Company News Archives - Page 4 of 9 - BigRep Industrial 3D Printers

Adding to the Manufacturing Discourse in Chicago – Our IMTS Wrap-Up

November 29, 2022September 17, 2018

The Talk of the Show

BigRep’s large-scale 3D printers attracted a lot of attention, positioned front and center of the additive section. Both the BigRep ONE and STUDIO were running 24/7 printing high quality parts throughout the show. We talked with engineers, product designers, professors, managements and C-levels about both the benefit of 3D printing and the value that large-scale can provide.

When attendees learned how big the build platform was, we could immediately see the wheels start turning and attendees imagining all that they could do. Many challenges we heard throughout the week was – “My printer is too small and I’m spending lot of time gluing and combining parts.” “I’m not getting quality parts off my larger-scale 3D printer.” “The strength of my parts isn’t adequate.” These challenges and more can be solved with a BigRep solution. From jigs and fixtures to 1:1 parts for prototyping and one off parts to patterns and molds, the possibilities are endless and can help get products to market faster and edge out the competition.

In 2018 and beyond, if companies want to continue innovating, getting bigger and better, then additive needs to be in their portfolio.

A Changing Landscape for Additive & BigRep

No BigRep booth visitor could have missed our enormous banner promoting our next-generation additive machines – our soon-to-come industrial large-scale printers. They’ll be unveiled at formnext (so don’t miss that announcement). While the excitement and interest was evident around the next generation of BigRep printers, we know there are many more to come when we unveil the new machines.

BigRep America president, Frank Marangell had this to say, “IMTS was a great show for BigRep and the additive community. It’s come a long way in the past years and by IMTS 2020, I expect BigRep and additive to be helping reshape manufacturing.”

Thanks to all our team, partners and visitors for making IMTS 2018 a spectacular success for us!

Stay tuned with BigRep’s upcoming events by signing up to the BigRep Newsletter.

The team could be coming to a city near you – read here about our upcoming events.

CREAT3D is Seeing an Industrial Revolution in 3D

November 29, 2022September 7, 2018

Industrial Revolution in 3D with CREAT3D

When speaking of the first Industrial Revolution, it’s easy to conjure images of buzzing factories in northern England – the gritty, profitable frontier of development in production. It was a watershed time for small industries learning how to mass produce. Much of the technological development that wowed the world during this time (late 1700s - early/mid 1800s) came out Britain.

A couple of centuries on, cities like Manchester and London have changed exponentially – skyscrapers, trendy cafes and start up hubs seem to dominate the landscape and culture. However, as additive solutions provider CREAT3D reminds us, the UK is still a manufacturing powerhouse and a global innovator, particularly when it comes to 3D printing for production. In fact, their little corner of the UK along the M4 corridor in Reading, Berkshire, has become a hub for start-ups of all kinds, and is set to be the fastest-growing city in the UK between 2017-2019, according to an EY study.

Since 2012, CREAT3D (pronounced ‘created’) has been offering additive manufacturing equipment and advice to customers across the UK. From traditional industrial engineering and manufacturing companies, through to robotics firms, aerospace businesses, and consumer design companies, there is a broad variety of UK companies wanting their share of additive technology. They are starting to see it as a “no brainer” to have 3D printers in their industrial environments. Now CREAT3D offers BigRep ONE and STUDIO machines as part of their printer portfolio.

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Their UK automotive customers have provided particularly good use cases for the value of large-scale additive in the production line. CREAT3D has seen that by bringing this kind of 3D printing technology in-house, companies see up to 90% cost saving, as well as faster leads times and the chance to become more economical in the way they innovate.

CREAT3D Managing Director Simon Chandler says his company takes pride in its independence and consultative approach, in ensuring customers buy the right equipment. “Our customers use CREAT3D to support them in implementing an Additive Manufacturing strategy to streamline their processes, reduce costs and maximize investments.” He says it’s about assessing a customer’s needs, their desired applications and sharing industry knowledge with them to find the ideal solution.

