On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, the "DXR Manufacturing Platform Special Seminar" was held. This platform was established to promote the industrial application of "DXR manufacturing technology"—a combination of DX (Digital Transformation) and XR (Extended Reality)—and currently includes approximately 40 participating companies from inside and outside Niigata Prefecture. This year, the special seminar series titled "Understanding AM!—Covering the Fundamentals, Technology, and Business of AM" is being held for platform member companies*, faculty, and *students. [AM: Additive Manufacturing]

The first session, "History, Current State, Fundamentals, and Technology of AM (Plastic)," featured Specially Appointed Professor Thomas Pang (President and CEO of Additive Japan Corporation). As a leading figure since the dawn of the AM industry, he shared his extensive insights, ranging from the historical evolution of AM to core technologies focused on resins. The seminar was interactive and enthusiastic from start to finish, with a system that allowed questions to be asked at any time, and the lecturer answering participants' questions on the spot. After the lecture, Professor Hitoshi Hiraga, Director of the DX Agile Manufacturing Research and Development Center and Senior URA at NUT, introduced the purpose and latest initiatives of the platform, and led a tour of the DXR Manufacturing Open Innovation Center (DXR Building).

Approximately 60 participants from both within and outside the university (including about 35 from member companies) attended the event. Feedback was highly positive, with many noting that the seminar was highly meaningful with its professional and practical content. The second session, "AM Technology (Metal), DfAM (Design for Additive Manufacturing), and Software," is scheduled forThursday, June 4, 2026.

Through manufacturing, Nagaoka University of Technology (NUT) will continue to promote the DX of regional industries through industry-academia-government collaboration, as well as initiatives aimed at the popularization and development of next-generation manufacturing technologies.

Issued by

Head Office for Research Strategy, Nagaoka University of Technology: Saito, Takei