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Volvo Trucks Slashes Manufacturing Tool Production Time by More Than 94% While Increasing Plant Efficiency With Stratasys 3D Printing
MINNEAPOLIS and REHOVOT, Israel, March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Turnaround time of certain assembly line manufacturing tools reduced from 36
days to two days, using a Stratasys Fortus 3D Production System
Truck engine production plant achieves tooling cost reductions, while
improving versatility and reactivity
Stratasys Ltd [http://www.stratasys.com ]. (Nasdaq:SSYS), a global leader of 3D
printing and additive manufacturing solutions, has announced that Volvo Trucks is
dramatically decreasing turnaround times of assembly line manufacturing tools by more than
94% since incorporating Stratasys additive manufacturing technology at its engine
production facility in Lyon, France.
(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150318/735559-a )
(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150318/735559-b )
(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150318/735559-c )
According to Pierre Jenny, manufacturing director at Volvo Trucks, the company has
reduced the time taken to design and manufacture certain tools traditionally produced in
metal, from 36 days to just two days in thermoplastic ABSplus using its Stratasys Fortus
3D Production System. These significant gains in time are also improving the production
plant's overall efficiency and flexibility; delivery times are upheld and the use of
additive manufacturing has saved costs by reducing wastage.
From a financial perspective, Jenny estimates that, where customized or small
quantities of tools are required, the all-in cost of 3D printing ABS thermoplastic items
is - in some cases - as little as 1EUR/cm[3], compared to up to 100EUR/cm[3] if making the
same item from metal*.
"Stratasys 3D printing has made an incredible impact to the way we work," he explains.
"The capability to produce a virtually unlimited range of functional tools in such a short
timeframe is unprecedented and enables us to be more experimental and inventive to improve
production workflow."
Volvo Trucks purchased its Fortus 3D Production System from Stratasys' reseller
CADvision and within a three month period - had already 3D printed more than 30 different
production tools to facilitate the way its production line operators worked. These include
a range of different durable yet lightweight clamps, jigs, supports and even
ergonomically-designed tool holders that ensure a more organized working environment for
operators.
"We're working in the heavy-industry sector, so reliability is naturally critical. So
far every piece that we have 3D printed has proved to be 100% fit-for-purpose," adds
Jean-Marc Robin, Technical Manager, Volvo Trucks. "This is crucial from a practical
aspect, but also instils trust among operators and quashes any traditional notion that
everything has to be made from metal in order to function properly," he adds.
According to Robin, developing production tools using additive manufacturing also
enables the equipment design team to be far more responsive, while avoiding possible
wastage in the event of last minute design changes before tools are made.
"The fast and cost-effective nature of additive manufacturing means that we are far
less restricted than we were even six months ago, allowing us to constantly improve our
processes," he continues. "We now have operators approaching our 3D print team with
individual requests to develop a custom clamp or support tool to assist with a specific
production-line issue they might be having. From a time and cost perspective, this is
unimaginable with traditional techniques.
"Additionally, in the rare case that the design specifications of a
traditionally-manufactured metal tool were inaccurate, the lengthy and costly design and
manufacturing process had to begin again. With a 3D printed part, we can simply alter the
design specifications and re-3D print the piece in a few hours," he adds.
"More and more of our customers are adopting additive manufacturing as the first phase
to produce jigs and fixtures," says Andy Middleton, Senior VP and General Manager,
Stratasys EMEA.
"As exemplified at Volvo Trucks, using additive manufacturing for tooling and
work-holding devices is a reliable solution for increasing efficiency in manufacturing
processes. In many cases it is also the only feasible solutions as production by
traditional method is limited due to cost- or design-constraints," concludes Middleton.
Volvo Trucks' Lyon engine plant produces various engine types and sizes for the Volvo
Group, including Renault Trucks, which the Group bought in 2001.
*1EUR/cm[3] equivalent to $1.13 per 0.06 cubic inches; 100EUR/cm[3] equivalent to $113
per 0.06 cubic inches.
Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq:SSYS), headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Rehovot,
Israel, is a leading global provider of 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions.
The company's patented FDM(R), PolyJet(TM), and WDM(TM) 3D Printing technologies produce
prototypes and manufactured goods directly from 3D CAD files or other 3D content. Systems
include 3D printers for idea development, prototyping and direct digital manufacturing.