Chandler says, “We are thrilled to work with BigRep, and to provide our customers with all the advantages of in-house, large-format AM. This capability opens up a wide range of opportunities to our customers, for them to benefit from access to low-cost prototypes, manufacturing and production aids, and even end-use parts.”

Among their customers are forward-thinking companies in industries as diverse as automotive, food production, bio-tech, aerospace and a wide range of manufacturing applications. From robotics, through to consumer design products and architecture, they can go from working on grippers, to enclosures the next day.

BigRep is thrilled to have CREAT3D as part of its reseller network in a great position between London and Wales, and in a prime spot on the new frontier in additive manufacturing.

Visitors can see CREAT3D at stand L44, and BigRep STUDIO at TCT Birmingham, from 25-27 September, to see the large-scale printers and talk to Chandler’s team about how they can scale their production using 3D printing technology.

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BigRep & YES01 Team Up at Inside3DPrinting, Seoul

November 29, 2022June 29, 2018

An exciting event has come to an end in the South Korean capital Seoul, with the close of the Inside3DPrinting conference and exhibition. Held between June 27-29 at the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX) in Seoul, this year’s event was themed around ‘Strategies for the 3D Ecosystem’. We joined our Korean reseller YES01 at their booth, where visitors were able to see a BigRep STUDIO in action and view a range of industrial 3D-printed samples.

BigRep CEO Stephan Beyer was invited as a speaker and presented BigRep technology yesterday, on Day Two of the conference, on the topic ‘Additive Manufacturing in Transportation’. He spoke to a full room about BigRep’s large-scale 3D printing solutions and how the machines enable a host of cutting-edge applications in industrial contexts. For example, Deutsche Bahn’s use of BigRep technology in developing end-use parts, as well as demonstration of this by automotive customization company Paravan, and Aalborg University’s production of a bicycle frame using the BigRep ONE.

Beyer also delved into BigRep’s work with Etihad Airways Engineering in defining a roadmap for Additive Manufacturing solutions for the aerospace industry. He talked to the crowd about the BigRep R&D philosophy of having applications informing materials, which then informs machine development. The importance of this, he explained, lies in ensuring BigRep’s large-scale machines fulfil the needs of companies to create industrial-grade prints, such as for production tooling, of rapid manufacturing of jigs and fixtures.

Some questions followed, one about 3D printing for the aviation industry and materials certification required for it. Given BigRep and Etihad are working together on solving the challenges in this field, it was an especially relevant question, which Beyer addressed in the frame of BigRep’s development of flame-retardant materials suitable for aircraft.

Beyer also did several interviews with Korean press, for a TV station, a magazine and online news site ZDnet. BigRep conducted a media conference with numerous outlets present.

There was high traffic to the booth throughout the event, with visitors stopping to watch the large print of the electrical box that progressed on the STUDIO printer. Passers-by were representatives from a wide range of sectors including education, transportation, construction and even the industrial lighting industry stopped by the booth to find out more.

One major global automotive company approached the booth saying that they have small and mid-sized 3D printers, but are looking for large-scale solutions to make their process more efficient. A few aerospace companies also sought BigRep out, enquiring after the potential of BigRep technology to print end-use parts with high-tech capabilities.

Alex Hodik, BigRep’s General Manager for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, works out of the BigRep Singapore office and was in Seoul for Inside3DPrinting. We caught up with him to find out more about the top trends he noticed throughout the event, and what to watch for in 3D printing in APAC and globally.

BigRep's CEO Stefan Beyer @ Inside3DPrinting

“We were one of the only large-scale providers at the event, so it’s clear that there is still a huge number of smaller-scale machines. In this sense, we are very much ahead of the curve in presenting viable large-scale manufacturing options to customers in this market,” said Hodik.

“Korea is a territory representing all applications and industries applicable to 3D printing, and very representative overall of Asia as a market,” said Hodik, referring to the highly industrial needs of many of the market countries. “It was an important event for us to meet customers and potential resellers, as we continue to ramp up our partner network in the region.”

Hodik and the dedicated BigRep team in Singapore supports 15 distributors – a number that continues to grow rapidly in the APAC region.

