Volkswagen will use innovative 3D printers in automotive manufacturing. The German auto giant has announced that for the first time, an advanced process known as ‘binder casting’ is being used to make components at its main plant in Wolfsburg, Germany. To promote this innovation, Volkswagen has invested a few tens of millions of euros over the past five years. It also entered into a software agreement with Siemens and expanded its partnership with printer manufacturer HP Inc.
Volkswagen is the only car manufacturer to use this 3D printing technology in the production process. “Despite the difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic, we continue to work on innovation,” says Volkswagen Brand Board Member for Production and Logistics, Christian Vollmer. “Together with our partners, we aim to make 3D printing even more efficient in the years to come and suitable for use on the production line.”
While conventional 3D printers use a laser to build the components layer by layer from a metal powder, the binder jet adopts an adhesive. The resulting metal component is then heated and shaped. The use of the binder jet reduces costs and increases productivity: for example, components weigh only half of those made from steel sheets.