Stratasys subsidiaries include MakerBot and Solidscape, and the company operates the
digital parts manufacturing service, Stratasys Direct Manufacturing. Stratasys has more
than 2,800 employees, holds over 600 granted or pending additive manufacturing patents
globally, and has received more than 25 awards for its technology and leadership. Online
at: http://www.stratasys.com or http://blog.stratasys.com.
Attention Editors, if you publish reader-contact information, please use:
- USA +1-877-489-9449
- Europe/Middle East/Africa +49-7229-7772-0
- Asia Pacific +852 39448888
Stratasys Media Contacts
USA
Aaron Masterson
Weber Shandwick
Tel. +1-952-346-6258
AMasterson@webershandwick.com
Europe
Jonathan Wake / Miguel Afonso
UK Bespoke
Tel: +44-1737-215200
stratasys@bespoke.co.uk
Stratasys
Arita Mattsoff / Joe Hiemenz
Stratasys
Tel. +972-(0)74-745-4000 (IL)
Tel. +1-952-906-2726 (US)
arita@stratasys.com
joe.hiemenz@stratasys.com
Asia Pacific
Stratasys AP
Janice Lai
Tel. +852-3944-8818
Janice.Lai@stratasys.com
Japan
Stratasys Japan
Aya Yoshizawa
Tel. +81-90-6473-1812
Aya.yoshizawa@stratasys.com
Korea
Stratasys Korea
Janice Lai
Tel. +852-3944-8818
Janice.Lai@stratasys.com
Greater China
Stratasys Shanghai
Icy Xie
Tel: +86-21-26018886
icy.xie@stratasys.com
Mexico
Stratasys Mexico
Erica Massini
Tel. +55-11-2626-9229
erica.massini@stratasys.com
Brazil
Tatiana Fonseca
GAD Communications
Tel: +55-11-3846-9981
tatiana@gadcom.com.br
Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150318/735559-a
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150318/735559-b
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150318/735559-c
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150318/735559-a
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150318/735559-b
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150318/735559-c
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Stratasys Ltd.
Volvo Trucks Slashes Manufacturing Tool Production Time by More Than 94% While Increasing Plant Efficiency With Stratasys 3D Printing
MINNEAPOLIS and REHOVOT, Israel, March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Turnaround time of certain assembly line manufacturing tools reduced from 36
days to two days, using a Stratasys Fortus 3D Production System
Truck engine production plant achieves tooling cost reductions, while
improving versatility and reactivity
Stratasys Ltd [http://www.stratasys.com ]. (Nasdaq:SSYS), a global leader of 3D
printing and additive manufacturing solutions, has announced that Volvo Trucks is
dramatically decreasing turnaround times of assembly line manufacturing tools by more than
94% since incorporating Stratasys additive manufacturing technology at its engine
production facility in Lyon, France.
(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150318/735559-a )
(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150318/735559-b )
(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150318/735559-c )
According to Pierre Jenny, manufacturing director at Volvo Trucks, the company has
reduced the time taken to design and manufacture certain tools traditionally produced in
metal, from 36 days to just two days in thermoplastic ABSplus using its Stratasys Fortus
3D Production System. These significant gains in time are also improving the production
plant's overall efficiency and flexibility; delivery times are upheld and the use of
additive manufacturing has saved costs by reducing wastage.
From a financial perspective, Jenny estimates that, where customized or small
quantities of tools are required, the all-in cost of 3D printing ABS thermoplastic items
is - in some cases - as little as 1EUR/cm[3], compared to up to 100EUR/cm[3] if making the
same item from metal*.
"Stratasys 3D printing has made an incredible impact to the way we work," he explains.
"The capability to produce a virtually unlimited range of functional tools in such a short
timeframe is unprecedented and enables us to be more experimental and inventive to improve
production workflow."
Volvo Trucks purchased its Fortus 3D Production System from Stratasys' reseller
CADvision and within a three month period - had already 3D printed more than 30 different
production tools to facilitate the way its production line operators worked. These include
a range of different durable yet lightweight clamps, jigs, supports and even
ergonomically-designed tool holders that ensure a more organized working environment for
operators.
