UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 16 DECEMBER 2013
The UK's jewellery sector is set to benefit from a major £471,000 research and development project, aimed at revolutionising the current use of additive manufacturing for precious metal jewellery.
The project – titled PRECIOUS – will see the Jewellery Industry Innovation Centre (JIIC) – part of Birmingham City University – join forces with two Birmingham based industry companies Delcam and Cookson Precious Metals, as well as Future Factories and Finishing Techniques.
Through a series of trials, benchmarks and demonstrators, the project aims to overcome some of the barriers that are currently faced by UK manufacturers and retailers in adopting this form of 3D printing technology.
In support of the project, UK innovation agency, the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) has contributed £212,000 to the research.
JIIC Centre Manager Gay Penfold said: "The UK is an internationally recognised and important supplier of quality jewellery to the world's markets but is constantly threatened by cheap imports from low labour cost economies.
"The PRECIOUS project is intended to offer a viable alternative manufacturing option to those who design and supply jewellery at the middle to higher end of the bespoke and personalised jewellery market. New online business models that exploit additive manufacturing are expected to be created and should add innovative design driven impetuous to the more traditional high street retailing sectors."