Company News Archives - Page 5 of 9 - BigRep Industrial 3D Printers

School is in Session, with Canadian ‘Innovation Enablers’ CAD MicroSolutions

November 29, 2022May 16, 2018

This summer heralds a big change for the rapidly expanding CAD MicroSolutions. They’re looking to move into their new, larger headquarters in Toronto, Canada, which will also serve as their demo facility. As one of the most recent partners to join the BigRep reseller community, they plan to showcase one of our machines on the demo floor – BigRep’s are the first large-scale printing machines they have added to their portfolio of 3D printers.

“BigRep was the sweet spot,” said Hargurdeep Singh, Director of Additive at CAD MicroSolutions. “We were missing the large-build envelope from our portfolio.” He zeroes in on what it was about the technology that motivated them to bring BigRep products to their customers: namely, the open source technology regarding materials and German engineering.

The Canadian firm has been servicing businesses across the country providing mechanical and electrical CAD solutions since 1984. They have expanded into additive manufacturing as well as VR/ AR and IoT solutions. At the helm of CAD MicroSolutions’ additive program, Singh and the team are based in Toronto, with an office in Cambridge and representatives across Canada, including in Montreal and Ottawa. They have a strong technical team, providing both remote and field support, as well as customized training.

Long-time resellers of Solidworks, CAD MicroSolutions was very selective as they expanded into additive manufacturing. They wanted to be sure their technology partners provided solutions that their clients would value. Singh says this has worked to their advantage. He explains that they are now in an advantageous position, being able to pick the solutions that best fit customer needs.

There’s a core focus on education, as training lies at the heart of what they do. Offering webinars, assisting SMEs find funding to explore additive manufacturing potential, and more, CAD MicroSolutions is intent on spreading the word about 3D printing technology. Singh said, “We don’t just want to sell a box,” – it’s ideas and potential they want to offer, as their company tagline ‘Innovation Enablers’ indicates. Students are, in his view, the ‘future force’, as they’re going to make equipment recommendations to their future employers.

The company has also recently partnered with the Canada Makes network, which is a manufacturing industry-led initiative to boost Canadian innovation by encouraging adoption of additive manufacturing technologies. CAD MicroSolutions has seen enormous potential in Canada for shortening production cycles in the furniture industry with large-scale additive manufacturing. Singh said, “It has become very much like the fashion industry – they want to feel, touch, analyze the product. You just can’t do that digitally, so you need a physical, life-sized model in front of you.”

As well as working with the furniture, foundry, and mechatronics industries, CAD MicroSolutions sees the immense possibilities for educational institutions to further explore industrial 3D printing and specifically additive manufacturing. For Singh, it’s personal. “If I hadn’t had the chance to use, to play with them [a 3D printer] at my university, I don’t think I would have the passion and the desire I have today for additive.”

It’s a lucky thing he did come across a 3D printer in his institute, as it spurred the researcher on to win a host of accolades for the papers he has written on the subject, such OACETT’s Best Publication Award in Year 2014, for his paper titled ‘Cost Optimization of FDM Additive Manufactured Parts’. Singh has a technical research and development background, with a mechanical engineering specialty, and joined CAD MicroSolutions in May 2017 to head up their additive manufacturing division.

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RAPID + TCT 2018: BigRep’s Recap

October 25, 2022April 27, 2018

Our BigRep America team has been hard at work these past several days at the RAPID + TCT event, at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Texas. This major industry event attracted company representatives from all over the United States, particularly the southern US, as well as further afield: our team spoke to folks from throughout Latin America, Australia and Europe who were interested in large-scale 3D printing technology.

RAPID + TCT says its attendees are the biggest group of 3D technology buyers in North America – from Adidas to ZimmerBiomet, there are a huge range of manufacturing industries represented: from medical devices, jewelry, defense, automotive, consumer goods, aerospace, technology, fashion, construction, and more.

Our team knew it would be a good opportunity to connect with so many different kinds of businesses. We didn’t bank on being blown away by the sheer diversity of the customer industries that are well-versed in our large-scale additive manufacturing technology, and wanting to go bigger than the smaller-sized printers they have.

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BigRep Channel Manager Ryan Hayford spoke with visitors at the booth throughout the event, from April 24-26, and said, “There continues to be a lot of interest amongst many industrial users in the aerospace and automotive sector, but connecting with several education resellers proves that there is another important market we need to explore further in the United States.”

