April 5, 2022
“We did not even scratch the surface.” Stratsys CEO, Yoav Zayef, outlines in a guest article on Techtime, the key trends that will shape the 3D printing industry in 2022 and over the coming years
By: CEO of Stratis, Dr. Yoav Zeif
After decades in which 3D printing, also called “additive manufacturing” for the production of prototypes, was used, it entered the industrial phase as a means of producing large-scale parts for a variety of uses. Four causes of the expanding phenomenon can be diagnosed: the need to adapt to the challenges of the supply chain; Making production more sustainable; The development of custom production (including in medical applications) and finally, the acceleration of the pace of market entry of new products.
Digitization of the supply chain
The corona plague has exposed the vulnerability of complex global supply chains, to the point of absurdity: the lack of one small part can stop an entire move. According to the International Supply Chain Management Association, 66% Professionals in the field experienced permanent and systematic disruptions in their supply chain in 2020. 3D printing (3DP) increases the localization of production and replacement of physical spare parts inventory in software files. This gives the business more control and agility and reduces waste and risks throughout the product life cycle. Critical parts can be printed on site, in the factory, in the “field”, and digital files of countless parts can be securely sent for printing in any location where they are needed. Thus, the warehouse footprint and logistical requirements are significantly reduced.
Increased sustainability
The industry is beginning to identify the capabilities of 3D printing to achieve environmental sustainability goals. According to Forrester’s report, climate change is One of the three topics The important carriers for consumers. also The strictest European regulations andAmerican legislation Prevents companies from focusing on more environmentally friendly manufacturing methods. I find that there is a growing understanding of the potential of 3D printing to reduce energy consumption. For example, compared to machining (CNC), during which materials are cut and discarded, 3D printing can lower material costs and reduce waste. By almost 90%, While reducing energy consumption by 25% -50%. Because parts can be manufactured closer to where they are needed, a great deal of fuel and transportation costs will be added.
In the aerospace and electric vehicle industries, I see a growing interest in lightweight polymer parts, designed to improve fuel economy without compromising durability and reliability. A reduction of 1 kg in the weight of the aircraft saves 14,000 Liters of fuel per year. Manufacturing a new car for all its components often creates more pollution than driving a car. Changing the production method can lead to huge energy savings.
The luxury car brand Redford, for example, incorporates over 500 3DP parts in a Lotus Type 62-2 car. The company printed auto parts and tools using Stratsys technologies, such as FDM, PolyJet and stereolithography, which gave the team the design freedom and ability to easily create custom parts, and make big energy savings.
Custom products
Health caves are leading the adoption of the 3DP for the production of customized solutions for patients. Here new polymer technologies can drastically improve patient care. For example: fast production of products Dental like dentures, crowns, bridges and implants. The issue of pre-surgical planning is gaining momentum: producing anatomical models of the specific patient’s organs to plan a complex surgery and practice before the procedure itself by using precise anatomical models.
Recently, a particularly complex operation was performed in Israel to separate twins attached to their heads. The surgery was performed at Soroka Hospital after months of preparation and preparation, which included the use of three-dimensional printed models based on angiography, MRI and CT images to remarkably accurately simulate the connection of the twins’ blood vessels, meninges, skull bones and skin.
Accelerating the pace of market entry of new products
At the same time as the shortage of manpower, the pace of innovation is accelerating in all industries, and this is pushing the use of digital technology in the planning and development process, in order to shorten the time to enter the market. In the past, A complete makeover of models in the automotive industry was a once-in-a-decade event. Today, the rapid transition to electric vehicles shortens the transition times from design to production by an order of magnitude. 3DP systems today are capable of producing parts that look and feel almost exactly like the real thing, down to colors that have been approved, and textures like glass, leather and wood.
3DP printing provides an immediate solution to urgent industrial problems. We saw this in the early days of the Corona when countless companies around the world used 3D printing to produce hundreds of thousands of face shields, and bought critical time for traditional production lines. I believe that global production is at a crossroads. Under increasing pressure to solve supply chain challenges and energy efficiency needs, 3D printing is regulated as a means of meeting business goals. I therefore believe we will see monumental growth in the use of 3D printing to improve supply chains, bring innovations to the market faster and reduce environmental impacts.
In my estimation, we have not even scratched the surface with the expected innovation and progress we will see in the coming years in the 3D printing industry. Integration into automation-based production systems is expected to be a transformative move in the plants of the future.
Listen to a conversation with a privileged fan, head of the Innovation and Corporate Responsibility Labs, from Program # 19 on our podcast, which aired in July 2020:
Posted in categories: 3D-PRINTING, News
Posted in tags: Yoav Zayef, Stratiss
