SHIJIAZHUANG, March 8 (Xinhua) -- China's major steel supplier HBIS Group Co., Ltd announced Friday that the company will cooperate with Siemens on the R&D and industrial application of additive manufacturing (AM) technology.
Under the newly-signed strategic cooperation agreement, HBIS will join hands with Siemens to explore intelligent manufacturing solutions and build itself into a domestic leader in AM, commonly known as 3D printing.
HBIS is the first iron and steel enterprise in the country to develop substantial cooperation with Siemens on AM, said Li Yiren, head of the strategic planning department at HBIS.
Based on systematic research and feasibility analysis, Siemens will offer consultation services to HBIS, including strategic direction, market positioning, competitive advantages, and application scenarios of AM.
A joint AM lab will be established, with consultations from Siemens on technological roadmapping, R&D system building, and production and equipment planning to support HBIS to break new grounds, HBIS said.
As one of the world's largest steelmakers, HBIS is speeding up the construction of an industrial service platform. The company built a strategic partnership with Siemens in 2016 to jointly develop digital factories, intelligent manufacturing, and optimization of metallurgical technologies.
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