by Institution of Engineering and Technology

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) has launched a competition for one lucky innovator to have their product idea realised using the latest 3D-Printing technology.

The winner will be announced at the ‘3D-Printing: The future of manufacturing?’ event, which takes place on 24 October 2013 at the Royal Institution in London.

Professor Richard Hague, Director of the EPSRC Centre for Additive Manufacturing, will be giving a lecture on additive manufacturing (3D-Printing), where he will address its cost effectiveness, its environmental impact and the potential for new business models.

The lecture will explore why additive manufacturing has the potential to disrupt current thinking in the context of:

Its role as the enabler for low volume production and the democratisation of manufacturing
The dramatic increases in design complexity & flexibility that are afforded by taking an additive approach
The cost effective product personalisation and customisation possibilities
The reduction of the environmental burden of manufactured goods
The potential for new business models and supply chain realignment
Increased part functionality today, and multifunctionality in the coming years

The lecture will draw on real world industrial and consumer examples as exemplars and will also review the leading research that is being undertaken in the area.

In conjunction with the EPSRC Centre for Additive Manufacturing, the IET is welcoming competition entries that explore the design freedom and capability of 3D-Printing, while also providing a genuinely useful product. The winner will have their design 3D Printed and be able to take it home afterwards. The closing date for entries is 20 September 2013.

IET Design and Production Sector Head, Gordon Attenborough, welcomes the focus on 3D-Printing: “This is such an important development in innovation, and the IET is keen to promote the possibilities it will bring to the future of manufacturing. We are delighted to host Professor Hague, one of the top minds on 3D-Printing, and we look forward to his thinking on the subject.”

The event will also showcase a demonstration of the new 3Doodler – the world’s first 3D printing pen. Registration is now open, and more information can be found on the event website: http://conferences.theiet.org/yp-event.

Media enquiries to:
Katie Stanton
Communications Executive
(01438) 765608
kstanton@theiet.org

The Young Professionals’ Event will be held at The Royal Institution on Thursday 24 October 2013. The Royal Institution is a prestigious events space in the heart of Mayfair.

Address
The Royal Institution of Great Britain
21 Albemarle Street
London W1S 4BS