It was a situation that might be described as an OEM’s worst nightmare. The manufacturing line churning out agricultural equipment suddenly had to be stopped. The line was down, and it was unclear when it would resume production.
The problem was with a plastic cap used for masking part of the engine during painting. The cap was a nonstandard size and had become unavailable.
The manufacturer turned to Würth Group, a global distributor of products ranging from personal protective equipment (PPE) to industrial equipment to fasteners. Rather than reverse-engineer a tool and injection mold replacement caps, Würth applied its internal 3D printing capacity to make the caps more quickly and get the line running again.
Würth’s successful delivery of these 3D printed plastic caps in record time served as a catalyst for the creation of a new business unit, Würth Additive Group. Like its parent company, this group is also a distributor, supplying a number of industrial 3D printers alongside materials, postprocessing machines and safety equipment. But it is also pursuing something even more transformative: digital inventory.
Our latest white paper includes a comprehensive overview of the JAM-5200EBM machine, a deep dive into the AMS7032 Qualification, and a review of how the material from this machine measures up against industry standards.
Dealing with condensate waste, the need for larger material volumes, the realities of depowdering — as AM is applied at greater and more consistent scales, manufacturers are discovering new and different challenges, as well as their solutions.
An airplane hangar. When Würth Additive Group, subject of today’s article, outgrew its space in a warehouse owned by its parent company, it found a new home at the local airport in Greenwood, Indiana. See the space in the article.
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A 2D printing facility. When medical device manufacturer Tangible Solutions took possession of its current facility, the floor was black with ink from printing presses! See a photo from back then in this post, and check out what the building looks like today.
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A historic water-powered mill. Clean energy startup Cadens has installed a micro-hydropower turbine made of 3D printed parts in this former feed mill in Sullivan, Wisconsin. Among the systems the turbine powers are several desktop 3D printers used for prototyping and part production.
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