3D Printing in serial production
At the formnext trade fair in Frankfurt/M (Hall 11.1, booth A61), November 19th to the 22nd, 2019, Grenzebach will show how to intelligently and efficiently organize additive manufacturing, including all up- and downstream processes. For Grenzebach, formnext will be a premiere and open doors to new worlds. With VR glasses interested visitors can dive into complete automation solutions around additive manufacturing. “After realizing the first few projects with additive manufacturing, we now focus on the future development of industrial 3D-printing processes. We are looking forward to expert discussions during formnext”, says Oliver Elbert, Head of Business Development at Grenzebach.
Active collaboration with technology leader EOS
For the successful innovation project NextGenAM (Next Generation Additive Manufacturing), Grenzebach contributed to EOS as a technical solutions supplier. The focus of the project: Facilitating serial production of quality components made from metal using industrial 3D printing with an integrated and automated process chain. For this purpose, aerospace supplier Premium AEROTEC, technology provider EOS and automotive manufacturer Daimler started a joint innovation project two years ago – NextGenAM. Grenzebach, project partner of EOS, assisted in realizing a Factory of the Future at the Premium AEROTEC location in the Lower Saxony Varel. The Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) L1200S supplied by Grenzebach for this project optimize the automation of additivemManufacturing.
Visitors can see a live demonstration of the AGVs L1200S during formnext at the EOS booth – global supplier of technologically sophisticated high-end solutions for additive manufacturing (hall 11.1, booth D31).
Get the best out of your equipment
“Serial production with additive manufacturing has become attractive for many branches - certain components can only be produced using additive manufacturing”, says Oliver Elbert. In particular: The time needed to manufacture a component on the 3D printer seems rather long compared to significantly shorter pass-through times with up- and downstream production sequences. The key to an efficient serial production lies in intelligent automation and networking; from material transport to picking of ready-to-use components. Elbert: “Intelligent work-flow of complex processes is one of our core competences at Grenzebach. In close co-operation with our customers, we develop individual solutions to optimally run the equipment in additive manufacturing”.
One solution to all printing technologies
With custom-fit transport and handling technology, Grenzebach solutions ensure an optimal material flow. Printers, saws, eroding machines, furnaces and finishing systems are smoothly integrated and linked. The Grenzebach portfolio ranges from Automated Guided Vehicles to robot cells to gripper technology and inspection systems to meet every demand for integrated and intelligent additive manufacturing in serial production. “Our solutions optimally fit the requirements of our customers – our solutions are independent from the printing technology used and components of different manufacturers can be integrated seamlessly”, says Oliver Elbert.
Active work and health protection
The consistent automation of additive manufacturing processes contributes actively to work and health protection within companies. Organizations such as the Federal Environmental Agency note that employees, especially in the post processing of 3D printing components, can be exposed to particulate matters and nanoparticles. “Additive manufacturing is a high-end process. Therefore, the processes in their entirety should correspond with the latest research. Automated handling and transport technology make a practical contribution to work and health protection“, says Oliver Elbert.
SERICY for the digital integration
In order to digitally and intelligently map the individual world of additive manufacturing, Grenzebach offers SERICY as a digitization platform “sequences can be digitally integrated in an optimal way and data of additive manufacturing made available to all departments within the company – furthermore, the system can adapt to future developments at the customer plant as well as technological innovations“, adds Elbert. If needed, SERICY is modularly extendable for our customers or they can even program their own applications with the availability of our extensive library with micro services which helps to reduce the development time required.
