A SCOTTISH 3D printing specialist has received a £39,000 grant to boost growth.

Brechin-based Angus 3D Solutions secured the regional selective assistance grant from Scottish Enterprise.

Building on growth last year, partly due to a grant from Zero Waste Scotland in 2018 to buy the Markforged Metal-X, the firm headed by global manufacturing veteran Andy Simpson has now put in place a three-year growth plan.

This will include Mr Simpson and employee John MacLeod being joined by a second employee to increase work supporting the circular economy in Scotland by enabling rapid prototyping and the remanufacture of parts to keep machines in use.

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Angus 3D will also add bespoke carbon fibre manufacture and a vacuum-forming service to its list of capabilities in addition to greater 3D printing capacity, it said.

Its Brechin Business Centre premises will also be grown to cope with more new equipment.

A third unit is being taken on by the firm with the help of Angus Council’s Business Angus team and neighbour TecNiche, which agreed to move so Angus 3D can add the unit next door to its existing pair.

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Mr Simpson said: “I’ve been talking about the huge opportunity the circular economy offers the manufacturing and oil and gas sectors for years now.

“Its ability to save on costs as well as time and materials is huge but still in the early stages of being exploited here, so it’s great to have backing from Scottish Enterprise and Angus Council to pursue realising that opportunity.”

Jane Martin, of Scottish Enterprise, said the firm is “a great example of how entrepreneurial talent, skills and ideas can create a growing business and new jobs”.

Alison Smith, head of Angus Council’s business team, said: “Angus has the highest percentage of people employed in manufacturing in Tay Cities Region and it is a key growth sector for the future with a shift to advanced and high value and sustainable manufacturing and engineering. We are delighted to be able to support Andy’s plans.”