The UNIST 3D Printing Convergence Technology Center held its opening ceremony at the UNIST Industry-University Convergence Campus on February 5, 2024. Situated in Duwang-dong, Nam-gu, Ulsan, the center spans 5,810 square meters of land with a construction area of 4,347 square meters, featuring one basement floor and four above-ground floors. A total of 40.9 billion won has been invested in the project, equipping it with 46 pieces of research equipment, including the largest metal and polymer composite 3D printer in Korea.
The front view of Digital Factory, situated within the 3D Printing Convergence Technology Center at UNIST.
The opening ceremony was attended by over 200 individuals, including UNIST President Yong Hoon Lee and Ulsan Metropolitan City Mayor Doo-Gyum Kim. Congratulatory videos were also sent by overseas cooperation organizations and companies, such as the Singapore Center for 3D Printing (SC3DP) at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Georgia Tech’s 3D Printing Center, and Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-Africa).
During the ceremony, recognition was given to individuals who made significant contributions to 3D printing technology. Professor Byoung Jik Kim, Researcher Ju Young Park from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UNIST, and Team Leader MinHan Kim from the UNIST Facility Team received the Ulsan Metropolitan City Mayor Award. Team Member Seoeun Kim from the UNIST Faculty Team received the UNIST President’s Commendation.
A signboard-hanging ceremony for the joint research lab also took place, involving officials from Hyundai Motor, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, INNOSPACE, and the National 3D Printing Center of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. These entities will collaborate with the center to operate the R&D lab.
Domestic and overseas institutions that will be conducting joint research with the UNIST 3D Printing Convergence Technology Center.
As part of the ‘3D Printing Convergence Technology Center Innovation Forum,’ presentations were delivered by Professor Seung Ki Moon from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, Professor Jimin Kwon from UNIST, and Director Kim Hyun-gil from the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) on topics, such as AI-3D printing technology, semiconductor packaging 3D printing technology, and 3D printing technology for small modular reactors (SMR).
Director Namhun Kim of the UNIST 3D Printing Convergence Technology Center, who also serves as Professor of Mechanical Engineering at UNIST, expressed the center’s commitment to merging 3D printing technology with manufacturing to drive the advancement of major regional industries and facilitate the digital transformation of manufacturing industries. The center aims to establish strong connections with high-tech sectors like semiconductors, artificial intelligence, small nuclear power plants, and aviation.
Meanwhile, the UNIST 3D Printing Convergence Technology Center received support from the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and Ulsan Metropolitan City in its establishment.
