Get Started with Additive Manufacturing

If your company is considering additive manufacturing, there are several key factors to take into account to fully maximise its benefits. Start by identifying which areas of your business will gain the most from this technology – whether it’s for quicker prototyping, custom product creation, or optimising designs to reduce material consumption and lower costs. A sensible approach is to start small, such as by running a pilot study or joining a project, before making larger investments.

It is also crucial to select the right materials and processes to suit your specific needs. With a variety of AM technologies available for both polymers and metals, it may be wise to seek expert advice. Furthermore, think about how this technology can be integrated into your current production workflows.

Learn more about the different materials and process categories.

Additive manufacturing can deliver rapid results, but to fully harness its potential, your company should have a clear strategy for how it will drive your operations forward. Introducing a new manufacturing process impacts the entire organisation, requiring development across design capabilities, production, operations, business models, and customer support. Therefore, training your staff is vital to ensure the technology is used efficiently.

Transition to additive manufacturing in 5 steps

Raise awareness among your stakeholders (which can include management, departments within the company, and external actors) about what the transition to additive manufacturing entails.
Focus on various business cases to demonstrate the benefits of the transition and how it can enhance your company's competitiveness.
Invest in competence development for all functions involved in the process.
Create internal success stories that showcase practical and business-oriented implementation.
Develop internal small-scale manufacturing capabilities or identify appropriate suppliers.

The Application Center for Additive Manufacturing can guide your company every step of the way. In the first phase, our support may involve analysing your company’s potential to adopt additive manufacturing and assessing how it can serve as a tool to boost your competitiveness.

Based on the findings, we can define different routes and present suggestions on how we can assist your company from start to finish.