MLIT Mar'19 Printing & Labelling p42-45.qxp_IBC publications 08/03/2019 11:17 Page 42
Printing & Labelling
Opinion
3D printing is now driving the sustainability agenda
C
ritics of 3D printing, or additive
However, it is also true that early additive
leverage the growing options for recyclable
manufacturing, have long cited
manufacturing techniques, particularly for top
filaments throughout the production cycle –
the technology’s reliance on
end industrial products, are very energy
whilst also gaining the economic benefits that
plastic filament as the primary
intensive. In addition, its reliance on plastic
are essential to competitive yet sustainable
print material, and it would
filament – many of which cannot be recycled
operational strategies.
seem that – with the global focus on reducing
– has enabled sceptics to argue that the
plastic wastage – they have a point.
societal, political, economic, and
The low cost and footprint of 3D printers is
environmental impacts of the technology have
also, in my opinion, providing a chance to
Or do they? Has 3D printing now reached a
radically change the way products are
not yet been studied extensively.
manufactured and delivered – especially for
maturity level where it can not only support the sustainability agenda, but actively drive it?
But both the technology and the industry have
spare parts. Rather than manufacturing in
From on demand local product manufacture
evolved hugely in recent years. Filaments are
bulk in the Far East and transporting at huge
that is set to eradicate huge swathes of an
getting stronger, resolutions are improving,
environmental cost to Europe for expensive
energy sapping international supply chain to
and a wider variety of materials can be
storage within a warehouse, using a 3D
global collaboration on innovative products
printed with additive manufacturing, including
printer parts can be created on demand. This
and the adoption of recyclables at every
metals. The result has been a raft of
is already being explored within difficult to
stage of the process from concept to delivery,
innovations in areas such as airplane and
access locations such as oil rigs (with obvious
3D printing is heralding a new era of
engine manufacture where the development
benefits) and fleets such as the Dutch navy
of lighter components (light-weighting) has
3D printing spare parts on the go.
sustainable, energy efficient production.
enabled very significant reductions in energy More critically, Paul Croft, director of
consumption, providing considerable support
Reducing the energy consumption associated
3DGBIRE and Ultimaker GB and founder of
in meeting targets for cutting fossil fuel usage.
with mass production, transport and
Local on demand
additive manufacturing could and should
distribution by embracing local, on demand
the Create Education project argues, the portability and low cost of 3D printers is now opening the door to the next generation of
deliver very significant long-term benefits and
innovative thinkers who will use the
It is the way in which additive manufacturing
is a model that plays strongly into the
technology in tandem with tools such as
can be deployed, however, that is
sustainability agenda.
Artificial Intelligence to create extraordinary
fundamentally changing ideas about
solutions to many of the pressing
sustainability and putting 3D printing at the
environmental issues:
front of the sustainability agenda. Desktop 3D printers are helping small companies
Collaboration and agility The other fundamental and increasingly
Additive value
prototype and manufacture at low costs with
essential benefit of this model is the agility it
increasing quality while industrial 3D printers,
brings. Just consider the speed with which
3D printing has provoked excitement and
once almost exclusively used for prototyping,
the food industry is being forced to respond
trepidation in equal measure. Proponents of
are being rolled out on production lines.
to the recent outcry about the use of plastics
the technology have cited a world of new
Furthermore, collaboration is being enabled
within supermarkets. From eradicating black,
possibilities for all industries, lowered
globally through the creation of additive
unrecyclable plastic food trays to embracing
transportation costs and environmental
manufacturing standards, providing a chance
compostable bags for loose fruit and
impacts, reduced waste, and minimised
for organisations of all sizes to cost effectively
vegetables, these developments are
reliance on corporations by enabling the
innovate and work together.
demanding innovative thinking and unprecedented change that will affect the
maker movement. Certainly, additive manufacturing demands significant less raw
Critically this standardisation is driving the
products than traditional subtractive
creation of filament that can be used at every
manufacturing processes.
stage of the process, from prototype through
The adoption of local on-demand manufacture
to production, enabling companies to
backed up by effective collaboration that
42
IT
MANUFACTURING
&LOGISTICS
March 2019
entire supply chain.
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