MANSUS x AMGTA Mini-Series Episode 8, Byron Kennedy, SPEE3D
The MANSUS x AMGTA Mini-Series penultimate episode has landed. This week with hear from Byron Kennedy, CEO, SPEE3D, an Australian manufacturing company at the forefront of metal additive manufacturing. SPEE3D’s technology is redefining how critical industries—including defense, mining, and energy—approach manufacturing. It is natural to conclude that that such industries, by proxy, are not sustainable. And yet, they aren’t going away. The question then becomes: how do these critical industries think about their environmental impact to become more sustainable? SPEE3D has part of the answer.
Deployable Manufacturing: Reducing Waste and Carbon Emissions
SPEE3D specializes in large-scale metal 3D printers designed for deployment in remote locations, enabling on-site production of critical components. Traditional manufacturing often involves machining parts from large billets of material, resulting in significant waste. Additive manufacturing, by contrast, optimizes material use, producing parts with minimal excess. This approach not only improves sustainability but also reduces costs—an essential dual benefit for industries reliant on high-performance components.
A key advantage of SPEE3D’s technology is its ability to be used in the field, where traditional manufacturing methods are impractical. In sectors like defense and mining, the ability to print replacement parts on demand eliminates the need for costly and carbon-intensive logistics. Byron sited an example "Think of a mine site in the middle of the Australian desert, and there’s a broken pulley. That site could be running at $1 million an hour, so they’ve got to get that up and running. And they might have to ship that part in from Texas, so they might hire a jet to get that part all the way to the Australian desert to get running. Now imagine the CO₂ emissions from bringing that one part all the way from Texas.". With SPEE3D’s solution, the necessary part can be produced on-site, reducing both downtime and environmental impact.
Independent Validation of Sustainability Claims
Recognizing the importance of third-party verification, SPEE3D collaborated with Swinburne University and Charles Darwin University in Australia to conduct a case study comparing its technology to traditional manufacturing. The results were compelling: SPEE3D’s process produced 60% less CO₂ emissions and consumed 33% less energy than conventional manufacturing. These findings provide independent validation of SPEE3D’s sustainability claims, something Byron believes is important in raising credibility for the industry.
As sustainability continues to be a priority for manufacturers worldwide, partnerships between industry and research organizations are crucial in advancing and substantiating sustainable practices.
A Global Perspective with AMGTA
As a member of the Additive Manufacturer Green Trade Association (AMGTA), SPEE3D benefits from global collaboration on sustainability initiatives. Byron tells us that AMGTA fosters discussions among manufacturers, suppliers, and competitors, facilitating knowledge sharing and best practices. This international perspective is essential as industries worldwide seek to implement more sustainable manufacturing processes.
Beyond environmental benefits, SPEE3D’s technology offers enhanced safety and cost efficiency compared to traditional metal casting. Byron told us that the casting industry, which has been around for over 5,000 years, is known for its challenges, including safety risks and material waste. By leveraging additive manufacturing, SPEE3D is modernizing metal production, providing a safer and more efficient alternative to conventional methods.
The Future of Metal Manufacturing
Looking ahead, SPEE3D aims to further expand its impact by replacing traditional casting methods across multiple industries. The company’s innovative approach to on-demand, deployable manufacturing is setting new standards for sustainability and operational efficiency.
SPEE3D’s contributions to sustainable manufacturing underscore the potential of additive manufacturing to transform industrial production. By minimizing waste, reducing carbon emissions, and enabling rapid, on-site production, this technology is reshaping the future of metal manufacturing.
Watch the full episode and explore the whole series on the MANSUS YouTube channel and on the AMGTA Learn & Discovery Page the final episode will be live March 5th.