As kids are increasingly being given the freedom to innovate in the classroom with 3D printers, there comes a time when desktop-sized machines are not enough. One Chicago-based art school approached BigRep, saying that the open-source, open-frame BigRep ONE is the kind of machine they’re looking for, so that their students can begin designing bigger.

Several visitors to the BigRep booth (stand no. 1646) from the aerospace industry, were in conversation with our team about their need to print custom, one-off pieces for fixtures and tooling, jigs, and other custom objects that enhance their competitive advantage.

It wasn’t only fresh faces we saw at RAPID + TCT, but also the partners, customers and industry contacts that BigRep knows well. Our customer Steelcase came by the booth to say hi, as did My Central Coop – in fact, they drove there overnight in their Tesla 3 to come to the event and drop by the booth. Our valued resellers Saratech, DesignBox3D and ImageNet were also regular visitors, bringing prospective customers by to see the ONE and STUDIO 3D printers in-situ.

Events like RAPID + TCT are also usually great for us to meet resellers across the country who are interested to add BigRep printers to their portfolios. We spoke to many who are wanting to diversify their product portfolio and feel their clients can benefit greatly from utilizing BigRep’s capabilities.

BigRep America's team from left to right: Frank Marangell, Amnon Hamami, Steven Rizzo, Ryan Hayford, Margaret Hewitt

Our team was pleased to showcase the BigRep range of materials, especially the brand new Pro FLEX filament, for which there were several flexible samples: “There was a lot of excitement about the TPU, specifically seeing the wheels turning in people’s heads about what they could do with seals, gaskets and the like,” said Hayford. “People were telling us they aren’t necessarily thinking about what they’re going to use it for tomorrow – they’re thinking about the future, they’ve all got their five-year plans.”

After all the networking and meetings the past couple of weeks – with AMUG and RAPID + TCT trade shows, among others – it has been a busy, yet very fruitful, event time for us! A particular thanks goes out to our hardworking team, including Amnon Hamami and Margaret Hewitt who were operating the machines, answering technical questions and setting up the booth. The fun doesn’t stop now though, as we gear up for the next events, which are just around the corner… Maybe we’re coming to one near you!

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You Met Us in St. Louis

November 29, 2022April 13, 2018

BigRep Reflects on a Successful AMUG Through a Large-Scale Lens

“People don’t just walk around collecting brochures,” said BigRep America President, Frank Marangell, from the BigRep booth at AMUG in St. Louis, Missouri. “They really get to learn and share. The growth of AMUG is a testament to the real value attendees get here, and there’s real value for us, too.”

Speaking to the uniqueness of the renowned AMUG user conference, Marangell says it’s not just ‘another week, another trade show’ – this one is a bit different. BigRep has had a jam-packed few days in St. Louis, with a busy booth at the conference, of which it is a platinum sponsor. On display was the BigRep STUDIO 3D printer, which demonstrated the potential for high-volume 3D printing in a space-saving package, and a host of exciting industrial prints. Among them, prints showcasing BigRep’s newly released TPU filament PRO FLEX.

Of the new flexible material, Marangell said, “The ability to print rubber over rigid to make over mold parts or living hinges was really interesting for many visitors to our booth. It shows how we’re working hard to produce completely new solutions for our customers.”

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Meeting and Greeting the Industry

Drawing 3D industry leaders and newcomers alike, the event was a networking platform and something of a rapid-fire university course – a myriad of sessions aimed at educating and upskilling the attendees on the latest additive manufacturing developments.

“You can’t put a price on that kind of networking opportunity,” said Marangell. “It has been even more international this year, which is great for us since we’re already reaching out to companies in all corners of the globe.”

BigRep’s Dr. Stephan Beyer concurred, saying, “We did see that the AM world is moving more industrial, more serious about manufacturing solutions. The visitors to our booth related to our strategy, in terms of our open, large-format, reliable machine and the ability to use their own materials.”

The BigRep STUDIO at the AMUG Conference.

Sessions to Share and Educate

Beyer spoke in a packed room as part of a panel session “BASF and BigRep: Spare Parts on Demand for Deutsche Bahn” including Volker Hammes, Managing Director of BASF New Business GmbH, and Stefanie Brickwede, Managing Director of ‘Mobility goes Additive’ (Deutsche Bahn). Both BASF and Deutsche Bahn spoke to the innovative developments resulting from their partnership with BigRep. Both Beyer and Marangell say the panel session was an opportunity to inform companies about the endless possibilities for custom applications using large-scale additive manufacturing technology, like BigRep offers.

