On the 2nd of March, BCN3D will broaden its scope from FFF by introducing a new additive manufacturing technology developed by their R&D team during the last three years specifically to unlock manufacturing autonomy.
BCN3D will host an online event showcasing the new technology, featuring material partner Arkema and two of the current testers of this new innovation, tier 1 automotive manufacturer Saint Gobain and motorsport company Prodrive.
BCN3D’s CEO Xavier M. Faneca has penned a letter to explain the path to this milestone in the history of BCN3D and what it can contribute to the future of manufacturing.
At BCN3D, we know just how powerful Additive Manufacturing (AM) can be in the hands of innovators. Since we started the project in 2011, we have focused our efforts on accelerating the democratization of additive manufacturing by making the technology more accessible. We believe that the future of manufacturing lies in 3D printing, and our aim is to make this future a reality in the coming years.
Society is demanding that technology be more sustainable; local products are valued more highly than ever, batch production and customization are the new normal and, for manufacturers, taking control of their supply chains in this changing world is key. We truly believe that 3D printing can step up to become a real game-changer for the proper satisfaction of these demands. However, existing 3D printing technologies have not yet been able to deliver such a promise. High initial investment and TCOs (total cost of ownership), low productivity, and insufficient final part properties can all act as stoppers in a faster adoption of AM.
After decades of externalizing production to faraway locations in attempts to save on labor costs, AM has the potential to allow for local manufacturing and ensure companies have better control of their supply chains. The recent pandemic has proven the risks associated with this model: vulnerability against crises and subsequent shortages, vulnerable economies, and fierce competition to obtain manufactured goods abroad. 3D printing should be able to increase the competitiveness of the local industry to counteract delocalization by offering far greater flexibility and immediacy. On top of that, the current manufacturing industry urgently needs to focus on sustainability – it needs to strive for lower emissions and to shrink carbon footprints.
In order to push our solutions towards this reality and reach these goals, we have to envision what we call Manufacturing Autonomy: a future where innovators and manufacturers are able to build end-use parts, with improved productivity and a degree of flexibility and accessibility that enables widespread adoption on a massive scale. We expect that in 10 years 3D printing will stop being the partner to our traditional manufacturing workflows that it is now and instead take its rightful place as the pivotal point in manufacturing. It is then that we will be able to scale up the use of 3D printing and this technology will offer its full potential to society.
Three years ago, under this vision, we started the research and development of a new additive manufacturing technology with our sights set on building towards this dream. This new technology is entirely different from our current technological platform of FFF, which we will continue to develop alongside. After achieving maturity with this technology, we now feel it is time to take you with us on this journey into what we believe is the future of manufacturing.
Xavier M. Faneca
BCN3D CEO
The event will host specialty materials company Arkema as the development partner of this new technology. Moreover, two of the current testers of this new technology will also take the stage: tier 1 automotive glass glazing manufacturer Saint Gobain, and motorsport and advanced technology company Prodrive.
