Velocity is now a high quality metric and additive manufacturing for {hardware} growth is a key driver. In {hardware}, daily and week of delay means missed income, misplaced benefit and rising prices. Engineering groups are beneath stress to maneuver quicker, construct smarter and keep resilient in a risky provide chain. The query isn’t whether or not to innovate — it’s find out how to do it with out including threat, overhead or delay.
That’s the place we are available in.
The delivery of accessible 3D printing
The primary iPhone was launched in 2007 and instantly reshaped cell telephony, cell computing, digital images and music consumption. Quick ahead to 2025 and the most recent iPhone continues to be clearly a part of the identical household. The shape is acquainted… however the capabilities are unrecognisably superior.
Additionally in 2007, within the Incubator at Philips in Eindhoven, we had been prototyping one thing of our personal. That prototype formally launched as Shapeways in 2008. Similar to the iPhone, our origins are nonetheless seen in what we do at this time. At launch our tagline was “Captivated with creating” — and that is still as true as ever.
Again then, what folks created appeared very completely different: a world away from what we’d name additive manufacturing for {hardware} growth. In 2008 many purchasers customised so-called ‘mild poems’ by means of the Shapeways Creator, or uploaded fashions inbuilt Blender and Google SketchUp. Designs had been less complicated, the processes simpler — even the renderings appeared fundamental by at this time’s requirements. However the essence was there: a brand new means of making, open to anybody.
Classes discovered from thousands and thousands of components
Within the years that adopted we manufactured thousands and thousands of components, throughout each possible class of software. Simply because the iPhone developed from a novelty gadget into the central instrument of recent life, our platform grew from an early experiment into an engine that powers severe {hardware} programmes.
Each half that we’ve constructed has taught us one thing about course of management, design for manufacturability and high quality assurance. We discovered find out how to function on the velocity of our purchasers, guarantee repeatable output and ship anyplace on the planet. Every iteration sharpened our understanding of the place variability hides so we are able to get rid of it or account for it. Briefly, it’s set us as much as lead manufacturing of the subsequent era of {hardware}.
What started as a platform for makers has developed and diversified. By means of Thangs, our expertise and keenness continues to be delivered to bear for designers and customers, with a greater expertise than ever earlier than. However we’ve additionally turn out to be a trusted companion for international engineering-led companies. Immediately as Shapeways we focus squarely on serving to {hardware} corporations deliver merchandise to market quicker with much less threat and decrease price.
This implies industrial-grade requirements, dependable documentation, programme-level help and a crew devoted to serving to corporations transfer from prototype to manufacturing with confidence. It means being within the particulars of producing so that you simply don’t should be.
The 4 pillars of additive manufacturing for {hardware} growth
Our evolution is anchored round 4 core pillars that straight tackle the wants of recent {hardware} companies.
- Manufacturing and provide chain agility
Unstable demand and provide chain disruption are actually the norm. Merchandise have compressed lifecycles, with extra SKUs and shorter in-use lives. By means of versatile routing throughout a number of applied sciences and entry to distributed manufacturing choices, we assist corporations reply quicker, scale back stock and reduce lead instances dramatically. - Mass customisation
The explosion of SKUs and demand for customer-specific variants makes conventional tooling inefficient. We allow configure-to-order merchandise with out the burden of tooling or minimal order portions. Digital workflows and digital stock make mass customisation commercially viable. - Lifecycle administration
At each stage of the product lifecycle, we offer well timed options that allow you to concentrate on your enterprise — from prototyping to short-run manufacturing, scaling as much as collection manufacturing and administration of spare components for in-service {hardware}. - Sustainable sourcing
Sustainability is barely sustainable when it’s tied to enterprise targets. With tool-less manufacturing, materials effectivity and the power to digitise spare components, we help diminished waste, smarter logistics and the pliability wanted to handle industrial and environmental sustainability.
“Make what you want, while you want it, the place it is sensible.”
Proof in follow
- Quicker validation: we assist engineering groups compress prototype cycles, lock designs earlier and save weeks of delay
- Digital spares: we allow corporations to digitise long-tail SKUs, doubtlessly eliminating pricey tooling whereas enhancing service ranges
- Customized enclosures and fixtures: our workflows help customised components that scale back meeting instances and streamline operations
Throughout industries the outcomes are constant — shorter timelines, decrease prices and extra resilient provide chains.
What this implies for producers now
For engineering and operations leaders, the message is easy: you don’t want to personal machines to entry industrial grade additive manufacturing for {hardware} growth. Begin with a single programme — whether or not it’s a prototype-to-pilot run or digitising spare components — and scale as confidence and knowledge accumulate.
Formnext is the right second to discover what that might imply for your enterprise. Meet us there and let’s speak about your subsequent era {hardware} and discover how additive manufacturing can assist ease your product growth.
Our management crew shall be on the present flooring for the occasion. In case you are discovering that conventional manufacturing is now not serving your tasks, e book time with our CEO or COO to debate a quicker, extra versatile future.
Ebook at assembly with us right here.
Seventeen years on from our launch, you possibly can nonetheless see our roots — however similar to the iPhone, our capabilities are wildly completely different. The aim stays the identical although: to make creating simpler, quicker and extra highly effective than ever earlier than.
