Digital Source allows suppliers to upload digital part designs that can be securely licensed to customers, distributors and manufacturers. Once uploaded, end users can purchase the right from Digital Source to print the parts on-site or through a growing network of authorized print service providers.

"Digital Source gives us the flexibility to print spare parts where they are needed, so we can get our machines back up and running much faster and minimize downtime," says Jeremy Haight, Senior Engineer at Vestas Wind Systems A/S, provider of sustainable energy solutions. "Time is very precious to us - the failure of a belt in one of our factories is a big deal, but a failed turbine can cost even more. If we can access and print the part we need, we are able to get the plant or turbine back up and running much faster."

"Digital Source opens up a new way of supply chain management. Every day a production line is down due to broken or worn parts can cost millions of dollars in lost productivity. The availability of spare parts is critical to the success of manufacturers - but managing a large physical inventory ties up capital in parts that may go untouched for years," said Shai Terem, CEO of Markforged. "Digital Source can not only simplify logistics, but also increase resilience in the supply chain and increase profitability through these efficiencies. With Digital Source, parts can be digitized and printed when and where they are needed, without the need to manufacture, ship and store them in advance."

Digital Source is designed to ensure consistent, reliable and complete production of 3D printed parts. Markforged enables digital warehousing by integrating 3D printing software, materials and hardware software with end-to-end process control. Suppliers can specify and lock down printing process requirements so that customers receive manufacturer-certified parts on demand. Robust security mechanisms protect the digital part files, and encrypted print instructions are sent directly to the printers to protect the designs, so all the customer has to do is press print.

BMF GmbH, a Digital Source supplier, is a manufacturer of complex sandblasting machines with over 200 machines worldwide, each containing 60 printed components. These components are usually replaced every three to four months when the machines are fully utilized.

"We needed a large storage capacity to have all spare parts in stock, and the long delivery time is often related to the customer's ordering process, as the administrative processes often take too long when BMF ships the spare parts on the same day," explains Ronny Bernstein, Managing Director of BMF, "Via Digital Source, the part can be printed on site as soon as a fault or wear is detected."

Both suppliers and customers of Digital Source benefit from reduced inventory costs and simplified spare parts processes and availability, which can increase productivity, profitability and customer satisfaction. Customers and service centers can print design revisions directly from Digital Source, eliminating the need to dispose of obsolete parts and the risk of installing the wrong version of a part.

"The most important thing for our customers is uptime. The machine must run and the customer must be able to continue production. Most modern composite parts are now printed directly at the customer's site, which not only shortens the time to receive the part, but also reduces transportation costs and CO₂ emissions," adds Bernstein, "which companies are taking into account more than ever before."

Project DIAMOnD is the world's largest contingency network for on-demand manufacturing, where small and medium-sized manufacturers operate 300 market-forged printers. Project DIAMOnD, an initiative of Oakland County, MI, supported by Automation Alley, plans to integrate Digital Source into the network to further drive the adoption of additive manufacturing in factories.

"We value Markforged because of the company's emphasis on protecting the digital recipe of parts and enforcing quality standards for remote parts," says Pavan Muzumdar, Chief Operating Officer of Automation Alley and CEO of Project DIAMOnD. "We believe that the future of manufacturing lies in decentralized manufacturing. By connecting our physical world with secure digital assets, Digital Source fits very well into our vision of the future."