Recently, Comau, the Italy-based producer of robotic methods owned by One Fairness Companions and automaker Stellantis, has shaped a rising variety of partnerships with firms within the additive manufacturing (AM) house, highlighting the rising function that robotic arm methods are enjoying in AM {hardware}. An particularly noteworthy side of Comau’s heightened consideration to the AM market is the variety of the functions that the automation agency is impacting.
By way of its partnership with CEAD, a Dutch producer of large-format composite 3D printers, Comau has helped disrupt the maritime trade, with CEAD’s printers getting used to print drone boats and, most just lately, workboat hulls. The corporate has additionally partnered with Germany’s KraussMaffei, a serious producer of plastic extrusion methods (amongst different issues), that are used for every thing from client items to development initiatives.
As for metallic components, Comau has made important inroads with firms that make the most of coating supplies to restore and produce components. Its collaboration with Prima Additive, just lately acquired by main machine instrument provider Sodick, has supported Prima’s growth of a extra sustainable course of for coating brake discs for the automotive trade. And Comau’s partnership with Australian chilly spray AM OEM Titomic has contributed to the latter’s skill to pursue its personal bold world progress technique surrounding its cultivation of a community of key companions.
The IANUS cell. Picture courtesy of Prima Additive
In a press launch about Comau’s multidimensional penetration of the AM trade, the corporate’s Chief Buyer Administration Officer, Giacomo Del Panta, mentioned, “Comau’s technique of coming into new market sectors to fulfill elevated demand for superior manufacturing applied sciences is being accelerated via a sequence of necessary collaborations with main companions and clients throughout varied industries. This method exemplifies our dedication to innovation and marks an necessary step in our broader journey towards world progress.”
3D printed boat at Abu Dhabi Maritime. Picture courtesy of Al Seer Marine by way of CEAD
Notably in an setting of persistent and proliferating provide chain challenges, the AM trade and robotic producers have nearly limitless potential for synergy. Above all, that is the case in terms of large-scale components, for which printers based mostly on robotic arm methods have a severe benefit in manufacturing.
Alongside these strains, given how disproportionately affected automakers are by the tariff insanity that the White Home has unleashed on the planet, Comau’s success at focusing on automotive functions — alongside the truth that Stellantis is without doubt one of the main stakeholders within the robotics OEM — might trace on the elevated function that robotic arm 3D printers may tackle within the reshoring of automobile half provide chains. Within the brief run, that will be an enormous boon to localized manufacturing of spare components, which may assist gradual the rise in prices which have plagued each suppliers and customers.
In the long term, an increase within the auto trade’s familiarity with robotic arm 3D printers might be transformational for the method of auto design, which can be most useful to the West’s makes an attempt to catch as much as China within the EV/hybrid race. These are actually quite a lot of “ifs”, however on the very least, it’s reassuring to know {that a} main participant within the robotics trade sees such broad-sweeping demand indicators for AM {hardware}.
Subscribe to Our Electronic mail E-newsletter
Keep up-to-date on all the newest information from the 3D printing trade and obtain data and affords from third get together distributors.
Add your 3D Fashions and get them printed rapidly and effectively.