A Tuesday BigRep session with Steelcase’s Eric Barth and Stefanie Brickwede (“BigRep Applications Presented by Steelcase and Deutsche Bahn”) offered further insight into the significant benefits that the technology can have for companies to produce to-scale prototypes in a matter of hours. The competitive edge that Steelcase – a leading US office furniture solutions manufacturer – gets from the BigRep printer had many session attendees coming past the booth to see if the same thing could be done for their business.

An immensely successful AMUG was capped off by a BigRep session with Marangell and CTO Moshe Aknin introducing BigRep’s latest development: the metered extruder, which BigRep expects will be a game-changer in the FFF marketplace. It will bring more accurate repeatability and speed to the traditional extrusion technology, avoiding limitations for end-use solutions. Aknin presented the new extrusion technology to a full room with an enthusiastic crowd.

Aknin also led a session called “Ideate, Design, Fabricate: Latest developments by BigRep’s Innovation Lab” that explored the immense possibilities from custom applications, as demonstrated in BigRep’s partnerships, co-operations and activities at NOWlab in Berlin. It was the icing on the cake for a busy few days in St. Louis, and invited participants to view a world in which creativity and solution-focused technology knows no bounds.

After wrapping up a hugely successful AMUG, the team will be moving down the Mississippi River and take a right at Texas, for the RAPID + TCT event in Fort Worth, from 24-26 April. Our team of 3D print experts is now taking appointment bookings to discuss business solutions using large-scale 3D print technology.

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Innovation Takes Off: BigRep and Etihad Airways Engineering Partner Up

December 15, 2022April 12, 2018

What do you get when you cross a major international aviation company and a world-leading 3D printing manufacturer? Innovation at 10,000 ft., to set new standards for additive manufacturing in aerospace.

BigRep is thrilled to be switching on flight mode, partnering with renowned Etihad Airways Engineering in defining a roadmap for the development of the next generation of Additive Manufacturing (AM) solutions for the aerospace industry. It’s an exciting development for both companies, with a joint aim to employ new approaches to realize the full potential of AM technology. There will be a focus on cabin interior parts for new Etihad aircraft, as well as for the retrofit market.

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Etihad and BigRep agree a challenge awaits in terms of broadening the spectrum of AM-suitable polymers that pass the aerospace certification process. At present, one of the main factors prohibiting a breakthrough of AM for aircraft cabin interiors is the absence of a broader variety of high-performance materials that are EASA and FAA-certified. Both parties have agreed to jointly develop and test new material grades in accordance with EASA and FAA criteria.

"Etihad Airways Engineering and BigRep share a vision to bring the 3D-printed cabin into production, together with our partners,” said Bernhard Randerath, Vice President Engineering, Design & Innovation at Etihad Airways Engineering. “Our goal is to enable 3D-printing technologies for cabin parts – be it on new aircraft programmes or for retrofit installations – to serve our airline customers with innovative and smart solutions.”

Etihad Airways Engineering, as a leader in innovation, will leverage its experience around the aircraft cabin lifecycle and its drive to develop novel cabin concepts that will be additively manufactured.

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Stephan Beyer, CEO (interim) & CFO of BigRep is thrilled to announce lift-off for the partnership, saying, “We believe that Etihad Airways Engineering, with its expertise, is the perfect fit to cooperatively shape the industrialisation of AM for the aviation industry. We believe that we offer the best additive manufacturing solutions today with our BigRep equipment, but to unfold the full potential of our technology for the aerospace sector, we have to jointly certify new aviation materials and establish specific AM design and engineering guidelines in parallel.”

BigRep and its innovation department NOWlab have partnered with world-leading companies in the aerospace, automotive, education, manufacturing and other industries on projects that push boundaries. Whether it’s end-use spare parts with Deutsche Bahn, or concrete casting molds for Geiger, there are a host of instances in which large-scale 3D printing can set new standards for manufacturing and give businesses a competitive edge.

So, if you happen to be on an Etihad flight, sitting next to a large-volume 3D printer, just know that it has its own frequent flyer mile membership and is working hard to further AM in the aerospace industry (so, give it a little of your armrest space)!

You can read the official press release about the Etihad and BigRep partnership here.

