NILAI, Oct 21 (Bernama) — Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) technology has the potential to reduce local industries’ dependence on imported components by enabling spare parts to be manufactured locally.
IO Setia Ventures Sdn Bhd (IOSV) managing director Datuk Ir Mohd Iwan Jefry Abdul Majid said the technology enables components that are difficult to obtain on the market or are no longer manufactured by their original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to be reproduced, helping to address spare parts shortages that could disrupt industrial operations.
He said previously, sourcing spare parts from overseas could take months or even years, in addition to involving high costs and minimum order quantity requirements.
“WAAM 3D printing technology is not actually new. It has been available on the market for quite some time, and its use has begun to gain traction in several industries, particularly the oil and gas industry.
“There is strong demand from industries for 3D printing due to various constraints, so we are seizing that opportunity to become one of the players in this field,” he told Bernama after the launch of WAAM technology here yesterday.
WAAM is a welding-based metal 3D printing technology used to manufacture, repair and restore large and complex components. It helps industries save production time and costs while reducing raw material waste.
Mohd Iwan Jefry said IOSV began the initiative two years ago and is now ready to offer commercial-scale component manufacturing technology to meet the needs of local industries.
He said the technology offers several advantages, including reduced raw material waste, shorter production times and the ability to produce components with complex geometries compared with conventional manufacturing methods.
He added that the technology has the potential to save 30 to 40 per cent in time and costs, depending on the size of the components produced, while eliminating the need for a minimum order quantity (MOQ).
According to him, the technology is now being used commercially, including to manufacture components for the oil and gas refining sector. The company has also received orders for related manufacturing work.
He said the materials that can be used include carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminium and titanium, as well as various commercially available alloys.
Apart from the oil and gas industry, IOSV is also targeting the defence, aerospace and aviation sectors, including the potential to produce drone component prototypes and spare parts for strategic assets that are difficult to obtain.
“Our goal is to develop local capabilities so that components for strategic assets, particularly those related to energy production, can be manufactured domestically without excessive dependence on overseas spare parts supplies,” he said.
He said interest in the technology had also been expressed by industry representatives and relevant agencies, including those from the defence and aerospace sectors. However, the company must demonstrate its technical competency and ability to manufacture components according to specifications to build user confidence.
-- BERNAMA