In this edition of Sliced, the 3D Printing Industry news digest, we cover the latest business developments, partnerships, and acquisitions across our industry. Today’s edition features the most up-to-date distribution deals, a host of new 3D printing materials, aerospace advancements, software updates, AM awards, and a 3D printed treasure trove. Read on for the most […]
GKN Powder Metallurgy acquires FORECAST 3D, enters polymer additive manufacturing
Leading metal powder and parts manufacturer GKN Powder Metallurgy has acquired specialist polymer 3D printing service provider FORECAST 3D. Combining both companies’ expertise in HP 3D printing technologies, the acquisition presents a significant expansion of GKN Powder Metallurgy’s additive capabilities. Peter Oberparleiter, CEO of GKN Powder Metallurgy, states, “FORECAST 3D is a perfect fit. They are […]
3D printing Jobs Update: DyeMansion, Eaton, Evolve Additive Solutions, PrinterPrezz, AM Ventures
Whether you’re searching for a new opportunity, or looking for someone to fill a vacancy, now is a good time to check out our 3D Printing Jobs site. In this update we have new job opportunities from DyeMansion, Eaton and Evolve Additive Solutions, as well as the latest hires and office openings from PrinterPrezz, Fraunhofer […]
Big Push in Germany to Enable 3D Printing in Automotive Industry
3D printing and additive manufacturing have become a matter of national importance in Germany, and to the automotive industry overall. Several organizations—along with the ongoing support of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT and the Chair for Digital Additive Production DAP of RWTH Aachen University—are eager to see the Industrialization and Digitization of Additive Manufacturing for Automotive Series Processes (IDAM) lead the way for furthering the use of AM processes in the auto industry. Project partners for IDAM include a variety of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and research institutions, all dedicated to the progress of metallic 3D printing for the manufacturing of vehicles.
BMW Group is behind much of this push, and their dedication to additive manufacturing for almost 30 years has not gone unnoticed. From an investment in a new AM facility in Munich to specialized projects like restoring Elvis’ long-lost BMW 507 from 1958, their work in 3D printing has been so prolific that by last year they had fabricated over one million parts, harnessing the untold power of this progressive technology. Currently, 3D printing and AM processes with metal are in force at BMW’s facility in Munich, along with GKN Powder Metallurgy’s factory in Bonn.
This structural optimized differential housing, jointly developed by GKN Powder Metallurgy and Porsche Engineering, is one of the growing new e-drive powertrain applications for Metal AM (Photo: GKN Powder Metallurgy)
There are 12 partners total working within the ongoing project via IDAM, and as Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT points out in their latest press release, the use of metallic 3D printing should ‘sustainably strengthen Germany’s technological pioneering role and the country itself as a manufacturing location.’ Everyone involved is obviously envisioning making use of all of 3D printing’s most famed benefits, beginning with greater affordability. Along with that comes exponential reduction of turnaround time in manufacturing, and the ability to offer a wide range of customization options for clientele.
The IDAM team is present at both facilities, qualifying the technology for production of metal parts, with projections for manufacturing at least 50,000 3D printed parts annually. They also expect over 10,000 individual and spare parts to be created. This is a far cry from the initial use of 3D printing for low-batch production of customized parts. Even with plans for mass production, the partners expect high-performance parts to be created ‘under extreme cost pressure.’
Project partners include:
- Aconity GmbH, Herzogenrath
- Concept Reply GmbH, Munich
- Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT, Aachen
- GKN Powder Metallurgy, Radevormwald
- Myrenne GmbH, Roetgen
- Intec GmbH – Ingenieurbüro für Automatisierungstechnik, Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler
- Kinexon Industries GmbH, Munich
- Chair for Digital Additive Production DAP, RWTH Aachen, Aachen
- Technical University of Munich, Chair of Metal Forming and Casting, Munich
- Schmitz Spezialmaschinenbau GmbH, Rheinbreitbach
- Volkmann GmbH, Soest
Additive series production at the BMW Group (Photo: BMW Group)
This activity truly marks the beginning of metal AM taking a prioritized role within Germany’s industrial dynamic, with two modular production lines being installed (one in Munich; one in Bonn). Customization is key here too, as modules can be changed to fit production needs.
“In addition, their process steps can be controlled and utilized flexibly,” states Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in their press release. “By taking an integrated view of the automotive production line into account, the project partners plan on reducing the manual share of activities along the process chain from currently around 35 percent to less than 5 percent. In addition, the unit costs of 3D printed metal components should be more than halved.”
The IDAM partners are currently using their experience and expertise in designing modules for the mass production line, to include automated processes for powder handling, monitoring, post-processing, and more.
“Since large industrial companies are involved, these linked modules can be used in the AM production lines under real conditions and on a large scale,” explains the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT release. “In addition, industrial standards can be set, and industry-relevant quality characteristics elaborated. Only through this interdisciplinary cooperation does the IDAM project make it possible to holistically examine metallic 3D printing for automotive series processes and to establish it sustainably in production.”
