香港自動化科技協會 專刊 (香港工業總會轄下第32分組)

Evolving Technology 改善技術推陳出新 According to Mr Lin, HKPC has always kept pace with the market to identify new technologies on raising productivity for promotion to industries. In the watch-making, electronic and electrical industries, for example, due to limitations in the traditional electroplating technique, deficit of uneven thickness on products’ surface causing colour durability issues. To address the problem, HKPC has introduced the advanced Atomic Layer Deposition System from Europe to improve quality in colouring and anti- oxidation. HKPC has also been very active in developing accessory equipment for electric vehicles. ‘Our team has developed a mobile battery charger for electric cars. It re-charges battery in just 5 to 7 minutes for the car to run up to 20 km. The Advanced EV and Accessories Technologies (EVA) on display at the HKPC Building demonstrate the fruitful results of HKPC’s Automotive Parts and Accessory Systems (APAS) R&D Centre, contributing to Hong Kong’s move towards Smart City.’ 林主席表示，生產力局一直緊貼市場，發掘有助企業提升生產 力的先進技術，有待整合推廣。例如，鐘表及電子電器產品因 傳統電鍍過程的技術所限，導致鍍層厚薄不均勻，製成品容易 脫色。針對此問題，生產力局從歐洲引入先進的「原子層沉積 設備」，提升鍍層的防脫色及抗氧化功能。 在電動車研發配備方面，生產力局也扮演積極的角色。「最 近，團隊研發了一個流動電動車充電系統，適合為電動車提供 緊急充電服務，充電 5 至 7 分鐘，便可以行上 20 公里。現在於生 產力大樓展出的先進電動車及配件技術展示平台（ Advanced EV and Accessories Technologies ，簡稱 EVA ），展示了多項本局旗 下香港汽車零部件研究及發展中心的研發成果，為邁向『智慧 城市』 (Smart City) 作出貢獻。」 speed. As the market demand for customised products increases, orders tend to come in more varieties and smaller quantities. It renders mould-production less cost-efficient, gradually paving the way for 3D printing to be used more for direct production and become a key part of smart manufacturing. With over 20 years of 3D printing experience under its belt, HKPC started as a key partner to manufacturers in speedy prototype production. Riding on the smart industry movement, HKPC introduced the first-of-its-kind Hybrid Metal 3D Printing System in Hong Kong in 2014, and set up 3D Printing One in the following year to offer one-stop 3D printing consultancy services in order to promote its wider use locally. Mr Lin was pleased to see how 3D printing has nurtured fresh thinking for the market, ‘3D printing can be applied to wide range of areas.We also developed a 3D printer to try to 3D-print food such as chocolate. In addition, a company had worked with us on customising unique rings by 3D printing with high market potential.’ Recently, HKPC has brought in a couple of new high-end 3D printing equipment, the only of their kind for open use by local industry. One in conjunction with Pro-Technic Machinery Ltd is the Multi-Jet Fusion (MJF) 3D Printing Technology which utilises the high-tensile strength thermoplastic – Nylon for direct manufacturing parts and components, and can print ten times faster than other plastic 3D printers. The other is the DLP Ceramic 3D Printer that can directly 3D-print ceramic medical equipment, dental tools, jewelry and industrial grade functional parts with high precision. 益，令 3D 打印逐步應用於直接生產上，成為「智能製造」重要 的一環。 生產力局擁有逾 20 年 3D 打印的經驗，早年主要為廠商提供快速 原型製造服務。針對智能製造的發展勢頭，生產力局於 2014 年 已引入全港首部混合式金屬 3D 打印系統，並於 2015 年成立「 3D 打印體驗廊」，提供一條龍 3D 打印顧問服務，進一步普及化推 廣 3D 打印。林主席樂於見到 3D 打印帶給市場的新思維：「 3D 打 印應用範圍廣泛，我們亦有自家研發 3D 打印機，嘗試打印朱古 力等食物。另外，市場上有公司與我們合作開發以 3D 打印製作 獨一無異的戒指，極具市場潛力。」 最近，生產力局亦先後引入全港唯一開放給業界使用的高端 3D 打印設施。其中包括與寶力機械有限公司合作引入「射流熔融 3D 打印」技術 (Multi-Jet Fusion) ，可直接使用尼龍此類高韌性 的熱塑性材料製造產品，打印速度又比一般塑膠 3D 打印機快 10 倍；而另一項「 DLP 陶瓷 3D 打印」技術，則可以精確直接打印 陶瓷醫療器械、牙科工具、首飾及工業級功能部件等。 22 Connecting Practitioners 業界專訪