Puducherry: Pondicherry University's Department of Green Energy Technology, in collaboration with the National Centre for Additive Manufacturing (NCAM), Hyderabad, on Friday organised a one-day expert workshop on “Role of Additive Manufacturing Applications Towards Sustainability” under the aegis of UNESCO Chair activities.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. P. Prakash Babu inaugurated the event, highlighting the transformative role of additive manufacturing, particularly in healthcare. He noted its applications in organ transplantation and reconstructive surgeries, citing examples such as ear reconstruction and 3D-printed organs for patients with liver, heart and kidney ailments. He stressed the need to modernise healthcare systems in tune with technological advances.

The workshop featured four technical sessions covering polymer and metal 3D printing, design for additive manufacturing, post-processing, and industry case studies. Speakers included G. Sudhakar of EOS GmbH on cost-effective polymer applications; P. Lakshmi Narayana of Imaginarium on electron beam melting technology; Samarth Deshpande of Phillips Machine Tools on direct metal laser solidification; and Amit Saxena of Amace Solutions on advancements in metal 3D printing.

Participants from academia and industry explored applications in aerospace, automotive, healthcare and energy sectors. Discussions focused on enabling complex geometries, lightweight structures, customisation, and reducing material waste and energy use compared to traditional manufacturing.

Prof. R. Arun Prasath, UNESCO Chair and head of the department, proposed the vote of thanks. The valedictory address was delivered by Prof. Clement S. Lourdes, who underscored the workshop's role in promoting sustainable manufacturing and fostering industry-academia partnerships.