Health and Environmental Aspects of Additive Manufacturing and its Challenges for a Sustainable Production - HEPAM

Purpose and goal

During the project, the aim has been to identify the challenges regarding a safe usage of AM, and to clarify its issues. This aim has been met through workshops where these queries have been highlighted. Measurements of the emissions from AM equipment has been performed to more clearly identify the needs for the challenge regarding a more clear and environmental usage of AM. A broadening of the consortium has been made through public workshops where participants have collaborated toward a continuation.

Expected results and effects

During the project, five needs to tackle the challenge of a safe and sustainable usage of AM has been identified. These five needs are: 1.Guarantee global sustainability during usage of AM 2.Guarantee a safe working environment and product usage during AM 3.Laws, recommendations and guidelines for AM are created, and are evaluated for compilation 4.Development and implementation of technology for safe usage of AM 5.Education for safe usage of AM Through measurements, it has been shown that emissions form AM machines are on elevated levels compared to what was expected.

Planned approach and implementation

Through the arrangement of workshops, where external participants were involved, the needs regarding the challenge have more thoroughly been identified and more clearly understood. Participants from multiple sections of the value chain have, in collaboration, created synergies to understand the issues in the challenge and created new possible solutions to these. Through simple measurements of emissions, a clear indication is given to the importance of finding solutions to the challenge, and what the risks are if the challenge is not met.