Inside3DPrinting is the largest global 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing Event series focused on innovation, manufacturing and expansion of the latest cutting edge technologies. The event is punctuated by an impressive bill of speakers, all leading their fields in additive manufacturing and adjacent spaces. With an international audience of over 10,000 people, the conference and exhibition is a major industry on the world calendar.

Stay tuned in about BigRep’s upcoming events by signing up to the BigRep Newsletter. The team could be coming to a city near you – read here about our upcoming events: /events/

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Sleek Automotive Models – 1:4 Car Model

February 23, 2023June 25, 2018

Technological developments seem to race by so quickly… But sometimes they become a part of the race. In this case, BigRep technology aided in the creation of a 3D printed car model for a racing car meant to travel at ultimate speeds.

Inspired by vehicles used in the 1950s Bonneville Speedway Salt Flat Races in the United States, German university student Maximilian Thomas designed a race car with clean lines, optimum speed and an aerodynamic shape. His model was ultimately 3D-printed on a 1:4 scale. It may not be full scale, but certainly not a size to be sneezed at – it is 1 m in length by 10-15 cm in height.

“Printing on a big printer is always an advantage, because gluing small [desktop printed] parts together always means deviation and it gets really imprecise,” said Thomas.

Thomas completed the car design and model as part of his Bachelor thesis, the aim of which was to create a reasoned countertrend for autonomous driving, with a matching look. He used a BigRep ONE to print the larger parts of his design that would not have been possible with a desktop 3D printer.

Thomas says that printing with a large-scale 3D printer improves precision and the capacity to include complex details in the print. Compared with other traditional methods of automotive model-making, 3D printing is faster, easier and more cost-efficient – all ideal aspects for companies looking to save costs and resources when prototyping, not to mention university students working on experimental projects.

So, while printing an entire functional vehicle on a 3D printer is not quite ready yet, printing the model for it certainly is! Recommended is to design the file in such a way that large parts, such as the hood of a car, the roof and doors, can be printed in one piece.

Furthermore, there are some easy ways to hide the seams by slicing the CAD file (we explore top tips for that in this video). This can help in the creation of a model with sleek lines, where an awkwardly placed seam could ruin the entire effect. Understandably, this is not what makers want for their aesthetically impressive automotive models!

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3D Printed Car Model FAQs

Can your 3D print model cars?

In recent years, 3D printing has been used to produce car accessories, parts, and even entire cars. The LSEV is an electric 3D printed car that was originally set to hit the Asian and European markets in 2019.

How much does a 3D printed car cost?

Are 3D printing models illegal?

BigRep Wins German Brand Award 2018

November 29, 2022June 22, 2018

This June has been a particularly busy month for us at BigRep, especially with the latest announcement that has us all celebrating: BigRep has won a German Brand Award 2018 for Product Brand of the Year, with a special mention in the Machinery & Electronics category!

Accepting the Award at a ceremony yesterday (Thursday 21st June) at the Palazzo Italia, Römischer Hof, in Berlin, were BigRep’s Amir Fattal, Head of Marketing and Creative Projects, and Ralf Chille, Brand Designer.

The German Brand Award pays tribute to successful brand strategies in Germany, identifying, honoring and presenting unique brands and brand builders. For BigRep, the Brand Award is recognition of the efforts that go into developing a global brand from a suite of high-quality machines.

BigRep’s large-scale 3D printers form a big part of its product portfolio, but its service, network of partners, materials development and all its hardworking company departments make up the brand.

As part of its application, BigRep submitted a video that showcased its commitment to quality – in its service and machines. German engineering, excellent branding and a strong team underscored the application and were key features in the video.

Hot on the heels of this announcement is the news from earlier this month that we have won a German Innovation Award 2018 in the Machines & Engineering category for the BigRep STUDIO 3D printer.

Both the German Brand Award and German Innovation Award are awarded by the German Brand Council (Rat für Formgebung), which honors and promotes first-rate design, and pays tribute to the best players within their disciplines.

Stayed tuned for another big announcement next week!

