Sustainability
...as a product of additive manufacturing and digital production
Sustainable production, which aims to minimize the ecological footprint of products throughout their entire life cycle, benefits significantly from the integration of additive manufacturing and digital production. Additive manufacturing processes enable targeted material application, which greatly reduces waste—i.e., unused material—compared to subtractive manufacturing processes, especially when processing high-performance materials.
The high degree of design freedom offered by 3D printing also allows for computer-aided topology optimization. This means that within a defined build space, material is only generated or applied where it contributes to the stability of the component. This leads to a reduction in material usage and thus to a reduction in weight. This has a positive effect on energy consumption during the usage phase – especially in the mobility sector, but also in automation and wherever large masses have to be moved.
Furthermore, additive manufacturing technologies enable decentralized production, which can avoid long transport routes and the associated emissions. At the same time, on-demand manufacturing of spare parts (production only when needed) extends product life and reduces warehousing.
In the field of digital production, digital twins enable simulations to optimize material and energy consumption, while networked production ensures efficient control and monitoring of manufacturing processes. Finally, digital product passports with specific information about the product facilitate the traceability of materials and components, which promotes recycling and reuse.
By combining additive manufacturing and digital production, companies can make a significant contribution to sustainable product manufacturing while strengthening their competitiveness.