Today it is almost impossible not to have heard about 3D printing. Even though it’s so widespread, it is a pretty new printing method in the industrial sector which has been working with the same processes and methods for years. That is why industry hasn’t adopted this new technology as a regular tool. Very few companies have decided to take a risk and reap the benefits of 3D printing such as having pieces made using this method in their own machinery.
"Most of us engineers, have had subtractive training on the design of piece construction. This has changed suddenly and evolved into additive technology, which allows us to make shapes and things that we either couldn’t do before or just weren’t economically viable”, says Daniel Bosquet, Operations Manager of the Engineering LAB at BETWEEN.
As a result of these new benefits, many companies have approached BETWEEN for various types of solutions. For example, a multinational food company requested a review to determine whether some of its maintenance pieces could be produced using 3D printing as a means of minimising their stock levels.
Another case of a company that has seen the benefits of the technology offered by our engineering lab is a company that manufactures sun protection systems which has used 3D printing to cut its costs. At BETWEEN we have managed to develop its prototypes and pieces using much lighter, inexpensive materials.
After observing and analysing the evolution of this technology, at BETWEEN we have taken the strategic decision to specialise in Computational Fluid Dynamics, better known as CFD. This field, alongside 3D printing, enables a refrigerating fluid to be supplied wherever required, at the desired pressure and flow. Acquiring this knowledge and putting it into practice is a significant competitive advantage as it is a complex area which offers high growth potential because few companies currently do so.
“In the future high investment in hard tooling won’t be needed to make pieces. It’s going to seriously change the way and understanding of how we view industry and a time will come when this change will be felt in our daily lives”, states Bosquet.
In the industrial sector, 3D printing already has a highly important role and is constantly evolving: sectors such as furniture, medicine, and even fashion are now investing in 3D printing to streamline processes and lower long-term costs.
If the spread and growth of 3D printing continues at the same rate it has to date, it is almost certain that we will end up using it in our daily lives. A world of possibilities and potential for empowerment will open up, in which anybody (who has the necessary knowledge) will be able to create their own custom items. At BETWEEN we are firmly committed to this new technology, we are certain that it will open up new global outlooks and markets.
