3T RPD has just opened a new metals Additive Manufacturing (AM) production site near its current facility on the former Greenham Common Airbase in Berkshire. This expansion builds on recent new AM machine acquisitions and represents the company’s latest investment in the future of AM production. The facility also paves the way for further expansion of its metals and plastics AM production capacity in 2017.
The new 10,000 sq.ft facility triples 3T RPD’s space for metal AM production. The extra space provided by the new site has also given 3T RPD the opportunity to expand and extend its finishing capability, which will bring the whole metals AM production process in-house and will create a one stop AM production service for customers around the world. 3T’s new site is already producing metal AM parts and, in addition to the current complement of AM machines, CMM, Blue Light Scanner and Quality Lab, it will shortly include an automated finishing machine, a laser marking machine, NDT, multi-axis CNC and a large vacuum furnace. The size of the site allows 3T RPD to continue to install more AM machines as demand for AM production ramps up.
CEO of 3T RPD, Ian Halliday says: “This expansion has three aims: firstly to increase our production capability, secondly to increase the consistency of our production output, and thirdly to provide our customers an AM service covering the complete process chain”.
He continues to expain that as the demand for AM production builds 3T RPD is determined to grow to meet customers’ AM production requirements and to be their first choice for production metals and plastics AM. This expansion is part of a programme of investment and is the first of many planned AM production developments from 3T RPD.
The site began production in mid-November and is already manufacturing AM parts for 3T RPD customers around the world.
3T RPD Ltd is a dedicated Additive Manufacturing (AM) company. With a capacity of seven plastic AM machines and thirteen metal AM machines, 3T is a leader in UK industry, offering a wide choice of materials to meet the needs of a broad range of industry sectors. Established in 1999, 3T moved to a purpose built facility in 2006 to allow for continued expansion. The company employs circa 70 people and exports a significant proportion of its production. In April 2012, 3T gained its third quality standard; AS 9100 Rev C for the production of metal parts using Additive Manufacturing. 3T already held ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 13485:2003 Medical Devices and was the first AM Company in the UK to hold all three quality standards.
3T RPD Ltd
Tel: 01635 580284
Email: enquiries@3trpd.co.uk
www.3trpd.co.uk