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Additive Manufacturing Out West: 3D Solutions on the California Coast

November 29, 2022June 18, 2018

It’s immediately apparent speaking to David Gurrola that he is somewhat of a guru in additive manufacturing. The Technical Director of Advanced Manufacturing at Saratech in California can boast over 15 years in the field, much of it working within the aerospace industry on projects for companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Parker Hannifin. From testing different flight structures, to business development in aerospace, to starting his own service bureau, Gurrola has now built a complementary portfolio of 3D printing technologies, seeing Saratech expand into applications for additive manufacturing.

Saratech recently joined the BigRep reseller community, and is the first West-Coast-based partner for BigRep, covering 60% of the United States with their services and sales. From their headquarters in Mission Viejo, between Los Angeles and San Diego, California, they are a 3D solutions provider with a difference – their pedigree in engineering solutions consulting precedes even their sales of 3D printing equipment and machines. Saratech assists its clients with comprehensive engineering services – “Everything from napkin-sketch designs, to full analysis, design certification, method and more,” said Gurrola.

As for California, Gurrola speaks to the merits of being on the West Coast for ready access to a huge range of industries using additive technologies. “It has always been a hot-bed for 3D printing,” he said of the Golden State, where they have operated since 2004. “We work with startups, well-established medical companies, all the core design houses for automotive in Northern and Southern California.”

BigRep America President Frank Marangell says having Saratech on board as a BigRep reseller is another huge step toward reaching major players on the West Coast. “California is a state with such a broad array of industries and huge potential for additive manufacturing,” he said. “The Saratech team has such a strong track record in offering impeccable service to customers, so we’re proud to be partnering with them offering our large-scale 3D printing technology.”

As well as scale, customers are increasingly looking for the capacity to use a range of materials. The vendor lock-in by other OEMs can be a real deterrent, says Gurrola, who thinks this has been a big part of the appeal with BigRep and its open source large-scale 3D printers. For bigger companies, especially in the aerospace industry, a vendor lock-in with materials immediately disqualifies that product from even being applicable in a lot of cases, from a risk mitigation perspective: “One of our customers has a specific custom material, which they use for their own product – they won’t share that material formulation.” Gurrola says customers like these need the capability to be able to use other materials, to retain an edge over their competitors.

Naturally, we’re always curious to know what new materials are being developed, but as BigRep develops its own 3D printing filaments – including newly released TPU-based filament PRO Flex – we understand the importance of confidentiality in development to retain competitive advantage. Furthermore, Gurrola saw the BASF investment in BigRep as a real plus, since it opens up possibilities for even more creative materials development.

Saratech’s founder Dr. Saeed Paydarfar came from an aerospace background, and worked in flight systems, so while the company has a strong track record of working with companies in automotive, medical devices and consumer products, it is aerospace that remains a core focus. Saratech is building on its various competencies to find new applications to solve manufacturers’ business challenges. Gurrola said, “We’re taking our automation skillset, and marrying it with additive to make manufacturing more efficient. We’re making it so you don’t need an operator throughout a full production run of multiple builds.”

Among the broad spectrum of cases they have worked on, Saratech has seen many a challenge presented, for which there is a perfect-fit 3D print solution. One such recent case was a customer involved in modifying aircraft with antennas. They needed to work at an extremely past pace retrofitting aircraft that were on the ground for repairs with the antennas. Time is of the essence, Gurrola says, when it’s roughly a $100,000 per-day loss that a plane is on the ground. The customer was redesigning the jigs with aluminum, but requested Saratech’s help to lightweight the jigs. When they couldn’t CNC-machine the parts quickly enough, they created a 3D-printed prototype, which turned out to be ideal for their needs. They have now produced a dozen or so of these fixtures, which the customer is using in production.

In this and other cases, Gurrola has some sage advice for customers: “Look at a design for additive from the beginning, rather than mid-way through… Understand how best to utilize additive for manufacturing or for replacing existing components.” How exactly do you do that? Well, you’ll have to talk them directly!

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BigRep STUDIO Wins German Innovation Award 2018

November 29, 2022June 7, 2018

Pop the champagne, cue up the party tunes! We’re proud to announce that BigRep has won a German Innovation Award 2018, for its large-scale 3D printing machine the BigRep STUDIO.

