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The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) selected the research and development project proposed by Shimadzu Corporation in collaboration with Professor Masahiro Tsukamoto’s group at the Joining and Welding Research Institute, Osaka University, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Matsuura Machinery Corporation, Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., MI-6 Ltd., the Industrial Research Institute of Ishikawa, and Kanazawa University, entitled “Research and Development of Integrated Laser and Metal Additive Manufacturing Technology for Achieving High-Value Design and Manufacturing,” as a “Key and Advanced Technology R&D through Cross Community Collaboration Program (K-Program) for Development and Verification of Advanced Metal Additive Manufacturing System Technology.” The program is scheduled to extend for five years, from FY 2024 to FY 2028.

The K-Program is a Japanese national government program intended to promote research and development of technologies important for ensuring and strengthening the economic security of Japan. The metal additive manufacturing system is based on a technique used in a wide range of industries, such as for manufacturing automotive motors and aircraft engines. It enables the manufacture of parts with complex shapes and structures that are difficult to make conventionally and can help achieve weight reductions and/or functionally improvements. Also, because it only adds metal layers to the areas necessary, it helps reduce material waste, costs, and environmental impact.

On the other hand, fabricated parts can have quality assurance and productivity issues. The program will develop the key technologies, such as forming, metal powder, and design technologies, in an integrated way and establish them as an integrated metal additive manufacturing system. In addition, the program will specify quality assurance regulations, certification standards, and other requirements in order to establish the production processes necessary for manufacturing parts with advanced functionality in the optimal location (onsite) and for shortening delivery times. As the company in charge of developing the precision blue laser wire-DED (directed energy deposition) technology necessary for increasing the accuracy and functionality of metal additive manufacturing, Shimadzu Corporation will use their BLUE IMPACT blue direct diode laser light source technology, which achieved the world's highest output level of 6 kW, as announced in 2024. Through this program, Shimadzu intends to continue contributing to achieving advancements in Japanese manufacturing capabilities.

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