Aurora Labs teams up with CSIRO to progress 3D printing technology

Aurora Labs (ASX: A3D) has teamed up with Australia’s national science organisation the Commonwealth of Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to progress Aurora’s 3D printing technology and explore commercialisation.

Aurora is developing an additive manufacturing solution centre to offer consulting services, distribute its 3D printers, as well as metal powders and printed parts.

As part of the collaboration, CSIRO will provide A$100,000 in technical, research and development services to Aurora including labour and overhead costs. The CSIRO will also report to Aurora on the outcomes of its testing including the design, printing and optimisation processes.

In return, Aurora will supply CSIRO with a small format printer and metal powders used in the manufacturing parts worth up to A$100,000.

“This is an exciting collaboration and we are incredibly pleased to be working with a tier-one partner such as the preeminent government research organisation CSIRO,” Aurora managing director David Budge said.

“The research agreement speeds up the development of our solution centre, enhances our credibility, as well as endorses the technical performance of our technology,” Mr Budge said.

Aurora is focused on investigating new technology for developing 3D metal printers, powders, and digital parts.

The company is currently advancing its large format technology, which will print 3D parts up to 1 tonnes in size within 24 hours.

According to Aurora, there is no global competitor which can 3D print up to that size, precision and speed.

As part of its strategy to get the additive manufacturing solution centre up and running, Aurora inked a joint venture agreement with WorleyParsons in November last year.

WorleyParsons will assist with establishing the centre and distribute Aurora’s 3D printers.

The duo will explore developing a print bureau using Aurora’s technology and bulk producing metal powders to be used in 3D printing.

Aurora also secured an agreement with DNV GL in December to assist with setting quality standards and gaining certification for its 3D-printed parts.

“This is particularly important as many industries such as oil and gas and marine require certification of parts in order to be able to utilise them in their facilities,” Mr Budge said.

“DNV GL will support us in helping establish certification covering the whole value chain, from powders to parts, certifying the technical performance of our technology and independently endorsing our processes and products,” Mr Budge added.

Shares in Aurora rose more than 3.5% in early morning trade to A$0.88.