In what remain volatile times for the manufacturing industry, Henrike Wonneberger, COO and Co-Founder of secure 3D printing platform provider, Replique, takes a look at the current situation with regards to 3D printing/additive manufacturing, its current impact and what else we can expect from the technology in the future.

In what remain volatile times for the manufacturing industry, Henrike Wonneberger, COO and Co-Founder of secure 3D printing platform provider, Replique, takes a look at the current situation with regards to 3D printing/additive manufacturing, its current impact and what else we can expect from the technology in the future.

1. What would you say are the main challenges currently facing manufacturers?
Manufacturers are facing some critical challenges that are reshaping the industry landscape. One of the most pressing concerns is the impact of climate change and the growing customer demand for sustainability. Consumers and subsequently regulatory bodies request more eco-friendly products, and this trend is driving manufacturers to reevaluate their processes and adopt more sustainable practices. However, implementing these changes while maintaining cost-effectiveness remains a challenge for many companies.
Another major challenge is the ongoing disruptions in the supply chain. The past few years have witnessed unprecedented events, from natural disasters to global health crises, that have severely impacted the manufacturing industry. These disruptions have highlighted the need for more agile and resilient supply chain processes. Manufacturers now face the pressure of minimizing lead times, ensuring consistent availability of critical parts, and optimizing production to cope with unexpected shifts in demand.
2. How does 3D printing/additive manufacturing overcome these issues?
By adopting additive manufacturing (AM), we can pave the way for more sustainable and resilient processes. AM allows the production of parts on-demand. Combined with a digital inventory, it further eliminates the need for physical warehousing and enables manufacturers to produce only the quantity of parts required, precisely when and where they are needed.
Furthermore, this approach greatly reduces waste, on the one hand, by eliminating overproduction and obsolescence in inventory, on the other hand, during the usage phase of products. The availability of spare parts on-demand means that machines and consumer products can be maintained for longer periods. This extension of product lifetime contributes significantly to the Repair pillar of sustainability, alongside other principles like reuse, reduction, and recyclability.

3. And what about the opportunities for manufacturers presented by 3D printing/AM - where do these lie?
The world of production has undergone a remarkable transformation, where personalised products and limited editions have become significantly more relevant and part variety rises continuously. The power of 3D printing lies in its ability to facilitate this challenge with "mass customization," a concept that allows manufacturers to create products tailored to the unique needs and preferences of individual customers. Unlike traditional manufacturing methods that need costly production molds, 3D printing offers the advantage of low ramp-up costs and rapid prototyping for new products and small series, as only a 3D printable design is needed to start production.
And by that, it also allows manufacturers to reproduce spare parts that were not available anymore, without the burden of having to create highly expensive molds.
Another key benefit of 3D printing is the freedom it provides in design. 3D printing enables the design of intricate structures that were not possible with conventional manufacturing methods. As a result, manufacturers can now explore new design possibilities and innovate with sustainability in mind, by creating lighter and more efficient products.
Lastly, 3D printing also empowers a reevaluation of supply chain strategies, from make-to-stock to production on-demand. This newfound flexibility allows manufacturers to respond rapidly to changing market demands and optimize their production processes for higher efficiency.

4. What will be the driver for the next significant change in AM that really takes things to another level and what does the industry need to do to see this happen?
The next significant change in AM will be driven by advancements in materials and process automation. As new materials are developed, expanding the range of applications and improving material properties, AM will become more widely adopted in various industries. In addition, costs must come down for 3D printing to be used in larger series. For example, pellet printing is an innovative example of how cost reduction can be achieved by streamlining the material manufacturing process to fewer steps in polymer printing. To ensure quality, a top priority for industrial companies, real-time monitoring during the printing process will be another big driver for wider adoption. This will help solve any issues as they arise and maintain the desired level of quality.
Nevertheless, in the coming years, more training and education in companies and universities will be required to truly scale up.

5. What do you think the next five years look like as regards the impact and uptake of 3D printing / AM among manufacturers?
It is fascinating to see how things are already changing in the manufacturing industry right now. More and more companies are starting to realize the potential of 3D printing, and reaching out to us for support, whether it's for small series or spare part production.
For the next five years, I see an even stronger uptake of AM among manufacturers. And while 3D printing was not yet the core of many products so far, parts will be purposefully designed for 3D printing from the beginning. 3D printing will become an integral component of supply chains and a standard practice in many industries, enabling companies to manufacture more sustainably, with enhanced cost-effectiveness. For that change, standardization and process qualification will play a crucial role to enable additive production according to industrial standards.
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Dr. Henrike Wonneberger is COO and Co-Founder of Replique, which offers an industrial 3D printing platform that enables OEMs to provide parts on-demand anytime and anywhere to their customers through a global, decentralized and secured 3D printing network. She can be reached at henrike.wonneberger@replique.io