Sustainability

...as a product of additive manufacturing and digital production

Sustainable production, which aims to minimize the environmental 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 deposition, which greatly reduces waste—that is, unused material—compared to subtractive manufacturing processes, particularly when working with 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 volume, material is generated or deposited only where it contributes to the component’s stability.

This leads to a reduction in material usage and, consequently, to a reduction in weight. This has a positive impact on energy consumption during the product’s service life—particularly in the mobility sector, but also in automation and in any other areas where large masses need 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.