【3D Printing Case Study】Heineken Beer: Ultimaker is the only choice for 3D printing!
The globally renowned "Heineken" beer company has over 150 production facilities worldwide. Its Seville factory in Spain produces many of its famous beers, which are brewed, packaged, and then delivered to consumers. The Seville factory already boasts an annual production capacity of 500 million liters of beer, but Heineken continues to pursue greater efficiency, embarking on an exploratory journey into 3D printing.
(Traditional Chinese subtitles available for the video)
．Production Line Evolution
After establishing a 3D printing workshop, the packaging department focused on three main goals—"output," "uptime," and "safety"—to improve production equipment. They quickly discovered that 3D printing was a solution that combined customization, speed, affordability, and ease of use. Juan, the packaging department manager, happily stated: "Even in the first phase of 3D printing applications, we reduced costs by 70-90%, and lead times were also shortened by 70-90%."
．Safety First
Safety is a top priority for Heineken. Specially designed safety locks engage when machines stop, and they are colored bright red for increased visibility, preventing accidental startup during maintenance. These 3D printed safety locks are applicable to almost all machines in the factory. Beyond their practical utility, these safety initiatives also enhance employees' sense of belonging to the company.
Beyond improving equipment structure, convenience has also been an additional benefit. Factory environments are often busy, and small public items like keys and wrenches can easily get lost in the chaos. By using 3D printing to create storage devices that can be integrated with machinery, personnel handover and small tool management have been streamlined into a systematic accessory.
．Functional Accessories
Following the successful experiences mentioned above, an internal survey was conducted, and 3D printed parts were produced based on needs. First, for expensive and time-consuming discontinued parts or imported accessories, using an Ultimaker 3D printer brought immediate benefits such as saving time and money. Moreover, these parts can serve as alternatives to metal structures.
．Improved Part Design
The advantages of 3D printing include freedom to update designs, rapid on-site manufacturing, testing alternative parts, lighter finished products compared to metal, and the ability to choose materials based on strength requirements. For example, quality detectors on conveyor belts would strike glass bottles, often causing blockages or knocking good bottles to the ground. A redesigned 3D printed part resolved this issue. Breaking free from outsourcing limitations not only saves production costs but also makes process improvements more flexible and simpler.
．Quality Control and Maintenance Tools
Heineken currently uses mostly Tough PLA for its tools, which combines the strength of ABS with the ease of printing of PLA. One such specialized clamp is used to adjust the tightness of the labeling guide shaft. Before adopting 3D printers, this could only be specially ordered as an expensive outsourced CNC part; now, it can simply be taken off the 3D printer.The cost of specialized tools has been reduced by 70%, and completion time has shortened from three days to one. Simple tools like these can be printed in just an hour, whereas outsourcing them previously took over 10 days.
．Integrated Material System
Since many 3D printed parts need to withstand prolonged pressure, high temperatures, humidity, or impacts, Ultimaker's material system plays a crucial role. For instance, Tough PLA is commonly used for pushers and tools, Nylon is suitable for use with metal parts, and TPU is an ideal choice for bumpers and protective parts.
．Initial Results
After one year of using the Ultimaker S5 in this factory, Heineken is confident that Ultimaker has successfully integrated with the production line and created more value, significantly improving employee safety, lead times, and reducing costs. On average, these self-3D printed tools save 80% in both time and money compared to external procurement, demonstrating that 3D printing technology can bring greater value to businesses and make employees more efficient.
．Global Connection
The company plans to leverage the benefits of 3D printing by sharing designs and solutions across its global network and supply chain. Since parts can be transmitted digitally, environmental costs associated with international shipping and transit times are eliminated, accelerating the internal global deployment. Do you want to save costs and speed up product delivery for your business? Ultimaker 3D printers from the Netherlands, meeting EU standards, can provide you with highly stable and precise results. Stop wasting resources now and join the ranks of rapid manufacturing. Use the time and money saved to create more value.
