随着计划扩展3D打印的使用，GE Healthcare在欧洲开设了第一个专家3D打印实验室。
欧洲的创新设计和高级制造技术中心位于瑞典的乌普萨拉。3D打印行业要求Uppsala网站上添加剂工程的部分经理Andreas Marcstrom一些问题以了解更多信息。
GE Healthcare Center将使用包括3D打印和机器人技术在内的技术来加快为医疗保健行业推出新的创新产品。
Working alongside the metal additive manufacturing equipment and polymer 3D printers are collaborative robots. GE Healthcare describes these as “cobots”. TheUppsala网站也具有特色traditional machining equipment.
Andreas Marcstrom解释说：“该中心包含两台工业级打印机：GE添加剂Concept LaserM2 printer and a polymer printer as well as several collaborative robots or “cobots”.”
对于GE Healthcare而言，实现3D打印优势的核心部分是“确保在创新过程开始时考虑与高级制造工程师合作并与客户合作的研究和设计团队考虑该技术。”
Uppsala site to receive significant annual investment
Although GE Healthcare has not disclosed the value of the investment in the European 3D printing and design center Marcstrom says, “GE has committed to spending $70 million each year between 2017 and 2022 to “significantly” increase the capacity of the GE Healthcare Life Sciences facility in Uppsala.”
瑞典也是GE添加剂收购的家乡Arcam, manfacturers of Electron Beam Melting additive manufacturing systems.
Marcstrom explains that Uppsala was chosen for the advanced lab because, “In Uppsala, you are at the heart of the biggest R&D organisation within GE Healthcare’s Life Sciences business.”
“在同一设施中，您拥有具有后处理专业知识和全球供应链的团队。在附近，在Umeå（北瑞典），您拥有GE Healthcare Life Sciences生物处理业务硬件方面的制造地点。来自所有这些专业领域的团队将在中心的项目上进行合作，并确保在产品设计开始时将添加剂视为正确。”
使用3D打印进行研究biopharmaceutical production
GE is also working with the biotechnology companyAmgen并将测试在复杂过程中用于开发生物药物的色谱柱的性能。正在研究的药物范围将用于治疗包括癌症和免疫疾病在内的疾病。
定制设计的3D打印列目前正在进行测试，以评估Amgen研究的适用性，以“帮助开发生物制药生产的纯化阶段的改进流程”。
Marcstrom says that re-thinking the design process is a further advantage of additive, “GE recognises that the flexibility of additive means the technology is enabling product designs that could not be achieved with traditional manufacturing.”
“添加剂制造已经在提高医疗保健行业的制造效率。在供应链中，单个3D打印零件正在取代多个复杂，昂贵的零件，可提供技术改进，减少废物和节省成本。”
Addressing the healthcare market has proven a successful strategy for a number of 3D printing enterprises. U.S. based 3D Systems has an impressive healthcare facility in Littleton, CO.
期间参观3D系统医疗技术中心，我亲眼目睹了这样的优秀中心如何产生杰出的成就。例如，经历过的双胞胎贾登和阿尼亚斯·麦克唐纳的分离具有里程碑意义的27小时手术，在3D打印的帮助下.
Healthcare revenue at 3D Systems grew by 27% for Q1 2017 and increased 25% during Q2, reaching $49 million – almost该季度的所有收入的三分之一.
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特色图显示了一个概念激光M2 cusing金属添加剂系统。迈克尔·皮奇（Michael Petch）的照片。
