April 23, 2025
New Chairperson Viivi Villa-Nuottajärvi Leads the Five-Year-Old FAME Ecosystem in a Rapidly Evolving Industry
The new Chairperson of the FAME ecosystem, Viivi Villa-Nuottajärvi, Vice President, R&D at Valmet, sees additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, developing across multiple areas. While company needs vary, certain key trends shape the future of the industry.
“In general, projects that promote sustainable development and enhance cost competitiveness are essential themes,” says Villa-Nuottajärvi.
This aligns with FAME’s vision, which emphasizes that sustainable additive manufacturing is Finland’s competitive edge. Additive manufacturing offers an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional manufacturing methods as it reduces material waste, enables the use of recycled materials, and, above all, allows for improved part performance, which delivers the greatest benefits.
“Lifecycle thinking could be a key factor in promoting the adoption of additive manufacturing, as the benefits of products throughout their use are critical. By this, I mean that AM allows for the creation of optimized products that traditional manufacturing methods cannot produce,” Villa-Nuottajärvi explains. She also highlights the exciting possibilities that AI can offer in design and 3D printing.
Paula Kainu of EOS Finland has been appointed the new Vice Chairperson.
A Nationwide Network of Experts
FAME was established in 2020 and is led by DIMECC. Established by around 20 founding members, it has grown into a network of more than 60 members and over 400 experts.
“Over the past five years, FAME has established itself as the leading AM ecosystem in the Nordics and increased its international recognition,” says Tero Hämeenaho, the first chair of FAME and Head of Additive Manufacturing and AI Program Director at Etteplan.
To disseminate 3D printing knowledge, FAME has launched research programs such as DREAMS, which compiled a comprehensive material database for metal 3D printing to facilitate the design of printed parts, for example, addressing the lack of data on the fatigue resistance of printed components, while AMAze focuses on automating the post-processing of additive manufacturing.
Education has played a key role from the beginning, ensuring a steady supply of skilled professionals and technological advancements. Other than collaboration with educational and research institutions, FAME has trained hundreds of 3D specialists and published a handbook on laser-based powder bed fusion for metals. Among the approximately 30 cases developed within FAME, using new designs, techniques, and materials, the most notable has been Europe’s largest additively manufactured pressure vessel at the time, along with extensive research on its durability, which has gained significant domestic and international attention.
Shared Facilities Facilitate Adoption
Additive manufacturing has established its position in Finnish manufacturing industry, as evidenced by the growing volumes in serial production and investments in new equipment.
“While 3D printing provides numerous advantages, its adoption still requires significant investments and expertise. Additionally, the high costs of materials and equipment can be a barrier for smaller companies,” Villa-Nuottajärvi notes.
To address this challenge, FAME has introduced a shared facility at the AM Campus, which has been operating since 2022 in connection with Wärtsilä’s Sustainable Technology Hub in Vaasa.
Finland’s 3D printing market has grown significantly over the past five years, and this development is expected to accelerate further.
“FAME’s role in integrating 3D printing into Finnish industry is becoming increasingly central, as the technology has rapidly moved toward broader industrial adoption, particularly in machinery manufacturing for end-use parts and spare components. In the future, 3D printing will become an established part of production across various industrial sectors, driven by breakthroughs in materials, evolving processes, automation, and standardization,” says Hämeenaho.
