Press Release

NWA ORC project Add-reAM awarded to Boost Circular Economy through 3D Printing

Advancing Dutch Circular Economy through Additive Manufacturing: Strategies for Repair and Remanufacturing using AM (Add-reAM) project, a national initiative aiming to transform manufacturing in the Netherlands using Additive Manufacturing (AM, also known as 3D Printing) technologies will enable the repair and remanufacturing of complex components, help industries reduce waste, conserve resources, and shift toward circular production models.

Led by Professor Ian Gibson of the University of Twente and supported by the Materials Innovation Institute (M2i), the project brings together leading Dutch universities, major industrial players such as GKN, SKF, Signify, ProRail, and public and civil organizations. They share the mission: to make ‘repair’ the new standard and ‘remanufacturing’ the engine of circular industry.

Today’s linear model of “make–use–discard” is no longer tenable. Add-reAM responds by offering a powerful alternative: 3D-printed repair and remanufacture, allowing high-value components to be rebuilt, upgraded, and reused — instead of replaced.

According to project partners, this approach will directly aim to

reduce the demand for raw materials

cut CO₂ emissions

reduce production waste by 30%

reduce maintenance downtime by 20% through rapid repair of the components

allow for remanufacturing of complex parts to reduce CO₂ emissions

reduce e-waste by 20%

These results will be enabled by AI-supported decision tools, smart quality monitoring, and design guidelines for 3D-printable spare parts.

Beyond technology, Add-reAM will develop:

Educational programs to train future repair and remanufacturing professionals.

Consumer research to build trust in high-quality remanufactured goods.

A White Paper to guide future policy on circular production and intellectual property.

These outputs will help overcome current barriers — including unclear regulations, consumer hesitance, and lack of business incentives — by redefining how value is created and sustained across product life cycles.

With implementation starting this year, Add-reAM will not only demonstrate real-world applications in aerospace, rail, lighting, and logistics — it will also lay the foundation for a national shift to circular manufacturing. This project supports the EU Green Deal and Dutch climate neutrality goals for 2050, positioning the Netherlands as a leader in sustainable production innovation. Through Add-reAM, the country is investing not just in technology, but in a future where waste is designed out of the system — and repair is built in.