This is a disruptive technology that could have an exponential impact on a lot of parts of businesses, and its potential impact is what worries CEOs and business managers every day. But instead of fearing the technology, they should embrace it. <\/EM><\/P><\/p>\n In this series on additive manufacturing, Andreas Saar explores the impact this new process is already having on businesses and industries. In part one<\/A>, he described companies in a number of industries that have started experimenting with the different types of products additive manufacturing can create. Here, he discusses why and how companies are paying attention to additive manufacturing. <\/EM><\/P><\/p>\n Printing on demand is a major factor that\u2019s driving companies to use additive manufacturing, particularly for the spare part industry. If you need a replacement part fast so it can replace a defective part, but you don\u2019t want to store expensive spare parts, this manufacturing process can do that. You can print whatever, wherever and whenever you need.<\/P><\/p>\n Siemens Mobility has a Spare Part Services<\/A> program that prints spare parts for trains all around the world. This program takes each organization\u2019s unique requirements into consideration and can provide spare parts over a system\u2019s entire lifecycle.<\/P><\/p>\n If a drill head breaks on an offshore oil<\/A> drilling platform, 3D printing would give the company the option to recoat the broken drill head and minimize or even prevent disruptions to their production schedule.<\/P><\/p>\n The U.S. Navy has already installed a compact 3D printer<\/A> on a ship and has printed out sample parts. And according to defense contractor Qinetiq, navies around the world could use 3D printing to print autonomous vehicles at sea<\/A> in the next 15 years.<\/P><\/p>\n The additive manufacturing revolution has already started. It will further force companies to consider how they can use this disruptive technology to innovate products, radically change designs, alter production, and optimize their business processes. Additive manufacturing will be, and already is, a catalyst to inject new ideas and designs into new product development. It will inspire designers young and old to come up with innovations that haven\u2019t been possible before. And it will allow companies to simplify production processes and in-source production for better quality control and inventory reduction.<\/P><\/p>\n Let\u2019s look at GE\u2019s 3D printed fuel nozzle, the first FAA-approved product of its kind<\/A>. GE simplified a complex production process by reducing part complexity from 20 components to one. It printed the entire nozzle and improved performance at the same time, leading to a superior product that can be produced faster and more cheaply.<\/P><\/p>\n A small, dedicated team designed and printed this part. The team accomplished its goal to make this part. Imagine the thousands of designers using NX<\/A> who are starting to think about how to innovate their design with additive manufacturing. A revolution has started. <\/P><\/p>\n What about the casting industry<\/A>? Additive manufacturing can help increase the motor\u2019s cooling surface and reduce total weight by printing the engine block. Today, a small series is already cost efficient. Falling hardware prices for printers combined with higher printing speed will push the curve up.<\/P><\/p>\n There are three main reasons why we see companies looking into additive manufacturing. <\/P><\/p>\n The first is the statistics. The additive manufacturing market is experiencing exponential growth. New players like HP, Trumpf, DMG-Mori and Autodesk are entering the market. Gartner estimates that worldwide 3D printer shipments will reach more than 490,000<\/A> in 2016. New materials, plastic and metal, are being developed by independent providers as well as larger companies. And there\u2019s a lot of money being spent to research additive manufacturing. In 2013, the National Institute of Standards and Technology awarded $7.4 million in grants<\/A> for additive manufacturing research. <\/P><\/p>\n The second is that there are always people exploring alternative ways to produce a part. They want parts that are cheaper and better, and they want to print those parts at times and locations most convenient to them. Production and distribution cost reduction are enormously important for a company\u2019s future. Additive manufacturing offers new distribution method possibilities that could allow companies to reach their customers faster while reducing inventory. <\/P><\/p>\n The third is that people are visionaries. They believe that with this disruptive technology they can create products they have only dreamed of in the past. I met some of these people working at SpaceX, VG, NASA and Siemens. They strongly believe that additive technology will change the manufacturing industry. They believe this technology will help them to radically innovate products to a new level like never before.<\/P><\/p>\n And we should believe them. <\/P><\/p>\nIndustries explore additive manufacturing benefits<\/H3>
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Additive manufacturing at work<\/span><\/span><\/P>
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GE uses additive manufacturing for a core component<\/span><\/span><\/P>
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Additive manufacturing can transform all industries<\/span><\/span>Siemens Power and Gas offers a good example of product innovation with its new burner head<\/A>. It has fine channels to allow cooling fluid to push through and reduce the temperature in the burner head. This significantly increases the burner\u2019s life span and reduces maintenance costs for large gas turbines.<\/P>
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In the end, what counts for companies is making better products, faster, and cheaper, accelerating innovation and staying ahead of competition. <\/P><\/p>\nWhy companies are paying attention to additive manufacturing<\/H3>
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