Additive manufacturing giant trains its sights on the mould

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ETMM: For many people that may be better than cutting metal. While mould makers serving highly technical markets have suggested that this type of application does not suit their needs, those is less stringent areas seem interested. Do you see much demand for this application?

Middleton: We see this as a huge market potential. Huge. I mean, of course, this is not going to be for every product, right? The geometry is very crucial, so it will be geometry-related. But there is so much time and money to be saved by being able to create that mould digitally. And even a couple, or two or three or several. This may be because we can only make, let’s say, one hundred or two hundred parts. But it’s also relatively cheap to produce two or three moulds, and then you are getting closer to a thousand. We are looking to see how we are positioning (this technology), but it is definitely a strategic area we are focussing on in material development.

ETMM: Depending on how the industry shifts, an ABS-like mould could be all that a company needs for short production runs to meet demand for the variants within a model family.

Middleton: Look at global trends. It’s all about shorter runs, more personalised products, more customer focus, more versions – it’s the same all over. These global trends are going to fuel the requirements for reducing the costs of a specific and unique mould. This is not going to stop. So, if we don’t do this, somebody else will.

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Interview

Additive manufacturing giant trains its sights on the mould