Digitizing manufacturing into software is what gets so many investors excited about 3D printing technology. The 3D printing industrial revolution is starting in Korea. Globally the industry was worth $15.2 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow to $68.7 billion by 2028. 3D printing in Korea is still in its early stages, however many industries from manufacturing to biotech are looking to use 3D printing to find new innovative solutions to existing problems. The movement started back in 2017 when the Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning spent $37 million from that year’s budget to encourage the development of 3D printing in Korea. Now in 2023, that amount has been raised to $70 million.

3D Printing for South Korea’s Military

South Korea’s military is researching 3D printing technology in order to quickly manufacture accurate and reliable system components. The Ministry of National Defense plans to produce parts using 3D printing technology for parts that are no longer manufactured or for parts that are difficult to get. For example, the Republic of Korea Air Force started to use 3D printing back in 2015 to produce cover plates for high-pressure turbines in its F-15K fighter jets. In 2022 alone, there were over 3,500 defense components that were printed using a 3D printer. Therefore, this helped the Ministry of National Defense save time and money. They even have a division solely dedicated to 3D printing.

3D Printing for Medicine

The biotech industry in particular has taken an interest in 3D printing for what they call 3D bioprinting. The Ministry of Science and ICT’s National Radio Research Agency has been supportive of the international standardization of medical image-based 3D printing and it will be the international standard by 2025. This will allow for the creation of a customized 3D-printed prosthetic based on the patient’s medical 3D image. In addition, this will help physicians in Korea create and use patient-specific 3D-printed medical products easily. The aim is to ultimately produce artificial bones or even organs by using 3D bioprinters.

3D Printing Companies to Know in Korea

Samsung Engineering Co.

The Samsung Engineering Co. is the plant construction unit of Samsung. They are focusing on using 3D printing technology for building structures. The company started developing the 3D printing robot back in 2020 and they finally succeeded in 2021. The 3D printing robot had a successful trial run and will be used to build structures that will save time and be a whole lot safer. 3D printing lowers the construction time for a structure by 90%. There is no need for floor plans, molds, blueprints, and the installation of temporary work structures for construction. Therefore, there is also potential for the reduction of construction waste through the use of efficient material input and management.

Carima

Carima is a 3D printing company that produces industrial 3D printers. Their top-selling 3D printer is the Carima DM400A. They have already sold their printers to the world’s leading manufacturers in aerospace and defense contractors. The company continues to develop photopolymer 3D printing materials with other companies around the world. Moreover, they also developed a consumer-friendly 3D printer called LM1 which can be used for jewelry and figurines.

Sindoh

Sindoh is a 3D printing company that developed a new stereolithography 3D printer. Stereolithography is a form of 3D printing technology where a 3D object is made layer by layer using chemical resin to link together and form polymers in the photochemical process. Shindoh’s 3D printer is the largest of its kind and uses photocurable resin. Moreover, the company plans to mass produces 3D printers that use metal powders by the end of 2023. They are also planning on developing a laser-melting 3D printer that can melt and fuse metallic powders together.