpat University, Gujarat.