BigRep and BASF securing strategic agreement to develop industrial 3D printing materials

October 21, 2022February 28, 2018

BigRep and BASF closed on a strategic partnership agreement to jointly develop 3D printing solutions for industrial applications. The collaboration includes the joint development of materials and printers for industrial customer requirements. On the other hand, BASF is investing in the company in order to further strengthen the area of 3D printing.

Although BigRep was only launched four years ago, the Berlin-based company has quickly become one of the leading global providers of large-format 3D printing technology for industrial users. The announcement of a cooperation with the world’s largest chemical company BASF is a further signifier of its continuing dedication to engineering and manufacturing cutting-edge solutions.

“We strive to provide our customers with the most innovative 3D printing solutions using BigRep equipment, and now BASF industrial materials help take us to the next level,” said René Gurka, CEO of BigRep, of the partnership. “BASF is the strongest materials partner. Together, we can help our customers solve their challenges with innovative 3D printing processes.”

BASF brings to the partnership extensive knowledge of materials and their industrial applications. It also has the broadest portfolio of materials in the chemical industry that can be used to develop 3D printing materials. "The forward-looking partnership with the combined expertise of both companies enables our customers to realize industrial applications faster," says Volker Hammes, Managing Director of BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH.

The announcement marks the second closing of a growth round initiated in the second half of last year for the Berlin-based 3D Printer manufacturer BigRep, which provides hardware, software, materials and services for large-scale 3D printing, and counts Körber Group, KfW, b-to-v Partners S.à.r.l., Koehler Invest GmbH and kloeckner.v GmbH among its investors. In addition to its headquarters in Berlin, BigRep has expanded its operations to the USA and Singapore, and established a network of resellers across every continent.

About BigRep:

BigRep is a technology start-up based in Berlin with offices in Boston, New York and Singapore, which develops and manufactures the world's largest 3D printers. One of the ground-breaking developments of the company founded in 2014 is the BigRep ONE, which is supplemented by the smaller BigRep STUDIO.
Interdisciplinarity and well-founded experience in the field of additive manufacturing characterizes the multinational team of BigRep, now comprised of more than 90 employees. In addition to new products, the Berlin company is now concentrating on complete solutions for industrial customers in the form of integrated additive manufacturing systems. The goal of the highly innovative engineering company is to revolutionize design, prototyping and industrial production from the ground up.

For further information as well as pictures and video material please contact:

Maik Dobberack
PR & Communication
BigRep GmbH
T +49 (0) 30 208 4826-38
E [email protected]

Voting Now Open for BigRep Innovation Award Finalists

November 29, 2022February 20, 2018

Hold onto your seats, people – we have some fantastic chair designs for you.

The inaugural BigRep Innovation Award closed on Sunday February 11th, and the teams here at BigRep HQ in Berlin and at NOVACAD Systems in Halifax were grinning from ear to ear, upon seeing the caliber of entries received out of Canada.

Our illustrious panel of judges – Gregor Ash, Lindsay Lawson, Brian Lilley and Amir Fattal – have shortlisted the entries received so far, down into a shortlist of 12 chair designs.

So, how does it work from here? Here are next steps:

In terms of criteria, the jury will decide based on the form, function and originality of the chair designs, and will also be taking the public vote into consideration. How the finalists have approached designing for 3D printing will be a key factor.

1. Finalists have been notified via email, so now they need to encourage their friends and family to vote for their designs online!
2. It’s a one person per vote situation (i.e. per IP address), so anybody can vote one time. Your mom, once. Your grandpa, once.
3. The shortlisted candidates all had to be from Canada, but the votes don’t! So, send the link to your friends and family abroad, too!
4. You will be able to track ‘likes’ and rankings will be displayed.
5. Online voting closes on March 20 at 11:59 PM CET.
6. The jury will take the online vote into consideration when making their final decision.
7. The winner will be announced on or around April 10.

As NOVACAD Systems’ Gregor Ash said, “We’re looking for design and function as well – the whole idea of ergonomics and comfort. So, having a sense of how conceptual design from an aesthetic point of view connects to the concepts of materiality, in terms of how the item is constructed overall and going to hold together, is essential.”

And with that, everybody start voting!

“We’re not here to make toys” – A BigRep breakdown of SOLIDWORKS

November 29, 2022February 13, 2018

The BigRep America booth at the SolidWorks World 2018 show, Los Angeles

Frank Marangell, President of BigRep America

It flew by in a blur of great conversations, sessions and exciting new technologies, but while the SOLIDWORKS World 2018 booths have all been packed up and visitors have returned to their home towns and cities, I think we’re just warming up for 2018.

