The 3D printing park will make the area from Chiayi to Pingtung a stronghold for Taiwan’s laser industry, which includes laser soldering, 3D printing equipment and materials, and laser applications. It is expected in the year 2020 to yield an output of 800 billion dollars.

Taiwan’s middle and lower level 3D printing and laser industries are gradually taking shape. One after another, 3D printing startups have been established during the past three years, including DIGITAL-CAN and San Jye Co., which have entered the market for 3D printing mold OEM services.

In addition, in October, Taiwan’s leading manufacturer of 3D printed medical materials, Taiwan Biomaterial Company, is beginning operations in Southern Taiwan Science Park, where they will launch products such as guiding plates for 3D printing and customized implant fixation plates, which are used as dental materials.

ITRI’s southern branch’s 3D Printing and Laser Applications Center Director, Hong Ji-gin, has stated that Taiwan is planning a 3D industry village with Liujia, Tainan at its center, and it will expand north to Chiayi and south to Pingtung.

It will primarily consist of technological facilities as well as technological development for processing and manufacturing and industrial supply chains for laser technology-integrated applications, which will be developed for internationalization.

He also pointed out that in 2020, it is expected to become an important innovation and manufacturing village for global industries related to lasers, including laser equipment, modules, components, and applied laser industries.

ITRI’s next step will be to integrate Taiwan’s material and machinery manufacturers to enter into the 3D printing equipment and materials industry at the end of this year with the goal of manufacturing equipment and materials completely on their own.

Building an ecosystem for 3D printing will be a crucial key to the future development of Taiwan’s laser industry.