Three sectors experience significant growth
As we look ahead to 2025, we are observing notable growth in several industries across Asia Pacific. The electric vehicle (EV), consumer electronics, and customized healthcare sectors are leading this growth for several reasons. The EV market is of particular interest due to the global shift towards sustainability, as evidenced by the substantial surge in global EV sales, which is led by China.
In Southeast Asia, Thailand is a noteworthy player in this market, driven by the government’s strategic incentive program.
In the consumer electronics sector, advancements in smart home devices and wearables, as well as the proliferation of 5G networks and the Internet of Things (IoT), are driving consumer demands.
The customized healthcare market, particularly in areas such as exoskeletons, is experiencing significant growth due to the global population aged 65+ expected to double by 2050, resulting in increased demand for mobility aids. The government of Thailand has launched initiatives to foster healthcare innovations, contributing to a favorable environment for the development and adoption of these technologies.
Significant opportunities for small to medium manufacturers
The rapid growth of these industries has created substantial opportunities for manufacturers to innovate, such as with customizable, lightweight, and creative designs.
This is particularly beneficial for smaller manufacturers, as they often have the agility to respond quickly, adapt their offerings, and meet niche market demands that may be more challenging for larger manufacturers to fulfill.
A key question for them is how to capitalize on these substantial opportunities. While there are likely several viable approaches to achieving this goal, our customers believe that the key to success lies in investing in the right technology—one that not only meets today’s demands but is also built for the future. Not only are our customers adopting additive manufacturing (AM) technology, but an increasing number of manufacturers worldwide have as well.
The reasons for this are numerous, including the facilitation of innovation, enhanced efficiency, reduced production costs and time, and advanced customization.
The power of additive manufacturing with binder jetting
Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, is a process that builds parts layer by layer by adding material from a 3D digital model.
This approach enhances material efficiency and minimizes waste compared to subtractive manufacturing (SM), which starts with a solid block of material and removes excess material to create the desired final shape. AM allows for highly complex and intricate geometries, including internal cavities and lattice structures, which are often impossible with traditional machining.
This design freedom in AM facilitates innovation, easy and inexpensive design iteration, advanced customization, and lightweight part production.
A specialized form of additive manufacturing called binder jetting, one of seven categories of AM recognized by ASTM International. Binder jetting is a rapid process that produces metal parts without lasers or tooling, which can be costly and often have long lead times.
Instead, binder jetting uses an industrial inkjet printhead to quickly deposit a bonding agent onto a thin layer of powdered particles, either metal, sand, ceramics, or composites. This high-speed process is repeated, layer-by-layer, using instructions from a digital design file, until the object form is complete.
This method allows for rapid production and easy customization, making it ideal for meeting the increasing demand for innovation, customization and efficiency in the dynamic EV, consumer electronics, and customized healthcare sectors.
Desktop Metal’s binder jetting systems
Desktop Metal is the global leader in binder jetting technology, as demonstrated by its extensive portfolio of binder jetting systems. The Shop SystemTM and the X25Pro, for instance, deliver high-quality, complex metal components efficiently and affordably.
Designed specifically for machine shops and SMEs, the Shop System’s single-pass print engine can produce entire layers of parts in mere seconds, achieving print speeds up to 10 times faster than laser powder bed fusion systems.
This efficiency enables manufacturers to print hundreds of parts overnight, significantly reducing lead times and increasing throughput. The system’s high-resolution printing capabilities ensure that even intricate geometries are produced with exceptional detail and surface finish.
The X25Pro is part of the X-Series family of scalable printers, which feature patented Triple ACT for excellent surface quality and specialty materials. This mid-volume system is enhanced with TurboFuse™, a high-speed, high-strength binder that improves print speeds by approximately 50% over previous systems. Its intelligent chemistry enhances adhesion to metal powders and dries quickly, eliminating the need for layer-by-layer heating and accelerating the printing process.
This advancement not only boosts productivity but also results in stronger green parts, facilitating easier depowdering and improving overall yields.
Time to act
Digital manufacturing is undergoing a transformation, with faster and shorter product innovation and lifecycles.
To deal with this change, we need tools to enable flexible manufacturing and optimized complex design for the three industries previously outlined. Competition is fierce, but also an opportunity for SMEs to gain a competitive edge with the help of metal binder jetting technology. This is a pivotal opportunity for SMEs to invest in this scalable, future-ready technology.
Article by: MEGATech & Thaisakol Group Co., Ltd.<< Click Here