Following its expansion into Asia and Latin America, voxeljet Systems, a manufacturer of progressive 3D printing systems for industrial applications, is joined by Christian Träger who will be heading up the company’s international sales team. Effective immediately, the industry insider will be responsible for the global distribution of voxeljet’s 3D printing systems in his capacity as Sales Director.

Christian Träger carries the German designation of Dipl.-Wirtschaftsingenieur (industrial engineer), and began to turn his focus on additive manufacturing as early as his post-secondary studies. He already started his career at voxeljet as a graduate in 2010, and worked as a project manager in the Customer Service division after completing his dissertation. Based on his extensive experience in international customer projects, he joined the printing systems sales team in 2012. Focus: Asian markets. Since August 2016, he has been responsible for the global distribution of voxeljet’s 3D printing systems in his capacity as Sales Director.

“The demand for industrial 3D printing systems has grown worldwide. For this reason, we are expanding our capacities with printing systems for our subsidiary in the United States. In addition, we are also creating additional space for the manufacture of 3D printing systems and administration at the head office in Friedberg,” explains Christian Träger, the new Sales Director, with regard to the current plans of the 3D printing specialist. The eventual aim of this strategy is to expand and further develop voxeljet’s cold chemical 3D printing process, which is designed for speed.

Before customers of voxeljet Systems buy their own 3D printers, they usually take advantage of the services offered by voxeljet Services and its international service centers, which offer on-demand manufacturing services for molds and models for metal casting. As the advantages and opportunities offered by 3D printing become apparent over time, the order volume generally increases and an investment in their own equipment becomes worthwhile.

The most in-demand model is the VX1000, a universal 3D printer for industrial applications in the area of additive manufacturing. In addition to its considerable production speed, the VX1000 also impresses with its easy handling, and allows for the cost-effective production of models made from plastic, as well as sand cores for prototype manufacture. Even small series can be produced cost-effectively. In plastic processes, non-printed particle material can also be re-used.  True-to-detail plastic models and precise sand cores with a high surface quality up to 1,000 mm in length and a resolution of up to 600 dpi are all possible options. The layer thickness that is applied in one pass is 150 micrometers for plastic and 300 micrometers for sand. The universal VX1000 is particularly well suited for development departments, lost-wax and sand casting.

voxeljet’s 3D printing systems are used for the tool-less and fully automated manufacture of complex components, prototypes in rapid prototyping processes and small series components in rapid manufacturing. Depending on the printing system, they can also be used for true-to-detail plastic models for lost-wax casting and precise shapes and cores for sand casting. The following applies: The more complex the geometry, the more cost-effective is 3D printing.

Other advantages: voxeljet has the world’s largest industrial 3D printer measured by continuous build volume. It can be used for the flexible production of large individual components, large numbers of small components or a combination of both. In addition, the high-performance 3D printing systems also generate enormous time savings of up to 75 percent compared to conventional tooling. The robust design ensures a long service life and is adapted for continuous operations. The industrial 3D printers are developed in Germany and manufactured with a high degree of vertical integration.

After the joint venture in China and the establishment of subsidiaries in India, voxeljet has now set its sights on the Mexican market. To this end, the leading provider of large-format 3D printers and on-demand services has entered into a cooperation with ART in Mexico.

Mexico, the world’s seventh-largest car manufacturer, is an important and growing OEM market for cast parts in the automotive industry. But in addition to automotive, global player voxeljet has also turned its focus on the Mexican machine building, transportation industry and energy industry. It is expected that these sectors will experience enormous growth in the Latin American market in the next few years.

To secure market share in the automotive sector, 3D print specialist voxeljet acquired a strong partner in Mexico, the automation company Art Abastecedora Industrial S. de R.L. de C.V. (ART). During the last few decades, ART successfully placed brands such as Automatic Feed Co. and Mayfran International on the Mexican automation market. The company provides high-tech solutions for automation companies, and counts the “Big Three” in the automotive industry (Ford, General Motors and Chrysler) as well the VW Group & Nissan, among its suppliers.

