Something is 3D printed in the Kingdom of Denmark

In 1600, William Shakespeare focused on Denmark when writing Hamlet, widely considered one of the most powerful and influential works of world literature. Today, additive manufacturing technology providers and manufacturers are focusing on Denmark as they rewrite the future of manufacturing.

Danish AM Hub aims to lead the way in using AM technology for sustainability by leveraging the country’s renewable energy system.

And with a new investment of €5.4 million from the Danish Industry Foundation, the Hub will drive innovation forward with AM experts and the many thousands of agile and innovative Danish small and medium-sized manufacturers.

Green Denmark

Denmark has been widely recognised as a pioneering country in the green transition. Experts from Yale and Columbia Universities refer to the country as leading the world on climate action in the newly released 2020 Environmental Performance Index (EPI). The EPI demonstrates Denmark’s leadership through a number of examples of the green transition.

This includes facts such as Denmark’s reduction in CO2 emissions and that 47% of electricity was sourced from wind power in 2019. Researchers also highlight current plans to at least triple offshore wind capacity by 2030 through the construction of two energy islands with an initial capacity of 2 GW each, and Denmark’s 70% reduction target by 2030 enshrined in the new Climate Act.

The Danish green energy system has attracted major investments, best illustrated by tech giants’ investments in data centres. Apple’s massive data centre in Viborg is now online and will be supported by new wind energy investments. Just before Christmas, Microsoft announced the most significant investment in its 30-year history in Denmark, naming Copenhagen as the location for its next sustainable data centre region. Both centres will be powered by 100% Danish renewable energy.

AM for a Sustainable Future

Led by Danish AM Hub, the Danish renewable energy sector will now also play a key role in unlocking the sustainable potential of additive manufacturing.

“Ever since the Bronze Age, we have manufactured using moulds or milling methods. Additive is a new production method with huge potential to reduce material use, transport and waste,” says Danish AM Hub CEO Frank Rosengreen Lorenzen. “One of the pitfalls, however, is the high energy consumption per part, which is why we need to deploy the technology in countries such as Denmark with a large share of renewable energy.”

Just as some of the world’s largest tech giants have focused their resources and investments on Denmark to leverage the Danish renewable energy system, major manufacturers and technology providers are now joining forces to unlock the sustainable potential of additive manufacturing.

Danish AM Hub Leading the Way

Already close to 50 organisations — from EOS and Stratasys to LEGO and Grundfos — are joining forces in the AM Hub to unlock the sustainable potential of additive manufacturing in Denmark, testing initiatives that can move sustainable production forward.

Partners and investors have been supporting the Danish AM Hub’s objectives. The recent €5.4 million funding from the Danish Industry Foundation underscores the commitment across Denmark to the future of sustainable, advanced technology development and deployment.

Danish AM Hub is set to work with Danish experts and the many thousands of agile and innovative Danish small and medium-sized manufacturers to test a number of initiatives, including, among others:

• New design methods for additive manufacturing, thereby creating more energy-efficient products
• Using waste streams as 3D printer filament in circular models
• Creating more digital, distributed and on-demand value chains, all with a focus on reducing CO2 emissions.

Ellen MacArthur Foundation has shed light on the ‘hidden emissions’ from manufacturing: 45% of global CO2 emissions come from the production of goods and the management of land. Half of this arises from manufacturing and how we turn materials like aluminium, steel, plastic, etc. into products.

Join the Green Team

Danish AM Hub brings together a dedicated expert team and a growing network of partners and investors, united in the mission to transform manufacturing. Failing to make such a transformation will make climate targets unachievable. By 2050, global demand for industrial materials such as steel, cement, aluminium and plastics is projected to increase by a factor of two to four.

We must start prioritising how we can manufacture with sustainable materials and renewable energy, and AM can play an important role when combined with Danish renewable energy sources.

“One key initiative that we will develop with our members is to find a way to calculate CO2 emissions by changing, for example, from formative to additive manufacturing, and turn that into a piece of software that can help guide how to manufacture in the most sustainable way,” said Lorenzen. “We invite experts, major manufacturers and technology providers to join us in that important initiative.”

After all, it is no longer a question of “to print or not to print” — but a question of Danish additive manufacturing experts focusing on creating the most sustainable answer. An answer is to be found in this pioneering green country: Something sustainable is 3D printed in the Kingdom of Denmark.