3D Printing
Contact us
Home / News / Premium AEROTEC, EOS, and Daimler Create Automated 3D Printing Production Plant
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Premium AEROTEC, EOS, and Daimler Create Automated 3D Printing Production Plant

May 6, 2019

The NextGenAM project that began in 2017 to demonstrate an automated 3D printing production plant has completed the pilot phase. NextGenAM is a joint project between Premium AEROTEC, EOS, and Daimler with the goal of developing a digitalized AM production plant that can cost effectively produce parts for the automotive and aerospace sectors. It’s estimated that their production line will reduce the costs of manufacturing by 50% compared to other 3D printing systems.

bigrep pro boyce 3d printed air ducts
Related Story
3D Printing as a Production Technology

“As far as the aircraft industry is concerned, Premium AEROTEC is today already an international pioneer in the field of metallic 3D printing. The aim now is to build further on this expertise and to bring it to bear in other sectors as well,” said Dr. Thomas Ehm, Chairman of the Executive Board of Premium AEROTEC. “The successful conclusion of NextGenAM thus represents another important building block in our strategy.”

Premium Partnerships

Premium AEROTEC was the first component manufacturer to supply 3D printed titanium parts for the series production of Airbus aircraft, so they handled the management of the production process. EOS supplied all of the equipment and software for the project; their EOS M 400-4 four-laser system did all of the heavy lifting at the center of the production line. Aluminium alloy (AlSi10Mg) was used for most testing and production, and significant strength and finish quality improvements were realized during the last two years of development.

The entire production line has been automated. There’s no manual work required from the data preparation to the final part separation from the build platform, which is cut off by a robotic saw. All of the metal powder loading and unloading, printing, heat treatment, and quality assurance is fully automated with robots and a driverless transport system. The entire production line is operated via a single control station.

Dr. Adrian Keppler, CEO of EOS, stated: “We are very proud of what we have been able to achieve in collaboration with our partners Premium AEROTEC and Daimler. The NextGenAM project has provided a very tangible demonstration of how industrial 3D printing can be used cost-effectively in series production as part of an automated process chain. In combination with the possibilities for digitalisation as used here, the pilot plant represents nothing less than a milestone along the way to digital manufacturing.”

Expert Opinions

After extensive testing by Daimler, the processes and parts have all passed the industry standard qualification checks and production of serial parts has already begun. One example is an aluminum bracket for a diesel truck engine. The first 3D printed aluminum replacement parts for buses are currently being evaluated by the Centre of Competence for 3D printing at Daimler Buses and there are plans to produce parts for gas-powered and electric cars.

Jasmin Eichler, Head of Future Technologies at Daimler AG, explains the desire to bring AM to the automotive sector: “Additive Manufacturing is also suitable for smallest-series production of new vehicles (limited editions). Systematic development of the parts specifically for 3D printing means that the production costs can be further reduced and the quality optimised. 3D printing also makes particular sense during the advance development of vehicles. The low numbers required can often be produced more cost-effectively, and faster, with Additive Manufacturing than with conventional production processes.”

Share:
WhatsApp Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Buffer Reddit E-mail
About the author | Cameron Naramore
Cameron is a 3D printer and CNC operator. He's fond of cooking, traveling, and science fiction.
Latest posts

Researchers Use Digital Twin for DED Optimization

A group of researchers from Tokyo University of Science and Suwa University of Science, in Japan, have collaborated with TOCALO Co. Ltd. to... read more »

15 hours ago 3D Printing Metal
digital twin

NASA Validates 3D Printed RDRE Aerospike Engine

NASA has recently validated the data from hot fire tests on their 3D printed aerospike engine at their test facility in Marshall Space... read more »

2 days ago Aerospace
RDRE aerospike

3D Systems & Stewart-Haas Racing Announce Multi-year Partnership

American stock car team Stewart-Haas Racing has announced a multi-year partnership with 3D Systems, with the goal of utilizing additive manufacturing for the... read more »

3 days ago 3D Systems
Cole Custer Haas Automation

Hydrogen Powered 3D Printed Data Centers Coming Soon

Californian company EdgeCloudLink (ECL) is a data center-as-a-service startup planning to offer hydrogen-powered, off-grid modular data centers with 3D printed concrete structures. The... read more »

