Shape the future of innovation in automotive, transportation and mobility industries with additive manufacturing solutions for product development, production support, and end-use parts. Create products more quickly, support production more efficiently, and make part production more economical. Bridge the gap between today’s technology and the future of electrification, autonomous driving, and sustainable mobility.
- Rapid Prototyping
Speed-to-market is a business attribute that can be the difference between success and failure in many industries, but especially the automotive industry. Product lifestyle management incorporates prototyping, and rapid prototyping shortens the design and development life cycle in automobile production. PolyJet 3D printers enable rapid creation of prototypes in a matter of hours, allowing for faster testing, iteration, and design changes of automobile components and assemblies. Ultimately, this leads to more efficient and effective product development.
- Improved Design
Additive manufacturing and 3D printing allows automotive engineers to design and modify complex, organic shapes that would otherwise be too difficult (often impossible) to produce using traditional manufacturing methods. By using the right additive technology, automotive manufacturers are empowered to go beyond traditional boundaries of automotive design and can produce new innovative vehicles.
- Customized 3D Printed Parts
The ability to create highly customized parts is essential in automotive manufacturing. Such customization is not otherwise possible with traditional manufacturing methods which depend on legacy methods of mass production, outsourcing, long lead time, and higher cost. 3D printers enabled an agile development and production process so they could focus on high craftsmanship, customization and performance.
- Lightweight Materials
The automotive industry is constantly trying to reduce the overall weight of its parts and designs. 3D printers enhance this effort by utilizing lightweight materials such as engineered plastics and composites. The result is a significant weight reduction in vehicles, improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions, while maintaining an edge over competitors who may not be able to match those performance enhancements.
- Sustainability
The flexible and versatile attributes of 3D printing help automotive manufacturers reduce their carbon footprint. When waste is reduced, and production is much more efficient, the overall manufacturing line becomes more sustainable. In addition, environmentally friendly materials may be tried and used, with less waste, and less energy. This contributes greatly to the overall carbon footprint of the manufacturing process. 3D printing is a huge contributor to the effort that almost every automobile manufacturer strives for nowadays.
- Increased Efficiency
The precise nature of 3D printing enables production of automotive parts on-demand. This eliminates the need for large inventories of spare parts as the printer provides much greater self-sufficiency without requiring an inventory stock. SAF technology produces consistent automotive 3D printed parts which are accurate, cost-efficient and demonstrate strong mechanical capabilities. This saves manufacturers time and money and reduces, if not eliminates, the risk of stock-outs of some parts, while maintaining the leanest inventory.