Following up with the visitors who stopped by the BigRep America booth, impressed by our machine, has made me want to revisit the SOLIDWORKS fair and reflect on how it was for us, and why.

For those in the 3D printing industry – especially those in the US – SOLIDWORKS World is an important fixture on the yearly events calendar. We’re a silver partner at the event. The namesake software company puts on an event that attracts attendees from around the world, and one thing they have in common is that they are designing the latest, greatest things, across every industry you can imagine. These businesses need to prototype their designs, and are on the hunt for the ideal additive manufacturing solution for their needs. For example, one custom-design machine shop owner stopped by, asking us how a larger-format printer could better handle his requirements.

Ready to get started at SOLIDWORKS - some of our BigRep America team.

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Being one of the only large-format printing providers at SOLIDWORKS really set us apart, so naturally we wanted to talk to these businesses about how large-scale 3D printing can change the way they design and manufacture. We continually hear from companies of all kinds that they feel caged in by smaller 3D printers, and lament the hassle of cutting up their prints in data phase. One such customer flew in specifically to see us and the BigRep STUDIO. He liked the size of the printer, and commented on the German engineering quality of the product.

This man, and several others over the course of the event, said to me, “Wow, that’s a pretty big printer.” I was always delighted to be able to reply with, “Yes, but that’s our little one. It’s just one quarter the size of our BigRep ONE.” People couldn’t quite believe the quality and scale you get for the price.

One thing we wanted to do – which I think we achieved – was to showcase the industrial potential of our large-format 3D printers. I think most people at these events walk past the 3D-printed toys and frivolous items, thinking, “Well, I don’t make toys.” And we agree. Our approach is to help companies find solutions to their problems using large-scale, industrial parts. It’s as simple and as complicated as that.

That’s why the samples we carted with us to SOLIDWORKS showcased industrial solutions, such as the headrests for Deutsche Bahn, and our innovation department NOWlab’s work on concrete casts with Geiger. These and other pieces were about showing how high resolution can be achieved at speed, and in large-scale. We had a very nice propeller part that we printed with the 0.6 mm, 1 mm and the 2-mm nozzles to show the capabilities of the system and the resolution the STUDIO can achieve. We always reference the material used and the time it took to print, to show that regardless of resolution, it limits a customer’s ability to stay competitive if it takes too long.

BigRep America team members with a BigRep STUDIO at Solidworks World 2018

The BigRep STUDIO was on display at the BigRep booth at SOLIDWORKS.

Your average SOLIDWORKS user and SOLIDWORKS World visitor is from an SME (small-to-medium enterprise), so we get to interface with them at the event on exactly this – taking their industrial production and prototyping to the next level. You have the big guys with fleets of 3D printers – the Fortune 500 companies – and then a long tail of many other small-to-medium-sized businesses, who are looking to optimize by bringing 3D printing to their processes. It is the perfect place to show these businesses what BigRep machines can do, particularly considering Southern California is one of the biggest markets in the United States for 3D printing, so Los Angeles is the perfect (sunny) place for the event to be held.

While international visitors were certainly in attendance, the SOLIDWORKS room was mostly comprised of US attendees. We were able to meet customers and resellers alike, which is important as we expand our reseller network in the States and internationally. The best part about selling to this industry is that machines are sold bottom-up. They aren’t sold through Amazon or online, they are sold through a salesperson who takes the time to consult and work with a customer directly, locally. Events like SOLIDWORKS remind us of this, because we get that valuable one-on-one time with potential customers and experienced resellers.

We are in the process of creating some tools to better interface SOLIDWORKS with BigRep, as well as looking to work closely with the SOLIDWORKS community. We think they’re the best, and we think we’re at that same level in what we do, so we want to align ourselves with their reseller community. Otherwise, it’s all about gearing up for AMUG and RAPID + TCT in April, as well as many other events after those – then next year it’s off to Dallas for SOLIDWORKS 2019!

Frank Marangell is President of BigRep America Inc. and Executive VP of Global Sales at BigRep. He has been operating at the top level of the additive manufacturing industry for over a decade.

Connect with Frank on Linkedin HERE.

