Velocity is now a top quality metric and additive manufacturing for {hardware} improvement is a key driver. In {hardware}, day by day and week of delay means missed income, misplaced benefit and rising prices. Engineering groups are underneath stress to maneuver sooner, construct smarter and keep resilient in a risky provide chain. The query just isn’t whether or not to innovate — it’s the right way to do it with out including threat, overhead or delay.
That’s the place we are available.
The delivery of accessible 3D printing
The primary iPhone was launched in 2007 and instantly reshaped cellular telephony, cellular computing, digital images and music consumption. Quick ahead to 2025 and the newest iPhone continues to be clearly a part of the identical household. The shape is acquainted… however the capabilities are unrecognisably superior.
Additionally in 2007, within the Incubator at Philips in Eindhoven, we have been prototyping one thing of our personal. That prototype formally launched as Shapeways in 2008. Identical to the iPhone, our origins are nonetheless seen in what we do right now. At launch our tagline was “Captivated with creating” — and that is still as true as ever.
Again then, what individuals created appeared very completely different: a world away from what we’d name additive manufacturing for {hardware} improvement. In 2008 many shoppers customised so-called ‘mild poems’ by way of the Shapeways Creator, or uploaded fashions in-built Blender and Google SketchUp. Designs have been easier, the processes easier — even the renderings appeared fundamental by right now’s requirements. However the essence was there: a brand new manner of making, open to anybody.
Classes discovered from thousands and thousands of components
Within the years that adopted we manufactured thousands and thousands of components, throughout each conceivable class of utility. Simply because the iPhone developed from a novelty gadget into the central software of contemporary life, our platform grew from an early experiment into an engine that powers critical {hardware} programmes.
Each half that we’ve constructed has taught us one thing about course of management, design for manufacturability and high quality assurance. We discovered the right way to function on the pace of our shoppers, guarantee repeatable output and ship anyplace on the earth. Every iteration sharpened our understanding of the place variability hides so we will eradicate it or account for it. Briefly, it’s set us as much as lead manufacturing of the following era of {hardware}.
What started as a platform for makers has developed and diversified. By Thangs, our expertise and fervour continues to be delivered to bear for designers and customers, with a greater expertise than ever earlier than. However we’ve additionally turn into a trusted companion for world engineering-led companies. Right now as Shapeways we focus squarely on serving to {hardware} firms convey merchandise to market sooner with much less threat and decrease value.
This implies industrial-grade requirements, dependable documentation, programme-level assist and a crew devoted to serving to firms transfer from prototype to manufacturing with confidence. It means being within the particulars of producing so that you just don’t need to be.
The 4 pillars of additive manufacturing for {hardware} improvement
Our evolution is anchored round 4 core pillars that straight handle the wants of contemporary {hardware} companies.
- Manufacturing and provide chain agility
Unstable demand and provide chain disruption at the moment are the norm. Merchandise have compressed lifecycles, with extra SKUs and shorter in-use lives. By versatile routing throughout a number of applied sciences and entry to distributed manufacturing choices, we assist firms reply sooner, scale back stock and lower lead occasions dramatically. - Mass customisation
The explosion of SKUs and demand for customer-specific variants makes conventional tooling inefficient. We allow configure-to-order merchandise with out the burden of tooling or minimal order portions. Digital workflows and digital stock make mass customisation commercially viable. - Lifecycle administration
At each stage of the product lifecycle, we offer well timed options that allow you to give attention to your small business — from prototyping to short-run manufacturing, scaling as much as collection manufacturing and administration of spare components for in-service {hardware}. - Sustainable sourcing
Sustainability is simply sustainable when it’s tied to enterprise targets. With tool-less manufacturing, materials effectivity and the flexibility to digitise spare components, we assist lowered waste, smarter logistics and the flexibleness wanted to handle business and environmental sustainability.
“Make what you want, if you want it, the place it is smart.”
Proof in apply
- Quicker validation: we assist engineering groups compress prototype cycles, lock designs earlier and save weeks of delay
- Digital spares: we allow firms to digitise long-tail SKUs, doubtlessly eliminating pricey tooling whereas bettering service ranges
- Customized enclosures and fixtures: our workflows assist customised components that scale back meeting occasions and streamline operations
Throughout industries the outcomes are constant — shorter timelines, decrease prices and extra resilient provide chains.
What this implies for producers now
For engineering and operations leaders, the message is straightforward: you do not want to personal machines to entry industrial grade additive manufacturing for {hardware} improvement. Begin with a single programme — whether or not it’s a prototype-to-pilot run or digitising spare components — and scale as confidence and information accumulate.
Formnext is the right second to discover what that might imply for your small business. Meet us there and let’s discuss your subsequent era {hardware} and discover how additive manufacturing might help ease your product improvement.
Our management crew will likely be on the present ground for the occasion. If you’re discovering that conventional manufacturing is not serving your initiatives, e-book time with our CEO or COO to debate a sooner, extra versatile future.
E book at assembly with us right here.
Seventeen years on from our launch, you may nonetheless see our roots — however identical to the iPhone, our capabilities are wildly completely different. The aim stays the identical although: to make creating simpler, sooner and extra highly effective than ever earlier than.