(L-R) Brent Stucker, CEO of 3DSIM, Simin Zhou, vice president of Digital Technologies, UL and Keith Williams, president of UL.
Global safety science organisation, UL has announced a collaboration with 3DSIM LLC to advance additive manufacturing process simulations and change how we qualify materials and processes. Under the terms of the agreement, UL made an investment in 3DSIM and is now a minority shareholder of the company whilst Simin Zhou, vice president of Digital Manufacturing Technologies at UL, will join the 3DSIM Board of Directors.
“UL has partnered with 3DSIM to rapidly advance simulation for additive manufacturing processing,” explained Zhou. “The value of 3D printing is to enable design freedom and the ability to manufacture a variety of parts and products. To statistically qualify a design for production using AM, exploring material and process combinations via trial-and-error is not sustainable. Thus, we must invest in simulation technology and new qualification and validation methodologies to advance manufacturing and move the AM industry forward.”
Brent Stucker, PhD., chief executive officer and a co-founder of 3DSIM LLC, added: “UL has an excellent reputation around the world in validation and certification of manufactured parts. We welcome UL as an investor and partner. As a member of our board, Simin will contribute her deep knowledge and perspectives about how simulations can transform the AM industry. Together, we will move the manufacturing industry away from reliance upon costly experimental testing toward predictable, safe and timely production.”
The company has been making major strides in its mission to provide quality training for the additive manufacturing industry. Last month, UL announced its plans to open an Additive Manufacturing Competency Centre, alongside the University of Louisville which will open later this month to advance manufacturing knowledge for AM professionals. The company has also recently shifted its focus to the Asia region where it is set to launch a first of its kind AM training facility in Singapore to address critical gaps in the industry’s training, validation, research and advisory services.