4 days ago Construction
3d construction printed hydrogen plant

Sakuu Teams up with Porsche for 3D Printed Battery Gigafactory Design

Sakuu, the Silicon Valley-based 3D printed solid-state battery company, has chosen Porsche Consulting to design its planned worldwide gigafactories. Porsche Consulting (a subsidiary... read more »

5 days ago Electronics
solid state batteries

British Army Gets AM Parts for Armored Vehicles

UK defense supplier Babcock International Group has introduced its first 3D printed metal parts for the British Army's Titan and Trojan fleets. This... read more »

5 days ago 3D Printing Metal
AVRE

Social

  • Facebook Facebook 3D Printing
  • Linkedin Linkedin 3D Printing
  • Twitter Twitter 3D Printing

3D Printer Categories

  • Desktop 3D Printers
  • Industrial 3D Printers
  • Geeetech Mizar S Geeetech Mizar S
    255 x 255 x 260 mm
    $279
    Buy Now
  • Geeetech Mizar M Geeetech Mizar M
    255 x 255 x 260 mm
    $399
    Buy Now
  • Modix BIG-60 Modix BIG-60
    600 x 600 x 660 mm
    $4,900
    Buy Now
  • Geeetech A30T Geeetech A30T
    320 x 320 x 420 mm
    $449
    Buy Now
  • gCreate gMax 2 PRO (with enclosure) gCreate gMax 2 PRO (with enclosure)
    457 x 457 x 609 mm
    $5,295
    Buy Now
  • Fusion3 F410 Fusion3 F410
    355 x 355 x 315 mm
    $4,599
    Buy Now
  • Geeetech THUNDER Geeetech THUNDER
    250 x 250 x 260 mm
    $489
    Buy Now
  • Geeetech Mizar Pro Geeetech Mizar Pro
    220 x 220 x 260 mm
    $219
    Buy Now
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

  • Figure 4 PRO-BLK 10 Figure 4 PRO-BLK 10
    Snap fits, Automotive instrument panels, Connectors, Housings
    Rigid, Durable
    View Details
  • Accura AMX Rigid Black Accura AMX Rigid Black
    Load bearing structures, Snap fits, Automotive instrument panels, Jigs and fixtures, Mounts and brackets
    Rigid, Durable, Strong
    View Details
  • Figure 4 Tough Clear Figure 4 Tough Clear
    Consumer packaging, Lighting covers, Load bearing structures, Mounts and brackets
    Clear, Rigid
    View Details
  • DuraForm PAx Black DuraForm PAx Black
    Enclosures, Orthotics, Hinges
    High elongation, High recyclability, Impact resistant
    View Details
  • Accura AMX Durable Natural Accura AMX Durable Natural
    Enclosures, Functional parts, Mandrel tooling, Jigs and fixtures, Mounts and brackets
    High elongation, Tough, Impact resistant
    View Details
  • Industry MAGNUM Industry MAGNUM
    1500 x 1200 x 1200 mm
    €159.000
    Request a Quote
  • Modix BIG-120Z Modix BIG-120Z
    600 x 600 x 1200 mm
    from $7,500
    Request a Quote
  • Modix BIG Meter Modix BIG Meter
    1010 x 1010 x 1010 mm
    from $13,500
    Request a Quote
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Company Information

  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • 3D Printing Service
  • Newsletter
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing

Blog

  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers

Featured Companies

  • Modix
  • 3D Systems
  • Industry
  • Geeetech

Featured Reviews

  • Anycubic Photon M3
  • Flashforge Creator 3
  • Flashforge Creator 3 Pro
  • Craftbot FLOW IDEX XL
  • BIQU B1
2023 — Strikwerda en Dehue
  • Home
  • Service
  • Materials
  • Contact us
Featured Companies
  • Modix
  • 3D Systems
  • Industry
  • Geeetech
Blog
  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
Company Information
  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • 3D Printing Service
  • Newsletter
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing
We serve cookies on this site to analyze traffic, remember your preferences, and optimize your experience.
Details
Close