With a unique layout of the exhibition floor, AM for Production will prominently display every step in the implementation of additive manufacturing at the end of March. This not only offers visitors a special experience; exhibitors will find exactly the right place for their solution in the AM process, says program manager Bart Kooijmans.
The countdown for the first edition of AM for Production, at the end of March, is running. In just over two months, providers of AM technology, research institutes, sector organizations and users will demonstrate the opportunities that arise when you apply the new production technology in the Brabanthallen in Den Bosch. At the same time, they show how you can fit additive manufacturing into current production processes. “Visitors literally and figuratively walk through the entire AM workflow when they enter the exhibition floor. Starting with software via pre-process and materials via industrial 3D printers to post-processing”, Bart Kooijmans, Program Manager at Mikrocentrum, outlines the unique set-up of AM for Production. In addition, there are demo squares with concrete applications and two lecture rooms.
What added value do high-tech suppliers generate with AM for their customers?
Why ASML uses AM
Additive manufacturing – or 3D printing – is beyond the hype. In countries such as Germany, Italy and the US, the manufacturing industry is currently investing heavily in the new technology. In the Netherlands, the turnaround is starting to come. There was a great deal of interest in the AM Masterclass during the Precision Fair. During this session, VDL ETG, KMWE Precision and NTS, among others, shared their experiences with metal AM and, in particular, the business cases they discovered. “They showed that the technology works, produces good high-tech components and what added value they generate for their customers,” says Bart Kooijmans. The large turnout at the last Techcafé Additive Manufacturing of Mikrocentrum and DSPE in December confirmed the interest from the high-tech industry. Hessel Maalderink, AM competence co-lead at ASML, then said that ASML machines already contain 200 parts that have been produced with AM. “These parts have all the advantages of the new production technology.” Weight savings, function integration, complexity and a simpler supply chain: all the benefits of additive manufacturing. “These are parts that often cannot be made any other way,” said Maalderink during the Techcafé.
The developments make the promise of AM available in production chains
Pushing boundaries
Now that OEMs such as ASML, but also large companies from the oil and gas industry are starting to use AM, it is important to show the industry the possibilities of AM and the process steps, believes Bart Kooijmans. “AM for Production will be the connecting element for the AM ecosystem in the Benelux. Here it becomes clear how you can push the boundaries of what is possible in the high-tech industry with AM. And what is needed to use AM in your production process.” Pushing possibilities with AM as production technology is the slogan for a reason. Not only ASML uses AM as a production technology. This turnaround is also visible in other sectors, notes Maick Klaassen of QDP. The Dutch company sees a steady growth in the group of customers that 3D print end parts. “For three years we have been running a successful AM service that produces high-quality parts for end users. Huge steps in development are now making the promise of this technology available for use in our supply chains.”
Making the right choices
The design of the event, in which visitors walk through all the steps in the process, makes AM for Production at the end of March interesting for all parties that play a role in the process. They can show visitors exactly where in the AM process their solution, their technology or their material provides added value. “Implementing new manufacturing technologies such as AM requires a good understanding of state-of-the-art capabilities versus specific requirements. Making the right choice of technology and strategy is crucial for success,” says Ruben Wauthle, founder and CEO of Amnovis, one of the exhibitors at AM for Production.
In addition to the state-of-the-art AM production solutions and the implementation steps, AM for Production also shows the business cases of companies that successfully use the technology. These pioneers share their knowledge, both on the demo squares and during the lectures. “In doing so, we keep the focus on AM as a production technology for end products. That’s what this event is regarding. AM for Production provides a complete overview of the technology with which the Dutch manufacturing industry will push the boundaries in the coming years,” concludes Bart Kooijmans.
If you are interested in the possibilities of making a process step visible on AM for Production, you will find all the information here.
Photo: quality control is one of the steps in the AM process. Renishaw demonstrates this with automation and measurement technology from machining.