What Is the Current State of 3D Printing in Australia?

When people think of Australia, many things come to mind: the Outback, unique wildlife, stunning landscapes, and surfing, among others. Additive manufacturing can now be added to that list. The 3D printing sector has rapidly grown in Australia over the past few years and, while it still trails giants like the United States and China, the future of AM in the country certainly looks bright.

To better understand the current state of 3D printing in Australia, we decided to sit down with two people with unique perspectives on its growth. Gönül Serbest is the Commissioner for Victoria to Europe, the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa, currently based in Paris. She works to support Victorian businesses and help them to expand internationally, particularly in areas like advanced manufacturing. Dr. Yang Tian and Professor Aijun Huang, meanwhile, are respectively the center manager and director of the Monash Centre for Additive Manufacturing (MCAM).

Tom Jarvis at MCAM with one of the institutes solutions (photo credits: MCAM)

We spoke to them about the current development of 3D printing in Australia, notable applications for AM coming from the country, obstacles that still need to be overcome and the future outlook. See what they had to say!