BigRep Partners with Trideus to Offer Large-Scale Additive Manufacturing Solutions in Benelux

November 29, 2022January 18, 2018

BigRep, a leading German manufacturer of professional large-scale 3D printing solutions, announced today that it has reached an agreement with Trideus, a leading provider of additive manufacturing solutions, to resell BigRep products in the Belgian, Dutch and Luxembourgish region of Benelux.

Founded in 2013 in Lummen, Belgium, Trideus started out with the goal of making 3D printing accessible to end-users. Over the years, as their experience grew, they upgraded their portfolio with only the leading brands and technologies in the industry. With this, Trideus diverted its focus towards offering professional yet affordable additive manufacturing solutions. In the Benelux region, Trideus is the leading supplier of additive manufacturing solutions, products and services.

“We are very excited to be partnering with BigRep,” says Jesse Buteneers, CEO of Trideus. “With BigRep as a partner, we can offer our customers the opportunity to print large, high quality yet affordable 3D printed parts. This type of capability perfectly meets the demand of progressive companies in our region.”

“We are very glad to be joining forces with Trideus, one of the leading 3D resellers in Belgium,” said Ingolf Nachtigall, BigRep’s EMEA Sales Director. “We are looking forward working with them to strengthen our presence in this area.”

About BigRep:
BigRep is a technology start-up based in Berlin with offices in Boston, New York and Singapore, which develops and manufactures the world's largest 3D printers. One of the ground-breaking developments of the company founded in 2014 is the BigRep ONE, which is supplemented by the smaller BigRep STUDIO. Interdisciplinarity and well-founded experience in the field of additive manufacturing characterizes the multinational team of BigRep, now comprised of more than 90 employees. In addition to new products, the Berlin company is now concentrating on complete solutions for industrial customers in the form of integrated additive manufacturing systems. The goal of the highly innovative engineering company is to revolutionize design, prototyping and industrial production from the ground up.

For further information as well as pictures and video material please contact:

Maik Dobberack
PR & Communication
BigRep GmbH
T +49 (0) 30 208 4826-38
E [email protected]

Reflections on 2017 – BigRep’s emerging global position in the Industrial Additive Manufacturing space – MADE IN GERMANY!

November 29, 2022December 13, 2017

BigRep STUDIO, compact industrial 3D printer

BigRep’s 3^rd full year in business has been one of big strides forward across the board. From doubling sales, to exciting new products and collaborations, to increasing confidence about the position we have carved out for ourselves in a fast-growing 3D printing industry, it has been a great 2017.

The backbone of our business is our resource base and in this respect, we have seen significant changes. We were pleased to announce key new investments this year from Klöckner & Co and Körber. We also made some important appointments, including those of Moshe Aknin and Frank Marangell who each have CVs bulging with world-class 3D printing industry experience.

As President of BigRep America, Frank Marangell’s arrival signalled the opening of our US office. We have wasted no time in developing a strong US team and our engagement with this crucial market kicked off with a presence at signature additive manufacturing shows AMUG in Chicago and Rapid + TCT in Pittsburgh. In a similar vein, this year we continued to grow our network of resellers, so that we can now say BigRep is a company with a global reach to match our technological ambition.

3D PRINTERS, FILAMENTS & NOWLAB: AN INCREASINGLY CUSTOMIZED 3D PRINTING PACKAGE

The development of that underpinning technology continues apace. This year we have been busily shipping our new BigRep STUDIO machines, as well as introducing new specialist 3D printer filaments and 3D printer software solutions. But we do not just sell machines and materials. The value we can add through hands-on work with clients to tackle big additive manufacturing challenges in their specific use cases became very clear this year. Our research and innovation hub NOWlab drives this work forward. NOWlab is playing a central role in our ground-breaking end-use parts manufacturing project with Deutsche Bahn, as well as numerous projects in other industries.

BigRep’s experts are waiting to sink their teeth into your unique and challenging use case.

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The above activities are all part of BigRep’s maturation into a company with a clear and valuable role in the 3D printing industry. That transition requires that we work to our strengths and find industry-leading strategic partners with whom to work. For this reason, our production agreement with long-established German industrial firm Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG was an important piece of groundwork in establishing BigRep.

