As a latecomer to the global additive manufacturing industry, South Korea is striving to boost technology and cultivate expertise in the market, despite lack of human resources and investment.

According to the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, the local additive manufacturing industry was worth 59 billion won ($54 million) in 2014 and 82 billion won in 2015. This year, it is expected to exceed 116 billion won. 

Being in its initial stage here, Korean additive manufacturing is mainly dominated by small and medium-size companies rather than conglomerates.

Among firms here related to 3-D printing, annual sales for 72 percent of them were less than 5 billion won, showed a survey by the Korea Electronics Association. For three-quarters of the firms, the average number of employees was 50.

“Currently, Korea is in the initial stage as it joined the 3-D printing market late. The two core factors of additive manufacturing are software and materials. Making printers is simple but developing software requires astronomical investment and efforts,” said technology management professor Lim Chai-sung at Kunkuk University, who also chairs the Korea Industry 4.0 Association.

Despite the slow growth of additive manufacturing, the medical sector has shown meaningful progress.

In May, Chung-Ang University Hospital’s neurosurgery team succeeded in transplanting a titanium skull produced by additive manufacturing to a female patient in her 60s who had problems caused by cerebral hemorrhage. This marked the first such case in Korea.

Unlike common titanium skulls whose strength stands at 60 percent, the new titanium skull’s strength was raised to 95 percent.

“Common artificial skulls made of cement are too heavy and there are difficulties in tailoring them based on individuals’ conditions. The 95 percent pure titanium skull, however, is much lighter and easier to customize,” said neurosurgery professor Kwon Jeong-taik who led the landmark surgery.

Other hospitals are also actively using additive manufacturing in surgeries. Asan Medical Center developed the world’s first “surgery guide” for breast cancer patients, allowing doctors to mark the problematic part of the breast in three dimensions before surgery and helping to minimize the unnecessary removal of breast tissue.

Severance Hospital’s medical team also succeeded in manufacturing tailored pelvic bones through additive manufacturing and transplanting them to a patient.

According to the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, the medical sector is the third highest user of additive manufacturing, at 15 percent, following the consumer goods and vehicle industries in Korea.

To speed up growth in the 3-D printing industry in sectors other than the medical field, the government has vowed to provide various support and ease regulations since last year.

It established the Korea 3-D Printing Association in June 2014 upon the participation of conglomerates such as Samsung Electronics, KT and Naver, and medium-size companies, with an aim to make it serve as an outpost for the additive manufacturing industry.

By 2020, the organization hopes to raise 10 million specialists and make up 15 percent of the global market with its exclusive technology. Currently, Korea accounts for about 2 percent of the world’s additive manufacturing market.

Concerns, however, remain over the operation of the organization as it has only served as an event organizer or trial lab operator so far, showing no actual role in developing technologies or researche.

“Lack of human resources and the government’s reassurances are the main issues for now. The government should firstly define what the problem is and come up with solutions,” Lim added.

Despite the lack of technology and support, several businesses have made progress.

InssTek, established in 2001, developed the country’s first metal additive manufacturing and acquired the patent in countries, including the U.S., China and Japan.

Carima, which produces 3-D printers using plastic as a material, has also pioneered the local industry for over 15 years.

To better support such small but innovative firms, the roles of the government and companies are crucial,” experts stressed.

“The government should not only make investment under specific plans but also provide various packages of subsidies and tax cut to encourage the industry to keep digging in the field no matter how much outcome they achieve at first,” said business professor Wo Jong-hyun of Chung-Ang University.

“Now is the very crucial moment that could change the industry supremacy from Asia to the West. Additive manufacturing is a matter of survival for companies.”

By Lee Hyun-jeong  (rene@heraldcorp.com)