“We are thrilled to receive the German Innovation Award for our BigRep STUDIO printer, which has been a game-changing machine for professionals printing 3D objects in large scale,” said BigRep CEO, Stephan Beyer. “The Award reflects the overwhelmingly positive response we have had thus far to the STUDIO and underscores our commitment to excellence.”

On hand to accept the Award on 6th June 2018, on behalf of BigRep, was Naor Israel, BigRep’s Director of Engineering. His report back: a great evening at the Deutsches Technikmuseum (German Museum of Technology) in Berlin, where the ceremony was held, with an impressive number of innovative companies in attendance.

BigRep winner of the German Innovation Award 2018

Pop the champagne, cue up the party tunes! We’re proud to announce that BigRep has won a German Innovation Award 2018, for its large-scale 3D printing machine the BigRep STUDIO.

With over 650 applicants, ranging from small businesses to established corporations, across a wide variety of B2B and B2C sectors, it is a feat for BigRep to have been named a winner of this inaugural prize, in the Machines & Engineering category.

The win marks another milestone for BigRep in 2018, with the first half of the year holding several important announcements for the company, including investments, partnerships with leading global aerospace and automotive brands, and the launch of its flagship TPU material Pro FLEX. Almost at the mid-way mark for 2018, BigRep has additionally announced a host of new resellers joining its global partner network, particularly in the United States.

To top it all off, BigRep has been nominated for the German Brand Award 2018, in the category of Product Brand of the Year, with a special mention in the Machinery & Electronics category, the results of which will be announced at a ceremony on 21 June 2018. More information on the Innovation Award can be found in our latest Press Release.

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From Little Things, Big Things Grow: ImageNet’s Slice of 3D Printing

November 29, 2022June 4, 2018

They say that experience is the hardest kind of teacher, testing you first and letting you find out the lesson afterwards – this must mean an A+ for seasoned service provider ImageNet Consulting. The company has been in operation for over 60 years, having started out in 1956 selling and repairing typewriters, then shifting over time into other technologies as they have emerged.

“We’ve always gone through changes, wherever the industry leads us next,” said TJ Russell, Director of Additive Manufacturing at ImageNet. “We moved into calculators, printers, copiers, and scanners, but we see 2D printing is in 2% decline each year.”

It was therefore a natural progression for the Oklahoma-based company to move across into 3D printing, to become experts in designing, printing and servicing the equipment. “It’s almost like going to school, and learning about a completely new industry,” said Russell. “Not only are we now educating our current clients, but we’re also still educating manufacturers.”

Russell says that even though 3D printing has been around for 30 years, in some ways the industry still doesn’t quite yet know its place. His perspective is that additive manufacturing has always been about manufacturing and not as much about service. Some companies that boarded the additive manufacturing train early on, he says, and they didn’t have the right training and service to use their machines to their full potential. As such, they are now sometimes hesitant to invest in new, more advanced technologies. “They have a bad taste in their mouths from previous bad experience,” said Russell. “We’ve seen people who have spent $300,000 on equipment, when they really only needed to spend $20,000.”

ImageNet therefore sees a strong opportunity in re-training previous users of additive technologies – in essence, showing them that additive manufacturing is far better than it used to be. BigRep is one of their latest partners on this journey, with ImageNet having recently joined the BigRep global reseller network.

Though for their customers and contacts across higher education, aerospace, government agencies and other industries, there isn’t one specific angle on which they focus. It’s about upskilling companies in all verticals, across all the states in which ImageNet operates: Oklahoma, Texas and Missouri, the latter of which is the location for their new office, in St. Louis. Along with parts of Utah, Colorado and New Mexico, the company casts its net across 20% of the United States. Their professionalism and national footprint for other products proves that their position within the additive industry will only grow.

Russell describes their customers and target audience as “anyone that utilizes CAD software”. He believes in a broad-minded approach to who can benefit from additive manufacturing technologies – everybody is a candidate in some way, whether from a marketing, educational, prototyping or manufacturing perspective.

