MADE Pilot Project: 3D-print became an obvious choice for BEWI's production
For BEWI Denmark, the participation in the MADE Pilot Project has been a useful innovation which has offered an unique sparring in investigating the possibilities in 3D-printing. Read original article (Danish)MADE project provided valuable insights to BEWI
Original article brought (in Danish) by Danish Technological Institute
The Danish company BEWI Denmark is a producer of EPS and EPP solutions, also known as “Flamingo®” in Danish, using tools made of aluminum for the molding process. As BEWI entered into a MADE Pilot project it was with a curiosity of investigating the possibility of using 3D-print for their molding tools. The cooperation with Danish Technological Institute proved that implementation of 3D-print was cheaper to manufacture and had a shorter lead-time. At the same time it was possible to accommodate increasing market demands for complex and diverse geometries thanks to the expanded design freedom of 3D-print.
BEWI is using aluminum tools to mold parts in EPS, often including logos. When a workpiece is to be designed, it requires a passage of steam and cooling water in the tool wall as well as a high thermal conductivity. The challenge for BEWI was to fulfill customer demands for complex and diverse geometries – as it forces significant demands on building the tools and here BEWI experienced limitations in the following molding process.
The flexibility is a great advantage
Therefore BEWI became interested in the possibilities of using 3D-printed tool parts in the molding process, in the attempt to meet market demands for complex and challenging geometries. Here the MADE project provided insights in how 3D-print could redeem BEWIs wishes without compromising the conventional production process. 3D-print proved advantageous in order to accommodate BEWIs wishes for customized solutions and a fast change of productions which are crucial in a volatile market.
“The detail level is very high in the work we are doing right now, which means that is at times on the edge of engraving, and this is very time and cost consuming when milled in aluminum. Some molded parts are used only once and this fact nearly dictate the use of 3D-print, where the flexibility it provides is more than welcome,” explains Ole Krebs, Development Manager at BEWI Denmark.
Increased profitability and short lead-time
The fact that 3D-print became an obvious choice for BEWIs volatile production was among other things the short lead time, as you are do not have a milling process for the mold in 3D-printing. This saves work hours and production time.
“3D-printing offers us other possibilities compared to manufacturing of conventional tooling. Here you create a digital file which you can direct use for 3D-printing. This is quite different compared to physical milling out the shape from an aluminum block,” says Steen Storgaard, Designer at BEWI Denmark.
MADE Pilot project has offered an unique sparring
For BEWI the participation in the MADE Pilot Project has been a useful innovation which has offered an unique sparring in investigating the possibilities in 3D-printing.
“It has been a new approach for us to reach out as we earlier typically would have looked for inspiration in our own line of business or something similar to it. By joining forces with an institute like Danish Technological Institute, we had to explain what is our daily business and production. This has been an important learning,” explains Ole Krebs.
