The BMW Group, at its Additive Manufacturing Campus in Oberschleißheim, is reworking waste powder and shredded components from earlier prints into recycled filament and granulate for 3D printing. These supplies are now used throughout world BMW Group manufacturing websites to create new parts, instruments, and units via Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) and Fused Granulate Fabrication (FGF).
The mission started in 2018 with the startup initiative “bottleUP,” which explored turning PET bottles into usable printing materials. A yr later, industrial waste was trialed, and by 2021, the primary instruments created from recycled filament had been in manufacturing.
“I’ve been concerned with this mission from the very starting and I’m thrilled to see how far we’ve come… The usage of waste powder and discarded 3D printing parts is a key aspect of a purposeful and environment friendly round financial system,” stated Paul Victor Osswald, Mission Supervisor for Predevelopment Non-Metals on the BMW Group.
The Campus now provides as much as 12 tonnes of recycled materials yearly. Past supplies, it delivers a full help package deal: printer suggestions, validated settings, and technical coaching. Crops are empowered to print high-quality components effectively, whereas workers obtain coaching in 3D printing and design for additive manufacturing. A rising inside community helps collaboration and fast problem-solving.
Each BMW plant now homes a 3D printer, producing lots of of hundreds of parts every year. Purposes embody ergonomic instruments, security aids, becoming guides, moulds, templates, gauges, and even grippers.
For instance, in Munich, a 3D printed element briefly holds the steering rod in place throughout meeting. On the Berlin Motorrad plant, customized pedestals with locking mechanisms guarantee exact utility of bike decor. In Dingolfing, staff created magnetic screw holders to keep away from dropping components throughout automobile meeting.
3D printing delivers pace and suppleness, lowering downtime with on-site options produced in hours. With services just like the upcoming Plant Debrecen in Hungary becoming a member of the community, BMW’s additive manufacturing ecosystem continues to develop.
