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NEWS
3D printing: the future of spares?
Daimler Trucks pioneers the supply of 3D partsDaimler will soon be using three-dimensional printing (3D) to make spare parts made from plastics as digital manufacturing reshapes the spare parts industry.
Mercedes-Benz is taking on the pioneering role and technological leadership among the global truck producers and says it will be offering 3D parts as soon as September.
The 'printed' spare parts are created with state-of-the-art 3D printers based on the Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) printing process.
Daimler says it has more than 100,000 printed prototype parts, and will be expanding production using 3D printing methods.
"We benefit from our extensive experience at Daimler with 3D printing processes in prototype construction," said Andreas Deuschle, Head of Marketing & Operations in the Customer Services & Parts Mercedes-Benz Trucks Division. Currently, the available spare parts consist of high-quality plastic components. Covers, spacers, spring caps, air and cable ducts, clamps, mountings and control elements are just a few examples of economical spare parts made possible by using the 3D printing process.
Daimler says that the challenge in the spare parts business lies in securing supply even for models which are no longer produced. This means that the range also includes spare parts for which there is only a low demand. Producing them is thus increasingly uneconomical for suppliers – production facilities and tools often have to be retained and maintained for years. With the 3D printing process, these challenges will be a thing of the past because every 3D spare part will be available on demand at short notice all over the world.
The printing itself can take place quickly following receipt of the design definition and order, considerably speeding up the production and supply of spare parts. As spare and retrofit parts can still easily be ‘reprinted’ even after a long time using the data stored and supplied without any complex stocking, no warehousing is required either.
Eventually, every 3D spare part could be ordered by the customer using the special spare part number under which it is recorded in the order code lists and the spare parts catalogues at Mercedes-Benz Trucks. Thus, even after several decades, rapid supply to the customer is ensured via the Mercedes-Benz Logistic Supply Chain through all the sales stages – all over the world.
But before we get too excited about the advent of 3D parts and the economies they could pass on to truck owners and fleets, we understand that the technology isn’t in Australia yet.
"3D printing is an extremely exciting technology that opens up a range of new possibilities for the production and distribution of select truck parts around the world," said Mercedes-Benz Truck and Bus Australian Director, Michael May.
However, Mr May indicated that the technology may be on its way: "While there are no plans to print 3D parts for Mercedes-Benz trucks in Australia in the short term, there will no doubt be exciting opportunities in the future," he concluded.
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Written byTrucksales Staff
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