Having become functional in the early 2000s, 3D printing remained very confidential at its origins. Initially considered a superfluous and insufficiently profitable technology, technical progress and the acceleration of research and development have finally allowed it to be integrated into sectors as varied as the automobile industry, aeronautics, medical or even the food industry. And this is just the beginning.
Indeed, the promises of 3D printing in terms of responsiveness, flexibility and cost reduction allow us to glimpse a bright future for the industry of tomorrow. Based on customization and the development of small series production, 3D printing could well be the main vector for the advent of an industry dedicated to the consumer and their specific requirements. Here are the advantages of 3D printing for companies looking to the future.
Process acceleration, the first advantage of 3D printing
Additive manufacturing, an essential aspect of 3D printing , allows above all to significantly accelerate production times. The assembly of superimposed layers from a simple CAD file facilitates the creation of models with simple or complex structures in a few hours instead of the months required by traditional machining. The 3D printing service therefore ensures unrivaled responsiveness, an important criterion in the race against competitors.
3D printing also allows for great creative freedom, which favors the almost simultaneous development of different prototypes to satisfy the most specific requests. The advantages of 3D printing will therefore allow companies that use it to position themselves preferentially on the market and conquer new market shares before their competitors have even been able to consider an appropriate response.
3D printing for profitability
The advantages of 3D printing are also economic. Additive manufacturing uses a much smaller amount of materials compared to subtractive machining technologies , traditionally used in industrial processes. It also simplifies the assembly of complex parts and limits the need for tooling. And all this while reducing the size and needs of the supply and manufacturing chain.
Furthermore, 3D printing offers real freedom in terms of stylistic exploration . The designs of the parts can be created at a lower cost, regardless of the desired volume. This aspect not only promotes the development of prototypes, and therefore research, but it also promotes customization, an essential parameter of tomorrow’s Industry 4.0 which will undoubtedly be much more attentive to the specific expectations of consumers.
3D printing, the keystone of industry 4.0
Indeed, we are currently seeing a major upheaval in the demands of industry customers. Faced with much criticism of their production methods, all sectors must demonstrate a desire to reduce their consumption of resources and energy and limit their CO2 emissions . With the advantages of 3D printing, it is becoming possible to significantly reduce waste linked to traditional machining techniques, a good ecological point to highlight for companies.
Industry 4.0 is also characterized by a need for customization of objects . The companies of tomorrow will have to be able to respond precisely to the specific expectations of each of their customers and this will only be made possible by the intervention of the additive manufacturing process on their production lines. Some brands already offer to replace a defective component for their customers, a good idea for the planet and to counter the effects of the much-criticized planned obsolescence.
