Legacy manufacturers, like KraussMaffei and Arburg, are continuing to increase their presence in the additive manufacturing (AM) industry. That latest is Schaeffler Special Machinery, the special machine construction unit of the Schaeffler Group, which unveiled a multi-material 3D printer ahead of automatica 2023, the international trade show for intelligent automation and robotics.
Not much has been revealed about the system, scheduled to be available in 2024, except that it is meant to be able to combine metal and ceramics in a single build. We can guess that the printer may rely on a binder jetting technique to combine the two, but have reached out to the company to learn more. Bernd Wollenick, Senior Vice President Schaeffler Special Machinery, had this to say about the new machine:
“Our newly developed system concept for multi-material 3D printing represents a milestone in the integration of additive manufacturing processes into our production lines. This solution will allow customers to use innovative material combinations, integrate new functions into components and tools, and provide a higher degree of flexibility in the design of products and tools.”

The new multi-material 3D printer from Schaeffler. Image courtesy of Schaeffler.
Most intriguing to me is the fact that the company is also involved in electronic vehicles. While Wollenick highlighted the ability to incorporate new functions into tools, we know that batteries can be made by combining ceramics and metals. This is exactly what battery printing startup Sakuu is after.
Unlike Sakuu, Schaeffler has a much more established track record. Schaeffler Group was established in 1946 as a steel bearing manufacturer and grew to become a €13.9-billion company with nearly 83,000 employees. The Schaeffler family itself is one of Germany’s wealthiest, with Georg Schaeffler having a net worth of about $9 billion and the family as a whole once maintaining about $35 billion. The family has a controlling interest in Continental AG and Vitesco Technologies, formerly Continental Powertrain. Schaeffler’s presence is global, with facilities in China, Russia, Thailand, and India, where Schaeffler India is publicly listed on the National Stock Exchange of India and the Bombay Stock Exchange.
Continental is a €41-billion automotive parts giant that supplies all major manufacturers, including Volkswagen, Daimler AG, BharatBenz, Ford, Volvo, Iveco, Schmitz, Koegel, Freightliner Trucks, BMW, General Motors, Toyota, Honda, Renault, PSA and Porsche. While all of these brands use AM in their own right, Continental itself relies on 3D printing quite significantly.

At automatica in Munich, Germany, Schaeffler Special Machinery will be showcasing a flexible and modular assembly line for X-ray tube production as an example of systems used in the medical sector. Foto: Schaeffler
In turn, we are sure to see Schaeffler’s new machine reach a broad range of customers. And because it is a unique technology, it could significantly impact 3D printing at large. Additionally, Schaeffler is heavy in its development and use of automation, meaning that its multi-material 3D printers could be implemented in an automated factory setting alongside other production technologies.
The new printer will be presented at the Schaeffler Special Machinery Booth 311 in Hall A5 at automatica in Munich from June 27 to June 30.
Subscribe to Our Email Newsletter
Stay up-to-date on all the latest news from the 3D printing industry and receive information and offers from third party vendors.
You May Also Like
3D Printing Meets Nuclear: NAAREA’s Bold Bet on Microreactors
The nuclear industry isn’t exactly known for moving fast, but NAAREA wants to change that. The French startup has ambitious plans to roll out a new kind of compact nuclear...
3D Printing Webinar and Event Roundup: January 26, 2025
In this week’s roundup of 3D printing webinars and events, we’ve got a variety of offerings to tell you about, ranging from advanced AM training, robotic simulation for aerospace, and...
Italy’s Da Vinci Bridge Reinvented with 3D Printing and Stone Waste
Italy’s city of Bari has inaugurated a new 3D printed, self-supporting bridge that, for the first time, uses waste materials from stone processing. This structure, known as Da Vinci’s Bridge,...
Update: Velo3D Enters Forbearance Agreement as Debt Challenges Intensify
See the addendum to this article for an update from 12/12/24. Velo3D is set to lay off an additional 46 employees by the end of 2024 as part of its latest...