Ultimaker has accumulated many cases in different fields since its establishment, such as the previously introduced customized 4x4 car parts, optimized production lines, 3D printed prosthetics, etc. This time, we will introduce a case from another end-component development company to give you a more comprehensive understanding of the applications of Ultimaker and the benefits of 3D printing.
ERIKS was founded over 80 years ago and has maintained its industry leadership by adopting cutting-edge technologies like the UltiMaker 3D printing ecosystem to meet the evolving needs of its diverse customer base. With over 5,000 skilled colleagues in 15 countries, ERIKS is a multi-product expert providing a wide range of high-quality mechanical engineering components and services.
ERIKS is an early adopter of 3D printing, integrating it into various aspects of its operations, from jigs and fixtures to production parts. ERIKS places a strong emphasis on lean manufacturing practices to create more value for its customers with higher efficiency, better quality, and within limited resources. The company differentiates itself from competitors through its commitment to quality and precision, evident in its decision to use 3D printing in clean manufacturing facilities. Notably, ERIKS achieved a milestone by creating a workflow for certified food-safe printed parts, positioning it as one of the global pioneers.
Reliability and Longevity of UltiMaker 3D Printers
Most of ERIKS' 3D printers are dedicated to prototyping, custom jigs, fixtures, and tools for production or maintenance purposes. Over time, the company has begun to adopt 3D printing technology for manufacturing end-use parts, utilizing various materials to meet specific requirements such as heat resistance, food safety, or EMD safety.
Job van de Sande, Engineering Manager at ERIKS, highlights the versatility of 3D printing, which can produce flexible or rigid components suitable for different applications, including optimizing assembly or production processes, quality tools, and safety equipment.
Van de Sande emphasized UltiMaker's importance in their 3D printing journey, stating:
"We made UltiMaker the platform of choice for FDM 3D printing at ERIKS. Now, we have expanded our printer count to about 25 machines, spread across 10 different teams in 6 different countries."
ERIKS utilizes a variety of UltiMaker printers from the S-series, including the latest UltiMaker S7 3D printer. UltiMaker's reliability and future-proof nature are crucial for ERIKS, ensuring that their investment in printers remains viable long-term.
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Van de Sande praised UltiMaker's reliability and longevity, stating:
"The fact that the printers we buy today will still be usable in five years is extremely important. Thanks to continuous updates in firmware and other aspects, we are still able to use the entire range of UltiMaker printers purchased over the years."
3D Printing Process: Smoother, Faster, Better
Jan Brabander, Product Manager at ERIKS Industrial Plastics in Ede, Netherlands, emphasized the vital role of 3D printing in their processes, especially for rapid prototyping and small-batch production, where cost-effectiveness and speed are crucial.
"During development, we can produce a part to make it easier to show our production team or customers," Brabander noted. "We also use 3D printing throughout our internal processes, such as for production or quality control. For example, tools for assembling products, checking measurements, or making our processes faster, smoother, and of better quality. We are increasingly using 3D printing to manufacture industrial-grade end-use parts that can be used in our customers' machines or factories."
ERIKS Industrial Plastics specializes in CNC machining and injection molding, but also sees 3D printing as a viable option for producing custom parts according to customer needs.
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👉 Makera CNC Machine
👉 Roland CNC Machine
👉 Snapmaker CNC Machine
Van de Sande explained, "Whether they are looking for heat-resistant, food-safe, or EMD-safe applications, 3D printing can deliver. And, when they consider more dynamic properties, such as flexible or very rigid parts, they can really utilize 3D printers to achieve that." The engineering plastics production facility in Ede is designed to produce food-safe parts according to EC1935 and GMP standards.
ERIKS drill alignment fixture for electronic housing
Van de Sande outlined a bottom-up approach to 3D printing. ERIKS encourages the entire team to explore the potential of 3D printing in their production environment and gradually become part of a panel of 3D printing experts. ERIKS has built a community where experts from different business units and locations come together to exchange ideas and knowledge, ensuring a holistic approach to 3D printing implementation.
The use of Trinckle (software that provides parametric design and automation solutions) further democratizes 3D printing, enabling a wider group of people (not necessarily with engineering backgrounds) to create applications and leverage 3D printing. The software also offers a range of industry-standard preset fixtures, allowing ERIKS to streamline and accelerate the creation of 3D printing applications.
The UltiMaker Material Station enables easy front-loading of up to 6 filament spools, filament end detection, NFC identification of compatible materials, and automatic material switching.
Harnessing the Power of the UltiMaker 3D Printing Ecosystem
ERIKS has adopted the complete UltiMaker 3D printing ecosystem, utilizing the UltiMaker Marketplace and Digital Factory Enterprise to establish standards within the organization. Digital Factory provides a comprehensive solution for 3D printer management, allowing users to remotely prepare, queue, print, and manage their projects. Reliability and continuous updates, including firmware and applications (such as Cura, the world's most popular slicer), ensure that ERIKS has a fleet of printers that will be available for a long time, and enables the team to expand the applications of 3D printing.
Security is a top concern for ERIKS and its customers. The deployment of Digital Factory Enterprise ensures secure operations, maintaining systems behind firewalls, while Cura Enterprise facilitates collaboration with IT partners to ensure seamless technology stack integration. This comprehensive approach allows ERIKS to create a broad community of enthusiasts and experts, driving widespread adoption of 3D printing.
UltiMaker's 3D printing software enables ERIKS engineers to quickly design and iterate to ensure components are built to specification.
Design Flexibility of 3D Printing
Brabander highlighted the benefits of 3D printing, stating, "Design flexibility is a significant advantage. There are fewer restrictions during the production process. And it's very fast."
The flexibility of 3D printing allows for rapid prototyping during development, streamlining communication with production teams and customers. ERIKS strategically chooses between various manufacturing/production technologies, considering factors such as series size, part quantity, lead time, and technical parameters, to effectively meet customer needs and offer 3D printing as a solution when it fits.
Brabander emphasized, "We don't push any particular type of technology. If 3D printing provides the best solution for our customers, we can use it as our tool."
As ERIKS continues to integrate 3D printing into more locations, the company anticipates further cost and time savings, expanding the technology's applications. Brabander continued, "In our opinion, the real benefit is the ability to produce better quality parts for our customers more quickly." The design flexibility and speed of 3D printing make it an optimal choice for certain applications.
Scaling Up 3D Printing Capabilities
ERIKS' forward-thinking approach to 3D printing has not only improved its internal processes but has also become a valuable tool for meeting customer demands. The combination of UltiMaker's reliability, continuous updates, and comprehensive 3D printing ecosystem positions ERIKS at the forefront of manufacturing innovation.
"With the development of more reliable and repeatable end-use parts, ERIKS has begun to take steps to make them compliant with industry standards and ensure that 3D printing truly becomes an alternative, or even preferred, option for new and exciting high-end applications," said Van de Sande.
Van de Sande concluded,
"To scale our capabilities at ERIKS, UltiMaker has proven to be a reliable and flexible solution."
【Related Products】：
👉 UltiMaker S7 - 3D Printer
👉 UltiMaker S5 - 3D Printer
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