3D printing gains importance in Swiss industry

The spread of 3D printing in Switzerland began after the turn of the millennium and has picked up speed since 2010. While in 2012 just under five percent of all companies in Swiss manufacturing with 20 or more employees used 3D printers, this figure has already risen to 24 percent. By 2021, this figure will be 31 percent. This is shown by the study "European Manufacturing Survey - Switzerland", which has been conducted regularly by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts since 2001. 3D printing is used most frequently in the electrical and electronics industry and in vehicle and mechanical engineering. There is catch-up potential in the food, wood and paper, and chemical sectors. In many cases, 3D printing is used in prototyping. "Regular use in prototyping lowers the barriers to entry for implementing this technology in manufacturing as well," explains Jan Kraner, head of the study and lecturer at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. In manufacturing, the technology enables low-volume production. "This makes 3D printing suitable not only for mass production, but also increasingly interesting for small businesses," says Kraner.

Relocation of production back to Switzerland?

3D printing allows three-dimensional objects to be produced layer by layer from liquid or solid materials such as powder, plastic or metal. As the cost and performance of 3D printers fall, the technology could replace many traditional production processes, especially where complicated structures are created. "This would allow the production of completely new products and open up new market opportunities for companies," says Kraner, adding, "3D printing has the potential to change the rules of the game in business." According to Kraner, one consequence of the increased use of 3D printing technology could be that Swiss production locations are once again increasingly preferred over low-wage countries. "The general trend in the Swiss machinery, electrical and metal industry points to the increased relocation of production back to Switzerland," Kraner says. Since 2015, outsourcing to favorable foreign countries has declined in this industry, he said. "New technologies such as 3D printing and their proliferation over the same period can play a crucial role in such developments."

Potential is not yet fully exploited

According to the study authors, there are still some technological challenges to overcome before the full potential of 3D printing technology can be unleashed. This is also confirmed by Marco De Angelis, lecturer in product development at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and head of the hi-tech "FabLab" workshop, where work is also done with 3D printers. "Especially with precise manufacturing tolerances and with metallic materials, a high degree of reworking is still necessary when working with 3D printers," says De Angelis. So after printing, the parts still require extensive machining. This step is difficult to automate and therefore expensive.

3D printing requires special education and training

Additive manufacturing - as 3D printing is also known - has great potential whenever quantities are limited but with individual or customer-specific properties. "The generative construction of components allows for arbitrary and complicated shapes," says Carsten Haack, a lecturer at the Institute of Mechanical and Power Engineering at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. "This is particularly exciting for lightweight construction or for applications in fluid mechanics, for example in the production of nozzles and complex cooling channels." As with other manufacturing processes, various basic rules must be observed when dealing with 3D printing technology in order to fully exploit its potential. Carsten Hack: "In the future, the education and training of specialists will also be specifically required here."

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