BigRep is the first large-volume 3D printer provider in ImageNet’s portfolio, which Russell says was a logical step for them in building their “one-stop-shop” for 3D-printing equipment. “There are a lot of clients out there that needed a bigger build volume. We really liked where BigRep was headed, how they were coming out with faster printers.”

Like BigRep, ImageNet was a part of the recent Rapid + TCT trade fair in Fort Worth, Texas, showcasing their portfolio of machines and reaching out to the broad range of industries present at the fair. BigRep’s booth was a place for customers to see for themselves the size of the BigRep STUDIO 3D printer, and view a variety of large-scale sample prints in BigRep materials, from BigRep’s workhorse machines.

They have an array of industrial use cases that support the switch to large-scale 3D printers. One such customer case that springs to Russell’s mind is an air conditioning manufacturer that needed to be able to test their fan designs. It’s somewhat dangerous when testing RPM speeds with metal parts, so not only did they increase safety and security by 3D-printing the parts for testing, but they also ended up saving a lot of time and money in the process.

“We’re still growing on the 3D side of the business, working on building out a CAD group to help customers with designs,” said Russell. From what started as a company built by one Bobby Roberson out of his garage, working from a $50 loan from his mother, has become a company that is a very model for diversification of a business. “It’s a fun story,” remarked Russell. “From being told we didn’t belong in this industry 5 years ago, to now being an up-and-coming VAR in additive manufacturing, providing the best technologies in the industrial sector.”

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New Tech in an Old Manufacturing Town – Detroit’s 3D Printing Experts DELRAY Systems

November 29, 2022May 28, 2018

In knowing what Mid-West manufacturers need to gain a competitive edge, DELRAY Systems is in arguably the best position possible. Its Founder Joe Rocca’s was himself an early adopter in the 3D printing industry and knows how important it is to be leading the field with the latest additive manufacturing technology.

“Since 1996, technology has changed substantially,” said Rocca, reflecting on the time he moved into the 3D printing sphere. “3D printing machines were very expensive back then.” Not only has the industry technology changed; so too has the way companies do business and the applications they need to maintain a competitive edge.

From their spot in Detroit, Michigan, Rocca’s team is also in a great position to witness cutting-edge innovations and reflect on the rich, world-famous history of manufacturing in their town. They’re currently located in one of the original Dodge family buildings from the early 1900s, on the Oakland University Campus. The facility is a business and R&D center for clean energy, hybrid/electric and autonomous vehicle development utilizing advanced manufacturing processes including big 3D printers.

Synonymous with the glory days of the US automotive industry, Detroit is a city that has undergone immense change and hardship. Although infamous for a plunge in car sales during the 2008 recession, and the significant subsequent layoffs by Michigan automakers, Detroit is back on top in a big, yet very different way.

Despite challenges that the city’s automakers have faced, Rocca says it didn’t have much of an impact on the continuation and growth of the 3D printing industry. “Even though car companies may have struggled selling vehicles, we were somewhat isolated from that in a sense… the future vehicle product development process and the need to verify design intent has always been there.”

Given this fact, Rocca still felt confident in starting DELRAY Systems. Developing a substantial team of professionals has always been part of his DNA. So, when his employer decided to sell its 3D printing business, it was the perfect time for him to open his own operation. The three main components at DELRAY Systems are 3D printing, 3D scanning, and 3D modelling.

Selecting “best in class” professional desktop 3D printers, DELRAY Systems soon tapped into the pulse of the many industries in the Mid-West and across the country. “We also wanted a large-format 3D printer in our offerings, and so we kept an eye on the industry, and zeroed in on BigRep after seeing the technology at AMUG.”

Rocca knew BigRep America President Frank Marangell from his days working with other 3D printing companies, so it was an easy mutual decision to partner up in a reseller capacity.

“DELRAY Systems is certainly an asset to our growing reseller network,” said Marangell of the newly minted BigRep reseller. “With their position in the Mid-West, impeccable knowledge and experience in 3D printing, and breadth of industries covered, it introduces BigRep to an even wider audience.”