GROWING INTEREST IN INNOVATIVE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING PROJECTS

So, it has been a year of great progress for BigRep, in three key areas: the basic infrastructure to build industrial machines; our 3D printing product and service package and developing industry track record; and our growing strategic connections for the future. These developments have delivered us greater exposure and interest from a range of stakeholders and at different cross-industry events. The August visit to BigRep’s offices by Ramona Pop of the German Green Party was just one of many from potential clients and a wider audience enthused by industry 4.0. I was pleased to share a platform at bitkom’s September 3D Printing Summit with colleagues from Braunschweig University of Art and Audi to talk about our fantastic car seat project. Our work with Deutsche Bahn has created a buzz and led to my appearance with Managing Director of ‘Mobility goes Additive’ Stefanie Brickwede at CREATING URBAN TECH in October.

November’s formnext show, the high point in the year for the additive manufacturing industry, was our opportunity to assess how far we’ve come in 2017 and to further shape our vision for the future. The message I took from a supremely busy four days engaging with colleagues across industry is that we are moving in the right direction with our technology, with our research-oriented and tailored approach to clients, and with our strategic plan to build machines for industrial users. Looking forward to 2018, our mission will be to push ahead on these core aspects of our work. Our headline task within this is to apply BigRep’s 3D printing technology and NOWlab’s ingenuity to a new round of even more impressive end-use applications. For that we need professional clients willing to think big and trust in the research processes necessary to realize further breakthroughs in additive manufacturing technology.

René is the founder and CEO of BigRep GmbH, driving it to be one of the world-leading 3D printing companies, with his many years of experience in business development and innovative technologies.

Connect with René on Linkedin HERE.

Global industries are boarding the additive manufacturing train – in Berlin!

November 29, 2022December 8, 2017

To say we’ve been focused on tapping new potential this year would be an understatement. Front of mind for BigRep has been work on exciting projects and partnerships to discover new end-use manufacturing applications for our advanced large-scale 3D printer technology.

In late October I had the pleasure of sharing a podium with Deutsche Bahn’s (DB) Stefanie Brickwede at the dynamic CREATING URBAN TECH conference in Berlin, to discuss the successful cooperation between BigRep and DB. We spoke on this again at formnext on 14th November in Frankfurt. BigRep is a member of Mobility goes Additive, a network which DB initiated to develop additive manufacturing solutions for the logistics and mobility sectors. We have been working together to explore how DB can use BigRep’s additive manufacturing technologies to further their business and improve efficiency.

BigRep CEO René Gurka & Deutsche Bahn’s Stefanie Brickwede at CREATING URBAN TECH

We can highlight three key outcomes of the partnership to date. All three are typical of the benefits industrial organisations encounter when utilizing our technology.

Firstly, Deutsche Bahn has identified that 10-15% of their demand for spare parts could be met with 3D prints. This approach can reduce production time and costs, and facilitate a dramatic reduction in necessary spare parts inventory. They expect to 3D print an impressive 15,000 spare parts in 2018.

Secondly, they are finding potential to use additive manufacturing to develop new kinds of end-use products. This article describes one example, a new design for a printed part with braille on its surface.

Finally, DB believes that the development of new 3D printer materials will be the key to determining how much end-use manufacturing it can do in future with 3D printing technology.

This joint project we have with Deutsche Bahn illustrates the new value that comes when companies invest together in exploring how new techniques can be applied to existing and upcoming design challenges. It, as well as developments within Mobility goes Additive, also shows that Berlin is becoming a hub for innovative developments in the emerging additive manufacturing sector.

But the story, and especially that final point, also illustrates that we have choices to make. We have the option to pursue networking opportunities in this technology to their limits and develop the next generation of high value technologies. Or, if we pursue these opportunities less aggressively, other firms and other cities will get there first and reap the rewards.

additive manufacturing - 3d printing filament

Developing new 3D printer materials is a core aspect of BigRep’s development of new additive manufacturing applications

We are conscious of this choice when it comes to Deutsche Bahn and Mobility goes Additive, and will seek to sustain our close working relationship to develop new 3D printer materials, hardware and techniques to fully explore the potential for this cooperation. What I discussed at CREATING URBAN TECH, as well as at formnext in Frankfurt (on 14th November), is that we need to apply the same thinking to Berlin and its own potential in terms of additive manufacturing. I believe that to take ourselves from a promising hub to that central, world-leading position, we should formally nurture networking activities between businesses and other research organisations in the sector, for example, with a Centre of Excellence in Additive Manufacturing in Berlin. Can we 3D print that?

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René is the founder and CEO of BigRep GmbH, driving it to be one of the world-leading 3D printing companies, with his many years of experience in business development and innovative technologies.

Connect with René on Linkedin HERE.