2023-12-11 09:59:56
The way companies view 3D printing is shifting. More and more companies are looking for a way to integrate 3D printing into their existing processes. And with a new generation of midrange 3D printers that are of good quality, manufacturers are lowering the price threshold to start with industrial 3D printing. This changes the why question in a how-questionnotes Materialize on the eve of 2024.
Traditionally, Materialize looks ahead at the turn of the year and explains the developments that the AM pioneer sees in the market. “3D printing is now considered a fully-fledged option. Most of the time, 3D printing is actually seen as a complementary technology, not a competing technology at all. And they know that it can be used in addition to traditional production techniques,” is how Mathieu Cornelis, Innovation Manager at Materialize, summarizes one of the changes.
It’s not just regarding 3D printing
Companies realize how 3D printing can speed up the production process; them less dependent on supply chains and facilitates mass customization. Janet Kar, Business Development Manager, sees the emergence of a second route through which companies take up 3D printing. In addition to the companies that turn to 3D printing service companies for 3D printed parts, there is a growing group that is looking for opportunities to integrate the technology into their existing production processes. Specifically, she mentions the production of shoes and glasses. These companies are driving a second demand, namely for solutions for the entire workflow surrounding 3D printing. Janet Kar: “It’s not just regarding adding machines, but it goes much further than just 3D printing, post-processing, finishing, quality control and as we all know, 3D printing software. So as the wall between traditional manufacturing and 3D printing disappears, companies are looking for ways to merge these two technologies in an effort to optimize their overall production process.”
Mid-range segment printers lowers price threshold
This step is possible because the hardware manufacturers are launching a new group of 3D printers on the market. In addition to the low-cost and expensive high-end machines, the group of 3D printers in the middle class segment is growing. According to Pieter Vos, Marketing Director at Materialize, companies can now get the quality they are looking for at a lower cost. Companies on price-sensitive online platforms benefit from this. Companies with their own internal 3D printing department are also taking advantage of this by printing more. “Consider, for example, what is already happening in automotive production, where OEMs are already using 3D printing to make molds, fixtures and tools.” The third group of companies that Pieter Vos sees are companies that 3D print specific applications. Thanks to the cheaper machines, they can scale up AM production.
Producing at mass production costs?
Can 3D printing become a production technique for mass production? The relationship between quality and costs is crucial for this. The question is currently being answered in China, according to Vivien Kilian, Sr. Director of Marketing Excellence and Software Marketing. There, hinges for folding phones and housings for smartwatches are 3D printed in millions of pieces. Multi-laser technology is also being looked at in Germany and the US to reduce costs. “New machines offer quality and efficiency at scale and affordable materials make much larger orders feasible. Producing at industrial costs.”
Lack of knowledge can be disastrous
These developments make it clearer than ever where there are still gaps in the chain, says Mathieu Cornelis. “This changing mindset brings new questions. Of course, it all went away in the past Whynow it’s over how. For example, how can I integrate technology and scale up production?” Companies are struggling to find the answers. Cornelis attributes this to a lack of knowledge, because companies continue to find it difficult to recruit the right expert employees. “How these companies overcome the barrier might determine everything. “Either their 3D printing journey might be a great success or never get off the ground.” The AM industry must support companies with training, development programs for employees, new revenue models, but also with easier-to-use software and hardware.
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