3D Printing Solutions by 3D Systems Integrated into Workflow of Three Global Manufacturing Leaders

Acetabular hip cups

3D Systems has been active in metal and medical 3D printing, and is invested in moving the technology along from prototyping to production. This week at the AMUG Conference in Chicago and Hannover Messe in Germany, the company announced that it is helping three leaders in global manufacturing expand their production workflows. By integrating 3D Systems solutions like the Figure 4 and its DMP platforms, Nokia, the rms Company, and GF Precicast are transforming and optimizing production through design freedom, improving costs, and increasing agility and scale production. As these three companies are very different, 3D Systems is enjoying additional applications for its technology.

“3D Systems is expanding its production workflow solutions use case by use case, through our collaboration with global manufacturers. Our unique ability to apply software, hardware, materials and services, specifically tuned for key verticals such as medical device design and manufacturing, aerospace and defense, and consumer goods is helping our customers achieve greater productivity, durability, and repeatability and lower their total cost of operation,” said Vyomesh Joshi, President and CEO of 3D Systems.

Figure 4

Last year, Nokia worked with multiple advanced technology providers to create and introduce its innovative “Factory in a Box” concept. The idea was to show how manufacturers can use agile production capabilities – quickly packed, moved, and put into service – to keep ahead of the growing demands of Industry 4.0. Nokia has now added the Figure 4 standalone plastic 3D printer to its mobile manufacturing solution.

“After the positive feedback we received for our factory in a box concept last year, it was important to reach a new level with version 2.0. We did so in terms of connectivity, because factory in a box 2.0 is integrated into the Nokia Worldwide IoT Network Grid and has Nokia Digital Automation Cloud on board. But we also wanted to add new and advanced technology like 3D printing,” explained Nokia’s VP of Supply Network & Engineering Grant Marshall. “3D Systems’ Figure 4 Standalone was an obvious choice because of its high throughput and six sigma repeatability. These capabilities are exactly what we want to showcase as part of our conscious manufacturing solution where speed, accuracy, and durability are critical.”

By integrating 3D printing next to robotics and augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR), all of which are powered by Nokia’s private 4G/5G connectivity, the company has created a semi-automated production workflow. This week at Hannover Messe, 3D Systems’s Figure 4 Standalone will be on display in the Factory in a Box at Nokia’s booth H10 in hall 6.

Porous spinal cages

Medical device manufacturer and supplier Minnesota-based rms company, a partner in 3D Systems’ certified medical 3D printing program, originally focused on precision machining and ancillary services, before purchasing its first ProX DMP 320 metal 3D printer from 3D Systems three years ago. Since then, rms has purchased 11 more, and even has some DMP Flex 350 systems on order. The company will be using these DMP platforms to scale metal 3D printing for new applications, so it can generate new revenue and meet the requirements of its customers.

“We made the decision to integrate metal additive manufacturing into our service offering. Our customers require products that can only be manufactured with additive technology, and we’ve made the investments necessary to support them,” said Lee Zachman, the President of rms Company. “3D Systems’ application engineers collaborated with us to design and optimize workflows and ensure a smooth integration of the equipment. As a result, we’ve been able to increase capacity through new applications and generate new sources of income. We see continued growth in the metals additive space and are committed to this technology.”

Finally, GF Precicast, a Swiss advanced technology provider for the industrial gas turbine (IGT) and aerospace markets, has integrated 3D Systems’ DMP Factory 350 and DMP Factory 500 metal 3D printing platforms so it has a cost-effective, more efficient alternative to investment casting of super alloys.

“GF Precicast was an early adopter of the DMP Factory 500. We’ve seen great success incorporating this system into our production workflow to produce structural components,” said Paolo Gennaro, the Managing Director of GF Precicast Additive SA. “We’re in the process of certifying these components produced with additive technology, using super alloys that are able to improve performance while reducing costs.”

You can check out 3D Systems’ end-to-end 3D printing solutions portfolio, and talk to company experts, at the company’s booth K01, in hall 6, at Hannover Messe through this Friday, April 5th. 3D Systems will also be booth D16 at the AMUG Conference, which ends tomorrow.

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