Velocity is now a top quality metric and additive manufacturing for {hardware} improvement is a key driver. In {hardware}, daily and week of delay means missed income, misplaced benefit and rising prices. Engineering groups are underneath 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 easy methods to do it with out including danger, overhead or delay.
That’s the place we are available in.
The beginning of accessible 3D printing
The primary iPhone was launched in 2007 and instantly reshaped cell telephony, cell computing, digital pictures and music consumption. Quick ahead to 2025 and the newest iPhone remains 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 have been prototyping one thing of our personal. That prototype formally launched as Shapeways in 2008. Identical to the iPhone, our origins are nonetheless seen in what we do at the moment. At launch our tagline was “Keen about creating” — and that is still as true as ever.
Again then, what individuals created seemed very totally different: a world away from what we’d name additive manufacturing for {hardware} improvement. In 2008 many purchasers customised so-called ‘gentle poems’ via the Shapeways Creator, or uploaded fashions inbuilt Blender and Google SketchUp. Designs have been easier, the processes easier — even the renderings seemed fundamental by at the moment’s requirements. However the essence was there: a brand new method of making, open to anybody.
Classes discovered from tens of millions of elements
Within the years that adopted we manufactured tens of millions of elements, throughout each conceivable class of software. Simply because the iPhone advanced from a novelty gadget into the central instrument of contemporary 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 easy methods to function on the velocity of our purchasers, guarantee repeatable output and ship anyplace on this planet. Every iteration sharpened our understanding of the place variability hides so we will eradicate it or account for it. In brief, it’s set us as much as lead manufacturing of the following era of {hardware}.
What started as a platform for makers has advanced and diversified. By Thangs, our expertise and fervour remains to be delivered to bear for designers and customers, with a greater expertise than ever earlier than. However we’ve additionally turn into a trusted companion for world engineering-led companies. In the present day as Shapeways we focus squarely on serving to {hardware} firms convey merchandise to market quicker with much less danger and decrease price.
This implies industrial-grade requirements, dependable documentation, programme-level assist and a workforce devoted to serving to firms transfer from prototype to manufacturing with confidence. It means being within the particulars of producing so that you just don’t should be.
The 4 pillars of additive manufacturing for {hardware} improvement
Our evolution is anchored round 4 core pillars that straight handle the wants of contemporary {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 versatile routing throughout a number of applied sciences and entry to distributed manufacturing choices, we assist firms reply quicker, cut back stock and lower lead occasions 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 what you are promoting — from prototyping to short-run manufacturing, scaling as much as sequence manufacturing and administration of spare elements for in-service {hardware}. - Sustainable sourcing
Sustainability is barely sustainable when it’s tied to enterprise objectives. With tool-less manufacturing, materials effectivity and the flexibility to digitise spare elements, we assist decreased waste, smarter logistics and the flexibleness wanted to handle industrial and environmental sustainability.
“Make what you want, while you want it, the place it is smart.”
Proof in apply
- Sooner validation: we assist engineering groups compress prototype cycles, lock designs earlier and save weeks of delay
- Digital spares: we allow firms to digitise long-tail SKUs, doubtlessly eliminating pricey tooling whereas enhancing service ranges
- Customized enclosures and fixtures: our workflows assist customised elements that cut back meeting occasions 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 straightforward: you don’t want to personal machines to entry industrial grade additive manufacturing for {hardware} improvement. Begin with a single programme — whether or not it’s a prototype-to-pilot run or digitising spare elements — and scale as confidence and information accumulate.
Formnext is the proper second to discover what that would imply for what you are promoting. Meet us there and let’s speak about your subsequent era {hardware} and discover how additive manufacturing may also help ease your product improvement.
Our management workforce will likely be on the present ground for the occasion. If you’re discovering that conventional manufacturing is now not serving your initiatives, guide time with our CEO or COO to debate a quicker, extra versatile future.
E book at assembly with us right here.
Seventeen years on from our launch, you’ll be able to nonetheless see our roots — however identical to the iPhone, our capabilities are wildly totally different. The aim stays the identical although: to make creating simpler, quicker and extra highly effective than ever earlier than.