The car manufacturer selected HP Metal Jet 3D printing technology for the high-volume manufacturing of production-grade metal parts.
This technology has been described as the foundation for the company’s strategy to industrialise additive manufacturing.
HP has partnered with GKN Powder Metallurgy, a provider of metal parts, to deploy HP Metal Jet factories for the production of functional metal parts for the automotive and industrial industries.
Through the use of HP’s technology, and GKN Powder Metallurgy, Volkswagen was able to produce more than 10,000 car models in only a few weeks ahead of its visionary ID.3 electric vehicle launch event.
Our vision to industrialise additive manufacturing is quickly becoming a reality with HP Metal Jet, it is a game changer for the automotive industry”
In achieving this, the manufacturer reached a “key milestone” in the first stage of its three-phase “strategic roadmap to functional production”.
Dr. Martin Goede, head of technology planning and development at Volkswagen, comments: “Our vision to industrialise additive manufacturing is quickly becoming a reality with HP Metal Jet, it is a game changer for the automotive industry.
“The pace of innovation by HP and advanced capabilities of the technology have exceeded our expectations. We are meeting our milestones and are actively identifying and developing functional parts for production.”
Tim Weber, global head of metals for HP printing and digital manufacturing, adds: “We are committed to delivering the capabilities our customers need to accelerate the design and production of high-quality final parts with breakthrough economies. Together with Volkswagen and partners like GKN we are standing up the factories of the future.”
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