Forum Solutions 4AMIndustry shows ways into industrial application

Under the technical direction of Rainer Gebhardt, Additive Manufacturing Consultant at VDMA, the forum is aimed specifically at companies that want to strategically develop additive manufacturing and transfer it to series production. The VDMA's Additive Manufacturing Working Group is the conceptual sponsor of rapid.tech 3D. The focus is on specific applications, tried-and-tested processes and the question of how technological potential can be translated into economic benefits. He explains: "AM is a key component for the competitiveness and future viability of the industry. On May 7, the VDMA Solutions 4AMIndustry forum will provide an overview of the many possible applications of additive manufacturing - from series production in injection molding to high-performance applications in material processing and innovations in foundry technology. Experts from the network of the VDMA Additive Manufacturing Working Group will demonstrate this using specific applications in plant engineering, process technology, aviation and manufacturing."

Additive manufacturing as an enabler of industrial applications

The forum makes it clear that additive manufacturing is no longer limited to prototyping or individual parts. Rather, its strength is particularly evident where complex requirements for efficiency, performance and functionality come together. The presentations will address this development and shed light on how AM can be used in a targeted manner to optimize industrial processes and enable new solutions.

The six specialist presentations at the forum show just how broad the spectrum of specific applications has become. Matthias Bath from PARARE GmbH opens with "Performance-optimized cutting tools through (hybrid) metal 3D printing" and shows how the performance of tools can be increased through additive and hybrid manufacturing. Sebastian Recke from Gefertec will present approaches for the economical production of large-volume components in his presentation "WAAM solutions for 3D printing of large metal components in mechanical engineering". In "Innovative injection molding with additive multi-material tools - efficiency and quality at a new level", Dennis Pietrasinski from Schaeffler Sondermaschinenbau sheds light on how additive tools can make series production in injection molding more efficient.

New performance dimensions in material processing and foundry technology

In addition to traditional manufacturing applications, the focus is also shifting to high-performance solutions in material processing. Additive manufacturing enables geometries and structures that could not be realized with conventional processes, or only with considerable effort. This leads to new performance dimensions for tools and components and opens up additional optimization potential in industrial processes. Another thematic block is dedicated to innovations in casting technology. Additive processes allow molds and cores to be produced much more flexibly and quickly, helping to shorten development times and increase the number of variants. At the same time, new approaches are emerging for the design and production of cast components. Oliver Hanitzsch from ExOne will demonstrate this in his presentation "An indirect route to metal components using casting and 3D-printed molds and cores".

Focus on cost-effectiveness and resource efficiency

In addition to technological aspects, the forum specifically addresses economic issues. The industrial use of additive manufacturing is increasingly measured by whether it offers measurable benefits in terms of costs, resource consumption and process stability. The applications presented show that AM is particularly convincing when it is specifically integrated into existing production strategies and creates clear added value. Resource efficiency aspects also play an important role here. Additive processes enable material-efficient production and help to reduce waste and make processes more sustainable. These potentials will be made tangible in the forum using concrete examples from industrial practice.

Applications in plant engineering, process technology and aviation

The range of applications presented underlines the relevance of additive manufacturing beyond traditional mechanical engineering. Maximilian Strixner from The Exploration Company and Uwe Schulmeister from toolcraft will show how cooperation can accelerate innovation in their presentation "Together for success: How strong partnerships drive additive manufacturing in the space industry". Johannes Bergfeld from GKN Powder Metallurgy GmbH will demonstrate the potential of binder jetting technologies for industrial applications with "FDX OsciJet Spray Ball - Increased Performance with GKN Metal Binder Jetting". In these sectors in particular, it is clear that additive manufacturing cannot be viewed as an isolated technology, but rather as an integral part of complex production and development processes. The projects presented illustrate how companies use AM strategically to shorten innovation cycles and strengthen their competitiveness.

Platform for exchange within the VDMA network

The Solutions 4AMIndustry forum is closely linked to the network of the Additive Manufacturing working group in the VDMA. This brings together experience from different industry sectors and enables a practical, cross-industry exchange. Participants gain insights into successful applications and can also benefit from the experience of other companies.

rapid.tech 3D as a driving force for the industrial use of AM

With its specialist congress, rapid.tech 3D offers an established platform for the exchange of information on all aspects of additive manufacturing. The VDMA forum "Solutions 4AMIndustry" complements the program with a consistently application-oriented perspective and shows how additive technologies are already making a concrete contribution to solving industrial challenges.