Ricoh and Siemens have announced that they are to develop a solution for mass production aluminium 3D printing using binder jetting technology, as it looks to enable new customer value in areas such as EVs and other forms of mobility.
In the first step of the collaboration, Ricoh has implemented Siemens’ Additive Manufacturing Network to build a full digital process to optimise its internal process and machine management for aluminum binder jetting technology – from print job preparation, through manufacture, to delivery of components.
Ricoh’s proprietary binder jetting 3D printing technology uses the company’s 2D inkjet printing technology and expertise, which it says enables the production of metal parts with ‘more complex shapes that would not be possible with conventional metal processing methods such as machining and casting’.
Ricoh says it has also implemented Siemens’ Brownfield Connectivity and is collecting and storing information on each process necessary for quality stabilisation and production control, with both companies aiming for the early commercialisation of these technologies.
“The production of aluminum parts is a holy grail for the additive industry and we’re delighted that Ricoh has chosen Siemens’ Additive Manufacturing Network capabilities from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of industry software to help them commercialise a much sought-after process,” said Zvi Feuer, senior VP of digital manufacturing software, Siemens Digital Industries Software.
“Our collaboration with Ricoh will apply its expertise in additive manufacturing with our knowledge and experience in delivering additive-specific operations management technology across a wide spectrum of industries – from order capture, production planning, and manufacturing to part delivery transaction closure.
Together, Siemens and Ricoh are working to deliver repeatability and consistency at the scale needed to truly take advantage of using robust and repeatable aluminum additively manufactured parts in the commercial world.”
Tokutaro Fukushima, GM for Ricoh’s Additive Manufacturing Business Center, added: “Ricoh will enable our customers to manufacture innovative aluminum components that have never been produced before by any process and will work with them to realise new customer value in the area of electrification of EVs and other forms of mobility.
“By combining Siemens’ powerful solutions and knowledge with Ricoh’s aluminum BJT, we will be able to provide our customers with highly reliable and practical systems for mass production applications. We hope to promote electrification together with our customers and contribute to solving social issues such as realising a zero-carbon society.
