The UK Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg has announced a new investment in 3D printing by Renishaw, the global engineering company. The decision by the company to create its first Indian additive manufacturing (metal 3D printing) technical centre in Pune was revealed by Mr Clegg on the final day of a trade delegation he led to India.

Forming part of Renishaw's continuing investment in the development, manufacture and application of additive manufacturing technologies, the new Pune additive manufacturing (AM) technical centre also maintains the company's long term commitment to the Indian market. It will sit alongside Renishaw's existing key strategic AM technical centre locations in the UK, USA, Canada, Germany & China, with additional centres are also planned for other key markets.

To mark the announcement of the new technical centre, Rhydian Pountney, the Renishaw Director responsible for Indian Sales and Marketing operations, presented Mr Clegg with a 3D printed titanium scale replica of the company's 19th century headquarters building in Gloucestershire.

Mr Pountney said, "We are delighted that the Deputy Prime Minister was able to make this announcement during this important trade mission.The thrust of the additive manufacturing technical centres is to create a platform on which to work in close partnership with our customers to help them realise the benefits of AM in their products and manufacturing processes. Our new Indian AM technical centre will be equipped with the latest products and will be staffed by our knowledgeable local team who are well versed in service, applications and process engineering."

Renishaw, which is the UK's only supplier of metal additive manufacturing machines, also sees the new Indian technical centre as a cornerstone in its ambition to be a major contributor to the adoption of AM in the established and fast growing high technology Indian manufacturing sector.

Renishaw's Pune facility, which will house the new technical centre, already forms an important role in the company's overall manufacturing and procurement strategy, and also houses a large group of the company's software engineers, many of whom are directly contributing to the additive manufacturing product line. Renishaw has been trading in India since 1983 and after establishing a representative office in Bangalore in 1993, converted this to a wholly owned trading subsidiary in 2000. Today the company has regional offices in five cities, plus resident sales engineers in other key areas.