Industrial 3D printing could change the face of manufacturing

HP WANTS to be the Netflix of manufacturing. In other words, the tech giant wants to disrupt the traditional process of how things are made.

Imagine the possibilities of what you could create.

HP WANTS to be the Netflix of manufacturing. In other words, the tech giant wants to disrupt the traditional process of how things are made.

The company has unveiled what it is calling the world’s first production-ready 3D printing system. The HP Jet Fusion 3D Printing Solution is already being used by the likes of Nike and BMW in their manufacturing process, using the printers to create components rather than old-school moulds.

But starting from $130,000 a pop, these 3D printers are far from the consumer ones from which you can make a nifty key ring or mini dinosaur figurines. This is 3D printing on an industrial scale and one that’s capable of using different materials.

HP’s South Pacific managing director, Robert Mesaros, said 3D printing could do to manufacturing what Netflix did to entertainment.

“HP’s new 3D system is looking to reinvent the $100 billion-plus manufacturing industry in Australia and ignite the next industrial revolution by producing superior quality of physical parts up to 10 times faster and at half the cost of current 3D print systems,” he said.

It’s an ambitious plan and one that could cut costs for producers looking to streamline the manufacturing process.

On the flip side, if 3D printing, in the longer term, does manage to become a dominant force in manufacturing, it’s another blow to already under-pressure manufacturing workers who are seeing fewer employment opportunities in the industry.

Looks like a fancy coffee machine, but actually so much more.

But until it becomes the go-to technology for mass production, companies are taking advantage of the technology in prototyping and customisation.

BMW’s head of its Additive Manufacturing Centre Jens Ertel said the carmaker saw huge potential in this technology for prototyping new models, serial part production and personal customisation.

“BMW is a pioneer and early adopter of innovative technologies in the field of additive manufacturing, especially for prototyping in concept cars and series-like approval builds,” he said.

Nike president of innovation Tom Clarke said: “At Nike we innovate for the world’s best athletes. We’ve been using 3D printing to create new performance innovations for footwear for the past several years.

“Now we are excited to partner with HP to accelerate and scale our existing capabilities as we continue to explore new ways to manufacture performance products.”