"We're working in the heavy-industry sector, so reliability is naturally critical. So
far every piece that we have 3D printed has proved to be 100% fit-for-purpose," adds
Jean-Marc Robin, Technical Manager, Volvo Trucks. "This is crucial from a practical
aspect, but also instils trust among operators and quashes any traditional notion that
everything has to be made from metal in order to function properly," he adds.
According to Robin, developing production tools using additive manufacturing also
enables the equipment design team to be far more responsive, while avoiding possible
wastage in the event of last minute design changes before tools are made.
"The fast and cost-effective nature of additive manufacturing means that we are far
less restricted than we were even six months ago, allowing us to constantly improve our
processes," he continues. "We now have operators approaching our 3D print team with
individual requests to develop a custom clamp or support tool to assist with a specific
production-line issue they might be having. From a time and cost perspective, this is
unimaginable with traditional techniques.
"Additionally, in the rare case that the design specifications of a
traditionally-manufactured metal tool were inaccurate, the lengthy and costly design and
manufacturing process had to begin again. With a 3D printed part, we can simply alter the
design specifications and re-3D print the piece in a few hours," he adds.
"More and more of our customers are adopting additive manufacturing as the first phase
to produce jigs and fixtures," says Andy Middleton, Senior VP and General Manager,
Stratasys EMEA.
"As exemplified at Volvo Trucks, using additive manufacturing for tooling and
work-holding devices is a reliable solution for increasing efficiency in manufacturing
processes. In many cases it is also the only feasible solutions as production by
traditional method is limited due to cost- or design-constraints," concludes Middleton.
Volvo Trucks' Lyon engine plant produces various engine types and sizes for the Volvo
Group, including Renault Trucks, which the Group bought in 2001.
*1EUR/cm[3] equivalent to $1.13 per 0.06 cubic inches; 100EUR/cm[3] equivalent to $113
per 0.06 cubic inches.
Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq:SSYS), headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Rehovot,
Israel, is a leading global provider of 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions.
The company's patented FDM(R), PolyJet(TM), and WDM(TM) 3D Printing technologies produce
prototypes and manufactured goods directly from 3D CAD files or other 3D content. Systems
include 3D printers for idea development, prototyping and direct digital manufacturing.
Stratasys subsidiaries include MakerBot and Solidscape, and the company operates the
digital parts manufacturing service, Stratasys Direct Manufacturing. Stratasys has more
than 2,800 employees, holds over 600 granted or pending additive manufacturing patents
globally, and has received more than 25 awards for its technology and leadership. Online
at: http://www.stratasys.com or http://blog.stratasys.com.
Attention Editors, if you publish reader-contact information, please use:
- USA +1-877-489-9449
- Europe/Middle East/Africa +49-7229-7772-0
- Asia Pacific +852 39448888
Stratasys Media Contacts
USA
Aaron Masterson
Weber Shandwick
Tel. +1-952-346-6258
AMasterson@webershandwick.com
Europe
Jonathan Wake / Miguel Afonso
UK Bespoke
Tel: +44-1737-215200
stratasys@bespoke.co.uk
Stratasys
Arita Mattsoff / Joe Hiemenz
Stratasys
Tel. +972-(0)74-745-4000 (IL)
Tel. +1-952-906-2726 (US)
arita@stratasys.com
joe.hiemenz@stratasys.com
Asia Pacific
Stratasys AP
Janice Lai
Tel. +852-3944-8818
Janice.Lai@stratasys.com
Japan
Stratasys Japan
Aya Yoshizawa
Tel. +81-90-6473-1812
Aya.yoshizawa@stratasys.com
Korea
Stratasys Korea
Janice Lai
Tel. +852-3944-8818
Janice.Lai@stratasys.com
Greater China
Stratasys Shanghai
Icy Xie
Tel: +86-21-26018886
icy.xie@stratasys.com
Mexico
Stratasys Mexico
Erica Massini
Tel. +55-11-2626-9229
erica.massini@stratasys.com
Brazil
Tatiana Fonseca
GAD Communications
Tel: +55-11-3846-9981
tatiana@gadcom.com.br
Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150318/735559-a
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150318/735559-b
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150318/735559-c
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150318/735559-a
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150318/735559-b
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150318/735559-c
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Stratasys Ltd.