3D printing is being used in new ways across an increasing number of sectors. This accessible technology enables rapid prototyping, makes production processes more efficient and stimulates innovation. Research firm IDC recently predicted that 3D printing in the manufacturing industry is set to take off in the coming year, with a 21.8 per cent increase compared to last year.
L’Oréal Paris uses 3D printing, amongst other things, to produce functional components and prototypes.
Market leader in beauty L'Oréal uses 3D printing to create functional parts, production tooling and prototyping. Anne Debauge (Digital Director of the Packaging and Development Department) shared this at Formnext, the leading international conference on additive manufacuring.
Company's packaging factory must be able to keep running non-stop. Product packaging goes through a number of (test) phases from sketch to final design. The final stage in this is a 3D-printed prototype. For 20 years, L'Oréal outsourced the production of this final validation phase. It currently uses Ultimaker 3D printers internally. From the first sketch to a 3D-printed test model, the company now needs only two days, whereas before it was four. The introduction of 3D printing led to a 79 per cent cost reduction in parts production.
The use of printers extends beyond packaging prototypes. With the presence of 3D printers on the shop floor, employees can now also make functional parts, such as prototype moulds, control tools and spare parts, in no time. 3D printed control tools, for example, are the high-precision measuring instruments to check the placement of labels on products. This ensures the quality of packaging because these tools can be quickly adjusted when a new product is made.
Content and image: Paul Heiden, SVP Product Management at Ultimaker
