Funding program of the ETH Domain for research in Advanced Manufacturing and additive manufacturing
SFA Advanced Manufacturing
Switzerland (ETH Domain: ETH Zurich, EPFL, Empa, PSI)New on Amplifa
About the Program
The Strategic Focus Area (SFA) Advanced Manufacturing is a research funding program of the ETH Domain in Switzerland and not an industrial company. It is intended to enable the institutions of the ETH Domain (ETH Zurich, EPFL, Empa, PSI) to contribute to developments in modern manufacturing at the highest level, to conduct joint exploratory research projects, and to build up knowledge and infrastructure. Funding is provided for projects in additive manufacturing (including multi-material laser powder bed fusion), printed electronics with metal oxide inks, sensing technologies, laser and light processing, coating, machining, forming, joining and assembly, as well as nano materials. In addition to research projects, the program also funds capacity expansion, technology platforms (e.g. the nsm c600 printer at Empa) and knowledge and technology transfer. The administrative activities are coordinated by Empa.
- Site
- Empa, Dübendorf
- Processes
- Laser powder-bed fusion (LPBF, multi-material), Additive manufacturing (hybrid, for sensor systems), Printing / printing of electronics with metal oxide inks (high-precision printer), Coating and printing, Light-induced and laser processing, Machining, Forming, Joining
- Materials
- Polymers, Metals, Composites, Metal oxide inks, Laser Powder Bed Fusion (Multi-Material), Hybrid additive manufacturing for sensor systems, Printed Electronics (High-Precision-Printer nsm c600), Light-induced and laser processing
- Certificates
- Steering Committee (ETH Domain and industry)
- Industries
- Research, Additive manufacturing, Printed electronics, Sensing, Renewable energy, Automotive
- 01
Calls for proposals (calls & selection)
- 02
Funding of research projects in consortia
- 03
Investments in technology platforms and capacity expansion
- 04
Knowledge and technology transfer to industry
Processes and Materials
Laser Powder Bed Fusion (Multi-Material)
Additive process for monolithic metal components with a multi-material approach; Multi-Mat project.
Hybrid additive manufacturing for sensor systems
Used for sensor integration in workpieces made of polymers, metals and composites.
Printed Electronics (High-Precision-Printer nsm c600)
Printing of electronics with metal oxide-based inks at Empa.
Light-induced and laser processing
Research on laser-based manufacturing processes.
Gravure printing
Highly scalable gravure printing as a printed electronics technology.
Facilities
ETH Domain (ETH Zurich, EPFL, Empa, PSI)
CHResearch and program coordination
- Materials
- Polymers, metals, composites, metal oxide inks
- High-Precision-Printer nsm c600 (Empa)
- LPBF system (Aconity)
Research Topics
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laser powder-bed fusion (LPBF, multi-material)Additive | – | – | – | – | Metals (multi-material, metal powder) |
| Additive manufacturing (hybrid, for sensor systems)Additive | – | – | – | – | Polymers, Metals, Composites |
| Printing / printing of electronics with metal oxide inks (high-precision printer)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Metal oxides (inks) |
| Coating and printingSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Light-induced and laser processingSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| MachiningMachining | – | – | – | – | – |
| FormingForming | – | – | – | – | – |
| JoiningJoining | – | – | – | – | – |
| AssemblyAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Nano AssemblyAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Traditional gravure printingPlastics | – | – | – | – | – |
| Material synthesisEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
1 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-precision printer | nsm c600 | – | – | – | Empa |
Governance and Quality
Program quality is governed by a Steering Committee composed of ETH institutions and Swiss industry; projects are evaluated in annual review meetings.
| Evidence | ETH Domain |
|---|---|
| Steering Committee (ETH Domain and industry) |
Program History
- 2017
Program launch with a launch event on 13 November 2017; funding program 2017–2020 with focus areas and research projects
- 2021
Continuation program 2021–2024 with the focus areas Manufacturing Technologies, Functionality Integration, Sensing Technologies and Intelligent Systems