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Consortium of the BMBF project IDAM at the kick-off in Munich on March 27, 2019 (Photo: BMW Group)
3D Printing News Sliced: AMUG, Desktop Metal, Stratasys, Royal DSM
This week Sliced, the 3D Printing Industry news digest, covers a variety of developments from the 2019 Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) conference as well as the Hannover Messe trade show. Elsewhere, we see novel applications in 3D printed electronics, artworks, watches, pattern-less investment casting and more. AMUG 2019 releases AMUG 2019 has now come to a close. […]
GKN Additive extends 3D printing network to Asia
GKN Additive, the specialist 3D materials and service providing division of GKN Powder Metallurgy, has opened a 3D printing customer center in China. With the inauguration of this new facility, GKN Additive extends its services into Asia for the first time, hoping to make an impact on the largest automotive market in the world. Guido Degen, […]
HP’s Multi Jet Fusion and Metal Jet 3D Printing Technology Continue to Accelerate
As formnext kicks off in Frankfurt, Germany, several companies are already making big announcements. HP is no exception, blazing into formnext with a series of updates regarding its Jet Fusion 3D printing technology.
“HP is accelerating the shift to 3D mass production, enabling an exciting array of applications helping customers improve their businesses as we enter the 4thIndustrial Revolution. Many industries such as automotive, which is going through its biggest transformation in more than 100 years, are looking to new technologies and strategic partners like HP to help them better compete in this time of change,” said Christoph Schell, President of 3D Printing and Digital Manufacturing, HP Inc. “We are working with innovators across the globe to change the way they design and manufacture with HP Multi Jet Fusion and our new Metal Jet platform, unlocking new applications, more manufacturing flexibility, and greater innovation, efficiency and sustainability across their product development lifecycle.”
Part of HP’s news involves the continuing worldwide expansion of its technology with the addition of some new customers. RecTech 3D is based in China and will be using Multi Jet Fusion technology as it expands into a full-fledged industrial Additive Manufacturing Center in Chongqing. Working with HP, the company plans to offer application and design expertise as well as training to customers and partners. In early 2019, RecTech 3D will begin installing 10 HP Jet Fusion 3D 4210 printers in its Additive Manufacturing Center, with plans to grow to 30 machines by the end of the year.
“As a premier partner of HP in China, RecTech 3D is looking to help lead industrial innovators and designers to take advantage of digital production and manufacturing, and we believe HP Multi Jet Fusion technology offers the capabilities required to deliver on that promise,” said Jay Luo, CEO, RecTech 3D. “In addition to offering the production of parts using HP Multi Jet Fusion technology, we will provide our customers with educational resources and end-to-end solutions based on HP’s industry-leading 3D printing products and expertise that enable the entire process from design to production. Using HP Multi Jet Fusion technology we plan to transform manufacturing.”
Meanwhile, US-based Forecast 3D is growing steadily with the installation of 24 HP Jet Fusion 3D 4210 in its digital factory. In addition, GE Transportation will use HP’s Jet Fusion solutions in its John F. Welch Technology Center in Bangalore, India to produce industrial parts for applications in mining vehicles and locomotives.
“Our business continues to reap the rewards of leaning in early and going big with HP Multi Jet Fusion technology,” said Corey Weber, CEO, Forecast 3D. “Our 3D Manufacturing Center is now powered by 24 HP Jet Fusion 3D 4210 printers. We are serving more customers than ever, running 24×7, and on pace to surpass millions of Multi Jet Fusion parts produced this year.”
In the automotive industry, BMW Group is using HP Jet Fusion 3D 4200 printers to manufacture the window guide rail for the BMW i8 Roadster, while Volkswagen Group is using HP systems for both metal and plastic. By the end of the year, 100 percent of the tools used to manufacture the new T-Cross SUV will be 3D printed using Multi Jet Fusion technology. In addition, Volkswagen will begin to use HP’s Metal Jet 3D printing technology starting with mass-customizable parts such as key rings and name plates.
“Using our automotive standards and HP’s Multi Jet Fusion technology our manufacturing team is able to produce durable, reliable final parts such as the window guide rail for our BMW i8 Roadster,” said Dr. Dominik Rietzel, Head of Non-Metal Additive Manufacturing at the BMW Group. “In the past decade, we are proud to have produced more than one million 3D printed parts, and it’s fitting that one of these window guide rails was identified as the one-millionth part printed. Complex parts that require reliable functionality and a small footprint are a perfect example of the power of additive manufacturing and together with partners such as HP we are excited about the possibilities ahead.”
HP recently introduced the new PA-11 material, which has seen a great deal of use already. Its properties include strength, ductility, impact resistance and enhanced elongation break. Bowman International used the material to produce a rollertrain cage, while orthotic company OT4 used it to create a sleep helmet. Other parts produced with PA-11 include shoe heels by New Rock and personalized phone cases by Freshfiber.
HP’s Jet Fusion 3D 300/500 series is a lower-cost version of its MJF technology, and early customers include A-Dec, a dental equipment manufacturer using the technology to produce fixtures, jigs and low-volume service parts; Rady Children’s Hospital, which is using it to create casts, corrective devices, and anatomical models; and the University of Louisville, which is using the technology in numerous applications across several departments.
HP is now offering new online resources for partners and customers who are looking to accelerate their adoption of 3D printing for mass production. These include the i-AMdigital Talent Platform, a digital career growth platform for additive manufacturing, and 3D ExchangeNet, a marketplace dedicated to helping 3D printing businesses identify growth capital, investment or buyout opportunities.
At formnext, HP will be showcasing its recently introduced Metal Jet technology, which, according to the company, can offer up to 50 times more productivity at lower cost than competitors. Companies using the technology already include Volkswagen, GKN Powder Metallurgy, Parmatech, Wilo, Primo Medical Group and OKAY Industries. In the first half of 2019, customers will be able to order Metal Jet parts through the new Metal Jet Production Service.
Formnext is taking place from today until November 16th. You can visit HP at Booth E40 in Hall 3.1.
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