HP says new collaborations and subscription models aims unlock the power of digital manufacturing.
Joining the MANY announcements geared towards the Formnext trade show next week, HP has unveiled details on new subscriptions, partnerships and key milestones surrounding its Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing technology.
In an effort to ease the integration of 3D printing into true manufacturing, the company has announced the “pay-per-build” HP 3D as a Service (3DaaS) Base subscription service, which will provide customers with automatic replenishment of HP 3D Supplies, tracking of billing and usage, and remote and on-site support services for its HP Jet Fusion 5200, 4200, and 500 series printers. Alternatively, HP is introducing the HP 3D as a Service (3DaaS) Plus subscription for the HP Jet Fusion 340, which combines hardware, supplies, and services, and said to be ideal for customers wanting to optimise in-house rapid prototyping and final part production.
“The journey to digital manufacturing requires much more than just technology. Customers want integrated solutions coupled with convenient capital models providing the predictability, transparency, and flexibility to quickly scale their businesses,” said Ramon Pastor, interim President of 3D Printing and Digital Manufacturing, HP Inc. “Our offerings lower the barriers to adoption for industrial companies to more easily deploy HP’s best-in-class 3D printing solutions. And these are just the first steps - we will continue collaborating with customers and partners to pioneer new models unlocking and accelerating the power of digital manufacturing.”
Furthermore, HP is building out its Digital Manufacturing Network of approved service providers with new partners Prototal in Europe and Solize in Japan. It is also broadening its partnerships with leaders across software, materials and post-processing thanks to heightened collaborations with Siemens and chemical company Lubrizol, and a new partnership with the AM Solutions division of finishing technology developer Rosler. With Siemens, the company is set to showcase two serial production-ready automotive parts for EDAG and Adient built using the HP + Siemens AM solution announced earlier this year. The parts are a topology-optimised active coolant distributor for electric vehicles and a new seat headrest optimised for size and light-weighting. In materials, established partner Lubrizol is announcing ESTANE 3D TPU M95-A, a new certified powder-based thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material, well-suited for printing flexible and elastic parts on the HP Jet Fusion 4200. Finally, with Rosler, HP aims to bring a scalable post-processing workflow to customers while Rosler itself will be using the Jet Fusion 5200 for the design and optimisation of its own products.
Coolant manifold for EDAG 3D printed with HP Jet Fusion.
HP’s 3D printing business has kept itself busy over the last 12 months. After launching its Metal Jet technology in September last year, it announced a number of production partners including GKN Powder Metallurgy, which, in collaboration with Volkswagen Group, recently completed a production run of more than 10,000 miniature metal car models for the launch of a new electric vehicle. Projects like this have brought the total number of Multi Jet Fusion parts printed to an impressive 18 million; a significant boost to the 10 million reported back in May and the 3.5 million just one year earlier. That number is set to continue to soar, particularly with the most recent Jet Fusion 5200 Series being adopted by large service providers and engineering companies like Weerg, Avid, Yazaki and Extol.
Visitors to Formnext will be able to see parts up close and find out more on booth 12.1, D21.
Formnext takes place in Frankfurt on 19-22 November. Register for your showfloor ticket here and visit the TCT @ Formnext Conference website to register for your conference pass.
