Bryan Crutchfield is vice-president and managing director, North America for MaterializeA world leader in 3D printing.
Each new technology must possibly face the crucial crossroads between innovation and application, approaching the always important question: when do the developers decide to stop repelling the limits of the invention they have created and release it in society as a real solution? Any invention, whatever the news, will remain a kind of party thing without a high impact application.
We can turn to the automotive industry to partially answer this question. Many car manufacturers engaged in electric vehicle targets a few years ago, only for go back from their goals in mid-2014. These car manufacturers have spent billions of dollars and countless hours to develop technology to inaugurate an electric future. In the end, the end user – drivers – was the decisive factor in the United States. The car manufacturers probably moved too quickly, because sales were much lower than they had hoped. Finally, they moderated to a mixture of propulsion systems in the predictable future.
As part of traditional manufacturing, we see the desire to integrate new, more advanced manufacturing technologies where they are advantageous. However, in the 300 -year industry, current operations that dominate factory floors are well established, with refined and effective processes designed to make operations as productive and profitable as possible. New technologies must adapt to this environment, not the other way around.
A more recent technology is 3D printing. Compared to traditional manufacturing, it is still very young. I work for one of the first established 3D printing companies, and we are celebrating our 35th anniversary this year. Despite less mandate, the transformational power of 3D printing is impactful.
Initially, 3D printing was only used for prototyping. Now we see a quarter of work – in the company in which I work, our parts printed in 3D for final use are used in medical devices and implants, on aircraft and in vehicles. Technology is a viable solution in serial production and certified manufacturing.
Other advanced manufacturing technologies have followed a similar arc. Take collaborative robotics (cobots), which were once considered niche or even gadget. Today, they are Trade in manufacturing environments For tasks such as assembly, handling materials, welding and machine holding. In the same way, digital twins technology Allows manufacturers to simulate and optimize production lines before physical implementation, save time and reduce risks.
In the advanced manufacturing industry, we move away from “party tips” and work to make technology a viable and essential part of manufacturing operations. This means putting technology in the hands of customers and ensuring that it meets their needs in practical applications.
The point of no return
Technologies such as additive manufacturing, COBOTS and IA -based quality insurance systems have already caused significant results for manufacturers. The next step is to bring these applications to the “no return point”, a central step where the advantages are so important that the return to older methods no longer makes sense.
For some applications, this can happen quickly –in the 500 daysMore than 90% of hearing aids in the United States were no longer manufactured via traditional manufacturing because 3D printing offered a more viable solution. An entire industry has been transformed into less than two years. In other cases, in particular in industries where certified manufacturing is necessary, the path can take years because developers guarantee coherent quality and repeatability.
The trajectory, however, is the same: as confidence increases and the value becomes undeniable, these technologies pass from interesting to essential.
A technological arms race
From 3D printing to smart sensors that monitor the health of machines, many technologies have made the headlines for a good reason. They reshape entire industries. But with attention comes from the pressure – and often, the beaten media.
This sparked a technological arms race between the sectors. Startups and established players have run to publish new capacities, sometimes to the detriment of refining existing technologies. Manufacturers, caught in the whirlwind, often hesitate to get involved. With the “next great thing” always on the horizon, it may be safer to wait until investing in something that could be obsolete in a year.
Now we are entering a stabilization period because companies introducing these technologies are more deliberate in their offers and that manufacturers explore how they can benefit their operations. This breathing room allows manufacturers to focus on scaling and optimizing new – but proven – technology in their production environments.
Drive Application Application collaboration
Going from innovation to application in any advanced manufacturing technology requires strategic change. As a technology suppliers, we may know our tools inside and outside, but it is our customers who include the realities of their factory floors.
This is why collaboration is the key. Whether it is to offer customizable robotic interfaces, personalize predictive maintenance platforms or to open 3D printing software for workflow automation, the role of advanced manufacturers is to allow, and not to prescribe.
We want to give manufacturers the tools to take control. When customers can adapt technologies to their specific needs, they are more likely to integrate these tools into their operations and see significant results.
Technological progress such as 3D printing, robotics and tools fueled by AI have played an important role in the success of manufacturing in recent decades and will continue to do so. But progress depends on something deeper than innovation alone: the ability to apply this innovation in real environments.
By empowering customers with tailor -made tools and practical information, we can lead to greater efficiency, scalability and profitability throughout the manufacturing sector. In doing so, we will continue to push the limits of what is possible – not only in laboratories and exhibition rooms but on factory floors around the world.
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