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ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING IN AUTOMOTIVE

DRIVE EFFICIENCY AT EVERY STAGE

12 of the top 14 worldwide automotive companies utilise Additive Manufacturing in their design and production processes.

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From Aftermarket and Tier 3 suppliers through to OEMs of cars and EVs (electric vehicles), automotive companies are improving manufacturing at every stage; reducing costs, shortening lead times, reducing vehicle weight and improving production efficiencies with 3D printed end-use parts, tools and prototypes.

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OBSOLETE AND LEGACY PARTS

  • 3D print legacy and obsolete parts

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  • Reduce inventory and high costs of unnecessary stock holding

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  • Reduce carbon footprint

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  • Produce parts on demand, store design files digitally

PROTOTYPING

  • Make design changes quickly and at low cost

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  • Validate prototypes without the expensive set-up of machining or tooling

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  • Bring prototyping in house for ownership over the entire process from design to final part

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END-USE PARTS

  • Print on demand, for low batch quantities and bespoke parts

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  • Replace obsolete end-use parts that are no longer in production, and make detailed improvements and customisations

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  • Replace need for high costs of tooling and moulds
     

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CUSTOM TOOLING

  • Manufacture bespoke tooling at low cost, in-house. Bring tooling direct to the production line in a matter of hours

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  • Produce strong, lightweight jigs and fixtures to enhance your production line and gain manufacturing efficiencies

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  • Reduce lead times (printing in house reduction versus machine shop or external provider)

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“Using 3D printing significantly reduces lead time from design to final part, minimising the need to involve internal purchasing and goods-in departments, as well as outsourced fabricators.

"As we design for additive manufacturing, it also allows us to produce a better fit and functioning part than required, so we save hours by not having to create 2D drawings.”


Richard Gardiner, Project Manager, Expert Tooling and Automation Ltd

OPERATE LEANER

  • Carry out low cost machine repairs and maintenance

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  • Reduce risk of production downtime with immediate fixes and quick fix solutions

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  • Control when and where your parts are made, reducing the risk of unexpected supply chain delays, and a shorter design cycle

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  • Print sacrificial components

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  • Reduce spare part inventories by printing on demand

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Want to learn more?

BUILD YOUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

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As an independent Solutions Provider for Additive Manufacturing Technologies, we will share our cross-industry knowledge with you, so your company can gain a competitive advantage.

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Contact our team to discuss your application and receive a free test print.

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