North West leads the UK in the adoption of AM

Professor Carl Diver, director of PrintCity, Claire Scott, technology adoption specialist at Made Smarter, and Alan Dempsey, project manager at PrintCity

The North West has emerged as a national leader in 3-D printing adoption, according to new research published by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). The study reveals that the region boasts a 20% adoption rate — second only to London’s 30% — and credits a collaborative innovation model centred on Greater Manchester for driving this success.

At the heart of this regional transformation are Made Smarter North West and Manchester Metropolitan University’s PrintCity, whose combined efforts have helped position the area as a hotspot for additive manufacturing (AM). The Government-backed Made Smarter programme and MMU’s cutting-edge AM facility have played a pivotal role in encouraging manufacturers to embrace the technology.

AM is reshaping production processes across sectors. By building components layer by layer, it enables faster prototyping, reduces waste, and allows for greater design flexibility. Industries ranging from aerospace to healthcare are leveraging the technology to improve productivity and sustainability.

Grant funding
Since its launch in 2019, Made Smarter North West has supported 27 manufacturers in investing £1.6 million in 3-D printing technologies, with £442,000 provided in grant funding. These initiatives are forecast to create 128 new jobs, upskill 117 roles, and contribute £15.6 million in gross value added (GVA) to the regional economy.

Pictured left: Michael Pedley, CEO of MSM Aerospace Fabricators where the adoption of AM has made a huge impact

Collaboration between Made Smarter and PrintCity has been instrumental in building confidence among SMEs. Through site visits, demonstrations, and hands-on training, the partnership has helped businesses understand the practical benefits of AM. Their jointly developed Fast Track Additive Manufacturing – Upskilling the Workforce programme has accelerated adoption by equipping employees with the necessary skills.

More than 125 manufacturing leaders have also taken part in immersive sessions at PrintCity as part of Made Smarter’s Leading Digital Transformation programme. The partnership extends into talent development, with MMU supporting the Digital Technology Internship programme. Undergraduates and Master’s students with expertise in AM have delivered real-world digital transformation projects, helping manufacturers implement new technologies while gaining valuable paid experience. Several students have gone on to secure permanent roles following their placements.

Claire Scott, technology adoption specialist for Made Smarter and contributor to the DSIT research, said: “This new research confirms what we see every day — when SMEs have the right support, they embrace transformative technologies like AM. Greater Manchester’s success shows the power of partnership to drive productivity, innovation and growth across a whole region.”

Innovating to improve processes
Professor Carl Diver, director of PrintCity at MMU, added: “Our mission is to demystify AM and show businesses the real value it can bring. With almost £2 million invested in ‘state of the art’ equipment and a team spanning teaching, research and business engagement, we have supported hundreds of SMEs to innovate and improve processes by adopting the technology.

Pictured right: MSM Aerospace Fabricators invests in 3-D printing technology following Made Smarter support

“Working in partnership with Made Smarter, we can give manufacturers the confidence, skills and insight they need to adopt AM and drive growth. Our Digital Design and Manufacturing MSc is developing talented graduates with AM skills to support companies in the region and beyond.”

Among the manufacturers benefitting from the initiative is MSM Aerospace Fabricators, based in Middleton. The engineering firm, which supplies components to Airbus and Boeing, used the Fast Track programme to invest in 3-D printing for production templates, laser tooling, and inspection gauges.

Michael Pedley, CEO of MSM Aerospace Fabricators, said: “Thanks to Made Smarter and PrintCity we upskilled one of our manufacturing engineers, brought that expertise in-house, and had confidence to invest in AM which has had a phenomenal impact.”

Made Smarter North West continues to offer SME manufacturers access to funded support, including digital transformation workshops, impartial technology advice, and leadership and skills training. Visit the website for further details here.