FEATURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING/ 3D PRINTING
production models where parts can be produced wherever they need them, whenever needed and in the exact quantity needed. The aerospace industry is a great example, where the likes of Airbus and Boeing can 3D print replacement interior aircraft parts on-site; and rail companies can replace obsolete train parts cost-effectively and on-demand, eliminating the need for large amounts of spare inventory in a warehouse. In fact, we are seeing many manufacturers moving towards digital inventory, where large stocks of parts are stored digitally and 3D printed on- demand as when needed. This can have a huge impact on the traditional supply chain.
You recently issued a press release about your collaboration with BAE systems. What is the company using 3D printing for? We are really excited to expand our collaboration with BAE Systems as it continues to leverage additive manufacturing across its land, maritime and air business. Stratasys will share its latest additive manufacturing innovations with BAE Systems before their launch to test them and optimise them for aerospace manufacturing requirements. The partnership provides BAE privileged access to these solutions, offering the opportunity to really put the technology to the test in a much deeper way, in a bid to not only enhance existing applications, but also open up new ones. The aim of this collaboration is to push the boundaries of what can be achieved in aerospace with new innovations and lead the industry in fully maximising the huge potential of additive manufacturing.
What other types of companies are using your 3D printing solutions? And what for? Aside from aerospace, another area we are seeing enormous progress in is the rail industry. Unlike the automotive industry, where vehicles from household brands are mass produced in their
millions each year, the number of fleets in the rail industry are comparatively very small and, in some cases, over 30 years old. This combination presents
several challenges for train operators, especially when it comes to vehicle maintenance and part replacement. The problem is that traditional manufacturing methods only make it cost-effective to produce high volumes of spare parts, even though an operator may only need a few obsolete train parts replaced. In addition, lead times can take months. As a result, we recently partnered with Angel
The new J750 Digital Anatomy 3D Printer
key drivers of transformation will only accelerate as the industry progresses. Systems development and better materials are always at the forefront of the progress in the
additive manufacturing industry; however, we also expect software
to play a greater role in helping organisations to scale their work processes around additive. At Stratasys, this is something we are carefully investing in too, with our software arm, GrabCAD Print. Interestingly, the developments aren’t
Trains, one of Britain’s leading train leasing companies, and engineering consultancy, DB ESG, to show how operators can overcome these hurdles by using 3D printing to produce the exact amount of parts they need at a fraction of the time and cost of traditional methods. The group recently announced the successful trial of the first 3D printed parts ever deployed within an in-service passenger train in the UK. These parts include four passenger armrests and seven grab handles, which have been installed on Chiltern Railways trains. The trial’s success to date demonstrates how 3D printing can help train operators accelerate the replacement of obsolete parts, enabling them to get vehicles back into service quicker and better maintain their trains – improving the quality of service for passengers.
What is the future for 3D printing? As is the case in many industries, digitalisation is transforming manufacturing processes, with software and networking at the heart of this. Generally, adoption of additive manufacturing is on the rise, but it will take time for the technology to have a substantial share of manufacturing processes. The
necessarily always driven by technology, but people. The manufacturing world is changing at a rapid pace, with manufacturers needing to break down decade old traditions and ensure staff are trained on all the latest technologies. Governments, industries and economies across the world are demanding a greater focus on sustainability and the environment, whilst simultaneously being more innovative, competitive and personal. When you consider all these elements, there is no doubt that additive manufacturing is in the best position to address this. The technology will get faster, cheaper and more accessible, with R&D teams constantly pushing the technology to be better. At Stratasys, we’re focused on the long-term,
further strengthening the structure to support a multitude of industries and continue to deliver industrial-level solutions and services. This infrastructure and expertise are not easily accessible to all. Over the next few years, the industry will see a consolidation of smaller players, as well as some companies potentially disappearing from the game.
Stratasys
www.stratasys.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36
