The business world is changing rapidly. Companies are looking for innovative ways to remain competitive. 3D printing models offer precisely this opportunity. They make it possible to turn ideas into reality more quickly. The technology not only revolutionises production processes, but also opens up completely new business models. In this article, we show how 3D printing models can transform your company.
Why 3D print models are crucial for your business
Additive manufacturing has long since left the laboratory. Today, leading companies are using 3D printing models for their strategies. This is no coincidence. The technology offers concrete advantages. You save time. They reduce costs. They enable flexibility.
Particularly important: 3D print models help to create prototypes quickly. A company can test several versions in one day. That used to be impossible. Traditional methods took weeks. With 3D printed models, expensive moulds and long waiting times are a thing of the past.
A large German mechanical engineering company worked with us. He wanted to develop a new tool holder system. The classic route would have taken three months. With 3D printed models, prototypes were ready in two days. The customer was able to provide feedback immediately. Adjustments were made in the CAD programme. This accelerated the market launch by weeks.
The role of 3D printed models in product development
Product development is complex. Many factors play a role. Size, shape, material, functionality. 3D print models help to check all these aspects. Before millions flow into mass production, you can test. You can touch. You can improve.
Prototyping with 3D printed models: Faster to the goal
Concepts look great on paper. But in reality? That's where problems often arise. Parts don't fit together. Mechanisms don't run smoothly. Designs are not ergonomic. These problems are recognised early on with 3D printed models[1].
A consumer goods manufacturer used 3D printed models for a new product line. The reason was simple: faster iterations. The company produced several versions a day. Each version was a small improvement. After two weeks, the product was ready for the market. Using traditional methods, this would have taken six months[5].
The benefits are measurable. Costs are reduced by up to 70 per cent. Development times are reduced by a third. And the quality? It's even better. This is because developers can test more.
Customised adaptations using 3D printed models
One of the major trends is individualisation. Customers no longer want mass-produced goods. They want products that suit them. 3D printed models make this possible[1].
A fashion company produces customised eyewear. The name: Octobre71. The company combines 3D scans with 3D printed models. Each pair of glasses is customised to the customer. No two pairs of glasses are identical[4].
Another example from the underwear industry: Endeer. The company uses 3D printed models to manufacture fittings. Each fitting is customised precisely to the customer. The result: a perfectly fitting bra. Mass production doesn't work like this. But mass customisation is possible with 3D printed models[4].
The medical industry uses the same principle. Surgical guides are printed individually for each patient. Prostheses and implants fit perfectly. This is not only comfortable. It saves lives[2].
Business models created by 3D printed models
3D printed models enable completely new business models. That is revolutionary. Companies can rethink their structures. They can produce in a decentralised way. They can work on demand. They can form networks.
Production on demand: on-demand production with 3D printed models
Traditionally, there is a problem: supply and demand do not match. Companies have to produce in advance. They hold stocks. This ties up capital. This results in overproduction or bottlenecks. With 3D printing models, things are different[1].
Imagine a system: A customer orders a spare part online. Within a few hours, a local service prints the part. It is dispatched. No warehousing. No long supply chains. No expensive warehouse logistics[1].
One car manufacturer is using precisely this approach. Jaguar 3D prints models of spare parts for classic vehicles. The original model: 1957 XKSS. Original parts no longer exist. These parts can be precisely reproduced using 3D scans and 3D printed models[4].
Supply chain consolidation through 3D print models
Complex supply chains are expensive. They are fragile. They are harmful to the environment. Large corporations want to change this. 3D printing models help with this[1].
Jabil is one example. The company produced a fan for cooling systems. The part consisted of 73 individual components. Each component had to be sourced. Each one was a source of errors. The fan was redesigned using 3D printed models. The result: a single, printed part. The supply chain was dramatically shortened[1].
Fewer parts means less complexity. Less complexity means better quality. And lower costs. That is business logic.
BEST PRACTICE at the customer (name hidden due to NDA contract): A manufacturer of hydraulic components used 3D printed models to simplify its supply chain. Originally, a valve housing consisted of eight different parts from four suppliers. With 3D printed models, the housing was manufactured as a single part. The supplier only needed 40 per cent of the original time for procurement. The error rate fell by 60 per cent. In the long term, the company saved over 200,000 euros per year.
Spare parts services and 3D printed models
Spare parts are big business. Especially for older products. Some parts are no longer available. The original manufacturers no longer produce them. A new market is emerging with 3D printed models[7].
Old machines are no longer serviced. Original parts are impossible to find. But with 3D printed models, these parts can be reproduced. A 3D scan creates a digital image. The model is digitally customised. Then the printing takes place[7].
German customers appreciate sustainable solutions. They like to repair. They don't throw things away. This is the perfect target group for spare parts services based on 3D printed models[3].
Example: An industrial company produced a special gearbox in 1990. These gearboxes are still in use today. But spare parts? They no longer exist. Companies with 3D printed models can fill this gap. They scan, they model, they print. Problem solved.
Industry-specific applications of 3D printed models
3D print models work in many areas. Every industry has specific requirements. The technology adapts.
Aerospace with 3D printed models
Precision counts in aerospace. Weight counts. Safety is everything. 3D printed models offer huge advantages here[6].
Fuel tanks are printed. Engine components are produced using additive manufacturing. These parts are lighter than forged alternatives. That saves fuel. This reduces costs. This extends service life[6].
Particularly important: complex geometries can be realised with 3D print models. This would otherwise be impossible. These geometries optimise flow properties. They improve efficiency.
Automotive industry and 3D printed models
The automotive industry is intensively testing 3D printed models. Tools are printed. Fixtures are created in days. Brackets and components follow quickly[6].
The benefits are particularly evident in prototypes. Designers design. 3D printed models are produced. Engineers test. Changes follow quickly. The whole system moves faster[6].
Lightweight construction is also an application. Body parts are optimised. Weight is reduced. Consumption is reduced. Emissions fall. That is modern. That is required.
Medicine and healthcare with 3D printed models
3D printed models are a blessing in medicine. Surgeons plan operations with printed models. They can train. They can avoid surprises[2].
Prostheses and implants are customised. Every patient is different. 3D printed models enable customised production on an industrial scale. The customised prostheses and implants segment is estimated to be worth 1.9 billion US dollars[2].
Training tools are created using 3D printing. Medical students train on realistic models. This improves training. That potentially saves lives.
Consumer goods and 3D printed models
Consumer goods manufacturers such as PepsiCo and Unilever use 3D printed models. They develop faster. Microsoft uses PolyJet technology for product development. Iterations are 50 per cent faster[5].
Personalised shoes are created using 3D printing. Customised accessories are becoming a reality. Sustainable local production becomes possible[5].
The trend is clear: less waste, more efficiency, faster time to market.
Business opportunities with 3D printed models
3D printing models open up new fields for entrepreneurs and coaches. They support projects relating to the technology.
Services related to 3D printed models
The „manufacturing as a service“ business model is growing. Companies such as Xometry operate networks of partners. They have 3D printing capacities[1].
Orders are forwarded dynamically. Availability, location and specialisation all play a role. That is efficient. It is flexible. It is scalable[1].
This creates opportunities for specialised service providers. Those who offer 3D printed models professionally will find customers. Small and medium-sized companies need these services.
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