For DELRAY, and now consequently BigRep, there is an exciting opportunity ahead in a fast-growing market in this part of the United States. Many consumer products are being developed in their area – from vacuum cleaners, to furniture, and yes, automotive is certainly one segment of it. Though with opportunities, come challenges in terms of educating on applications and potential.

“Sometimes people are a bit fearful that the 3D printing technology is going to eliminate their jobs,” said Rocca, “But these are the same people who, if they embrace the technology, can fully exploit its capabilities.”

As far as customer service goes, DELRAY Systems has very large companies among its customers, as well as small ‘Mom and Pop’ shops. But no matter how large or small, customer service is the priority and the most important segment of his operation.

“Here in this town, we have very large automotive companies, but believe it or not, they have not implemented the technology as much as one would think,” he says. DELRAY and BigRep are excited to flip that, and together prove the potential for large-scale 3D printing technology.

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Hot off the Printing Press: BigRep in the News

November 29, 2022May 22, 2018

We can be a little shy to share press about ourselves, but a couple of recent pieces in German media have us feeling proud of our growth and accomplishments these past months. Being featured in some of Germany’s leading newspapers is a feather in our cap, especially in the city of our founding, but of course that comes with a catch – they are in German. For our English-speaking audience, reading the articles could be tricky!

Thanks to Jochen Clemens at Die Welt (The World) newspaper, who published an article on 25th April 2018, entitled ‘Large Prints and a Little Finesse’. Clemens spoke with BigRep’s Maik Dobberack about the company’s journey so far, from a small team to now one of over 100 employees across several global offices. In the article, Dobberack is quoted saying that BigRep’s goal is to become one of the largest suppliers in additive manufacturing in Germany and internationally.

Clemens writes that in order to do this, BigRep has a foundational strategy of low-cost production – a key to staying competitive. Mentioning the manufacturers of the BigRep ONE and STUDIO 3D printers as Olpe Jena and Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, both based in Germany, the article looks at how BigRep is positioned toward industrial-grade applications for a range of industrial sectors: “This is clearly the market of the future for us,” due to additive’s increasing prevalence across the world in solving industrial production and manufacturing business challenges.

Dominik Bath, journalist for the Berliner Morgenpost, visited the BigRep HQ in Berlin-Kreuzberg to tour the office, see the 3D printers in action and speak with Daniel Büning, Managing Director and Co-Founder of NOWlab@BigRep.

Bath’s article ‘3D printing from Berlin on the way to mass market’ was published on 14th April 2018 in the major Berlin newspaper, in print and online. It profiled BigRep as a start-up that has achieved fast growth to become mid-sized company and important player in the Berlin technology community. “BigRep is the poster child for Berlin’s growing 3D printing scene,” writes Bath. “Büning also wants to underscore the fact that technology has gone from something niche to the level of industrial production.”

3D Printed Headrest

The article references the Deutsche Bahn ‘Mobility Goes Additive’ project in which BigRep is involved, assisting the national train network to produce end-use spare parts. The unit’s Managing Director Stefanie Brickwede is quoted as saying “[3D] Printing is faster, more flexible and cheaper than traditional manufacturing processes and the trains are available again in the shortest time possible.”

The article also focuses on a survey conducted by the Senate Department for Economics (Senatsverwaltung für Wirtschaft) provided exclusively to the Berliner Morgenpost, revealing how that of 68 companies using the technology, more than half are already using 3D printers in their daily work. Bath’s piece mentions the inherent advantages for companies taking up the technology: “Because replacement parts can be produced onsite as needed, it could reduce expensive warehousing feed. With the low-noise 3D printers, industrial production could also move closer to residential areas in cities.”

Stay tuned to our blog and social media for more news on BigRep. We recently had a major German news network come to film a TV news story at our Berlin-Kreuzberg HQ – not long until the big reveal!

For some more English-language coverage of BigRep and innovative prints with our large-scale 3D printers, here is a selection of recent articles:

CNET: 3D-printed airless bike tires deliver a 'smooth ride'

All3DP: BigRep Prototypes Big with a 3D Printed Wheel Rim

Aerospace Technology: BigRep and Etihad partner to develop 3D-printed aerospace parts

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