3D Systems and Dussur Set Up Joint Venture

3D Systems and the Saudi Arabian Industrial Investments Company (Dussur) have signed an agreement intended to expand use of additive manufacturing (AM) within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and surrounding geographies, including the Middle East and North Africa. 

The purpose of the new joint venture is to enable the development of Saudi Arabia's domestic additive manufacturing production capabilities, aligned with the Kingdom’s “Vision 2030,” which focuses on economic diversification and long-term sustainability. The Center for Innovation and Additive Manufacturing will initially focus on energy, with planned expansions into other industrial sectors and healthcare solutions.

“Our partnership with Dussur will accelerate the adoption of additive manufacturing in the region, enabling diversification of the Saudi Arabian economy,” says Dr. Jeffery Graves, president and CEO, 3D Systems. “While the energy segment will be one area of focus, a broad range of applications across industrial, aerospace and healthcare segments will be addressed.”

3D Systems was chosen to be part of the joint venture due to its additive technology experience and application expertise. Modeled on 3D Systems’ application development and advanced manufacturing sites in Littleton, CO, and Leuven, Belgium, the new facility is expected to open in late 2022 and is meant to include plastic and metal 3D printing technologies and 3D Systems application engineers with industry-specific expertise.

The customer innovation and advanced application facility will benefit from the Kingdom’s geographic location near international trade routes between three continents and represents another step toward the Kingdom’s position as a regional logistical hub for global seaborne trade.

“Establishing in Saudi Arabia the first Center for Innovation and Additive Manufacturing with a world-class player such as 3D Systems will unlock further localization initiatives across the supply chain,” says Dr. Raed Al-Rayes, CEO, Dussur. “This partnership is linked to Dussur’s mission to support the Kingdom’s industrialization journey and localize disruptive technologies that will revolutionize the way we think of manufacturing.”

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.

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