Additive manufacturing - well networked

Which companies and research institutions are active in the field of metal-based additive manufacturing in the Czech Republic? What opportunities exist for cross-border collaboration?

Companies and research institutions from Lausitz traveled to the Czech Republic in early December. The goal of the market exploration trip was to personally familiarize themselves with the Czech business and research landscape in the field of additive manufacturing and to identify new potential partners. With a particular focus on 3D metal printing, among other topics, meetings were organized in the Prague and Liberec areas. With an eye toward the upcoming new funding through the INTERREG Cooperation Program between the Free State of Saxony and the Czech Republic (2021–2027), the goal was to identify potential opportunities for cross-border cooperation.

The trip kicked off with a visit to Prusa Research a.s., a company headquartered in Prague that—according to a Deloitte market survey—is ranked No. 1 among the fastest-growing technology companies and is also the market leader in the 3D printing industry with its 3D printers. Moving on from the hardware side of 3D printing, the group then visited the startup Sharplayers to explore the practical, business-oriented application of additive manufacturing. The company presented its core business areas, which include professional services in 3D printing, rapid prototyping, manufacturing, and product development using various processes such as Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) and laser sintering. At MSV Systems s.r.o., the focus was on the application of metal-based 3D printing. The company offers comprehensive solutions for metal forming. This includes both operator-controlled and automated machines, larger production facilities, and fully automated production lines. In metal 3D printing, the company focuses on printed thermoforming and bending molds to deliver exceptional precision and an unlimited number of parts with identical shapes. For David Tichý, Director of Research and Development at the MSV SYSTEMS CZ Technology Center, 3D metal printing is “the key to fully automated production” at the company.

Adama Blažka, Director of Industrial Cooperation, and his team at the Technical University of Liberec presented their research expertise through the university’s Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies, and Innovation (CXI). Following an official welcome, the CXI’s research areas and key projects were presented. A presentation on 3D metal printing by Jiří Šafka, Ph.D., provided a technical overview of key research areas and was rounded out by a tour of, among other facilities, the 3D printing lab and the CXI laboratories.

The business trip was rounded out with two additional components: training in 3D printing at the Higher Vocational School for Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering, and a visit to Hardwario a.s., which specializes in configurable Internet of Things (IoT) devices, connectivity, and cloud services—to, for example, ensure efficient and cost-effective utilization of production equipment. The company is based in the Lipo.ing Innovation Center of the Liberec Administrative District, which, in addition to hosting companies, also offers co-working spaces and a comprehensive program for startups and businesses in the region, thereby creating an innovation ecosystem just 20 km from Zittau.

The business trip was organized on the initiative of the Lausitz – Life & Technology Alliance and the Enterprise Europe Network in Saxony and Prague, as well as the Dresden Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) and its Contact Center for Saxon-Czech-Slovak Economic Cooperation in Zittau, and the CXI at the Technical University of Liberec. Special thanks go to Anna Měrková, Leonie Liemich, Tobias Runte, Tobias Schlüter, Světlana Trejbalová, and Jiři Zahradnik for this challenging and interesting program.