{"id":4367,"date":"2019-07-22T07:06:00","date_gmt":"2019-07-22T07:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ultimakerstage.wpengine.com\/learn\/"},"modified":"2023-05-19T09:22:53","modified_gmt":"2023-05-19T09:22:53","slug":"beyond-the-basement-3d-printing-in-the-age-of-industry-4-0","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ultimaker.com\/nl\/learn\/beyond-the-basement-3d-printing-in-the-age-of-industry-4-0\/","title":{"rendered":"'Beyond the basement': 3D printing in the age of Industry 4.0"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"'Beyond<\/div>\n

‘Beyond the basement’: 3D printing in the age of Industry 4.0<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n

The 3D printing industry has been around for 25 years. Recently, however, a technological shift has occurred, causing it to be viewed as a viable alternative to traditional methods of manufacturing. This has resulted in an increase in 3D printing in a professional setting, largely due to higher levels of accessibility.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cBig companies and midsized companies used to have big printers in the basement,\u201d Merijn Neeleman, Ultimaker\u2019s director of portfolio management, says. \u201cThere was one central location with one expert knowing everything, knowing how to handle complex machines. It was like a shop within the company.\u201d<\/p>\n

This expert acted as a gatekeeper between 3D printing technology and the employees within the company. Smaller companies, meanwhile \u2013 those without the resources for 3D printers of their own \u2013 relied on service providers, which acted in much the same capacity.<\/p>\n

From print shop to desktop<\/h2>\n

But things have changed. Printers are now accessible in cost and size, both as it relates to physicality and infrastructure demand: power consumption, physical space, air filtration systems. They are also easy to support and maintain. This has allowed 3D printers to become a go-to option for creating everything from prototypes to end-use parts.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very disruptive and builds a whole new generation,\u201d Merijn says.<\/p><\/section>\n

\"A<\/figure><\/div>\n
Sylatech uses the Ultimaker to prototype sample parts for its customers, allowing them to test their designs without having to invest in tooling ahead of investment casting<\/div><\/div>\n

The fact that 3D printers have moved \u201cbeyond the basement\u201d to occupy an integral place in many companies\u2019 day to day operations fits perfectly with the processes and theories of Industry 4.0.<\/p>\n

Let’s get digital<\/h2>\n

As a movement, Industry 4.0 is all about digitization \u2013 of workflows, of warehouses, of\u00a0supply chains<\/a>. It hinges on reduced cost, and increased speed and convenience.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe idea behind Industry 4.0 is digital manufacturing, making sure you have full digital control over your production, and that if things go physical there is a digital twin or representative.\u201d<\/p>\n

Industry 4.0 and 3D printing also encourage proactivity. They empower people in the workflow to make their processes more efficient. If people can print themselves, there is no need for outsourcing, for filling out forms, for convincing a boss, for waiting for orders of prototypes, or end-use parts, or molds to come \u2013 not to mention paying for those orders. In other words, 3D printers play into the on-demand economy, allowing users to create what they want, when they want it.<\/p>\n

\u201cCreativity leads to solving all sorts of problems in the world. We take a modest part in that,” Merijn says. “The moment you place a printer between people, you get more iterations.\u201d<\/p><\/section>\n

\"ABB<\/figure><\/div>\n
ABB Robotics uses Ultimaker to print robotic fingers from aluminum, which were previously very costly and took about five weeks for each iteration. The 3D printed designs, however, cost almost nothing and took about an hour to create<\/div><\/div>\n

Innovation starts here<\/h2>\n

But what is Ultimaker\u2019s place in both the 3D printing industry and Industry 4.0? Its printers are compact, powerful, with a varied range of professional applications that grows by the day. There\u2019s also the software \u2013\u00a0Ultimaker Cura<\/a> and Ultimaker Digital Factory<\/a>. Together, they create a system that ensures people can take initiative while centrally maintaining a grip on quality, in terms of processes and materials.<\/p>\n

Companies around the globe are already taking advantage of all Ultimaker has to offer. From\u00a0Heineken<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0personalized shoes<\/a>, from\u00a0Ford<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0robotics<\/a>, 3D printing is transforming business operations, fueling innovation, driving progress, and riding the wave of Industry 4.0.<\/p><\/section>\n

See how 3D printing is reshaping your industry<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n