How Additive Manufacturing Is Cutting Down On Material Wastage?

How Additive Manufacturing Is Cutting Down On Material Wastage?

Manufacturing is indubitably cost-adherent center of a business. It adds waste and reduces efficiency if not handled right. However, advanced technologies accompanied by consumer demands have shifted the distribution and scale of manufacturing.

If you’ve heard the hype about 3D printing, you’re on the right track. The new and improved technologies have reduced production time and inventory levels to manage the cost of handling.

It’s all part of additive manufacturing. Here’s how it’s sustainable and waste-reducing.

Additive Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing is the layer-by-layer manufacturing process. Unlike subtractive manufacturing, you add one layer at a time until the product finishes. Each part is first modeled using 3D CAD and sliced into layers.

AM system is an automated process. Though the materials and processes are different, they all follow the same approach. AM has made on-demand manufacturing, design innovation, and customization possible. It prints parts on-demand and allows designers to visualize prototypes digitally.

But where does additive manufacturing stand on reducing waste front? Let’s see.

AM: Sustainable Solution to Manufacturing Waste

Additive manufacturing reduces waste generated in manufacturing processes as follows:

Reduces Waste

When you deploy AM application in your manufacturing process, you only print product parts when needed. This way, you only need tools and material when it’s required. When you produce solid metals, you require forming and milling, which leads to material waste and large energy consumption. However, AM enables you to print metal components when the consumer demands them so that no product goes unsold. This way, you avoid over-production and inventory carrying costs.

Reduces Carbon Emission

AM is also sustainable because of its more localized and shorter approach to the supply chain. It significantly eliminates freight journeys meaning limiting logistics and weight required for transportation of industrial material. You can print components on-site or near the factory so that your business is not contributing to higher carbon emissions.

Do you know 3D printing can reduce costs up to $593 billion globally, cut carbon emission by 525.4 megatons and slash energy supply between 2.54 to 9.30 by 2025? If you adopt AM, you’ll likely see the energy and financial benefits in your production process.

Reduce Material Cost

Metal AM process adds a layer to a product in specified places, which reduces material waste. Metal additive manufacturing reduces the need for raw materials needed for production. For instance, Additive manufacturing uses advanced design software to optimize and make lightweight products—the lighter the parts, the lower the cost.

Print Spare Parts

If your company uses and stocks up spare parts, you know their holding cost can be high, particularly if such spare parts are in low demand or infrequently used. Instead of wasting valuable resources and time, you can use AM because it reduces the need to keep spare parts in inventory. You can use metal 3D printing to design and produce spare parts when needed to reduce inventory costs and improve the supply chain.

Additive manufacturing also allows you to improve the design of product components and spare parts. Give your engineers and designers the freedom to visualize better designs with our additive manufacturing solutions. At Falcon Technologies International, we support manufacturing firms to reduce waste and become sustainable. Contact us today for more information.