“With its extensive experience in the automotive sector and its collaboration with global leaders, ART is the ideal business partner for the Latin American market. As an automation expert, the company contributes comprehensive competence for marketing our products in Mexico in the future,” is how Christian Träger, Sales Director at voxeljet, explains the idea behind the cooperation. “Our industrial 3D printing systems are front and center in our collaboration with ART. By using 3D printers from voxeljet, large foundries can optimize their production processes for molds and models.”

Foundries that produce for the automotive industry use these molds and models in the Rapid Prototyping process for prototype building and rapid manufacturing, hence in small series production. The advantage offered by 3D printing technology is obvious: Production processes become faster, more cost-effective and more precise.

The Mexican foundries profit from voxeljet’s large-format industrial 3D printers, since complex cast parts can now be acquired directly through ART. Foundries and car makers around the world value the German quality standards of the voxeljet 3D printers, which increase flexibility and efficiency, and accelerate production processes – a prerequisite for keeping up in a hotly contested global market.

Through its cooperation with voxeljet, ART will add industrial 3D printing to its product portfolio in the automotive segment. ART was founded in Mexico City in 1988, and initially made a name for itself by providing die-cutting and installation services for the automotive industry. Now the company offers an extensive product portfolio of machines, accessories and automation systems for the automotive sector. The company covers Mexico, through the main four Industrial regions with Headquarters at México City. Effective immediately, the Mexican expert for automation solutions will also be in charge of marketing the voxeljet 3D printing systems and associated services.

“We are pleased to develop the market for industrial 3D printing in Mexico together with voxeljet, while at the same time addressing the considerable market demand”, adds Dipl.-Ing. Rafael Martínez Velásquez, President of ART.

voxeljet increases its presence in the US growth market with the start-up of the largest 3D printing system in Michigan. With the VX4000 3D printer, one of the leading providers of large-format 3D printers and on-demand parts services underlines its important position in the US market. This benefits in particular the US foundry industry, which is a direct consumer of these services. For example, 3D printers can be used to manufacture large rotors and turbines – and usually much more quickly and cost-effectively than using traditional methods.

No other 3D printing system for sand molds offers larger continuous build volumes. At 4,000 x 2,000 x 1,000 mm (LxWxH), the build space more or less corresponds to the size of a VW Golf car. David Tait, Managing Director of voxeljet America, commented the expanded capacities of the voxeljet equipment fleet and range of services in the US as follows: “The market for cast parts in the US has always focused on size. With the VX4000, we not only produce the largest sand molds in the world, but can also combine these with smaller mold components. The resulting flexibility provides for rapid delivery times and cost-efficient production.”

The VX4000 is very fast and easy to operate. In addition to ensuring cost-effective production processes for very large individual molds, this huge 3D printer can also be used to produce small series parts or a combination of the two. In addition, it also prints stable side walls, which means that the size of the build space can be adjusted as needed. No other comparable system is able to adjust the build speed to the build volume in such a way.

Another feature: The layer building method has been especially adapted for this printer. Therefore the building platform is not lowered during the printing process, but rather the print head is raised with each layer. The machine thus easily supports the heavy weight of the building platform, which can also be quickly replaced via a rail. This allows for virtually permanent printing.

The molds are created with the layer-wise application of the particle material quartz sand, which is glued together with a binding agent. After the printing process is complete, the mold only has to be unpacked, i.e. cleaned of excess sand. Since sand molds are created directly from CAD data, they set the trend in terms of richness of detail and precision.

Although voxeljet has specialized in additive manufacturing for the foundry industry, in general every company that uses casting processes – hence designs, processes, uses or optimizes cast parts – can benefit from voxeljet’s technology.

With the decision to introduce the VX4000 in the United States, voxeljet completes its service range for the on-demand 3D printing of large sand molds in this market. “We decided to place our largest printing system in the US in order to service growing demand in the US market directly on location. Our objective is to strengthen our most important growth market with a diversified portfolio of machines, materials and processes,” is how Rudolf Franz, COO of voxeljet AG, describes the great potential of the US market. Indirect beneficiaries of this high-end technology are the automotive industry, the special machine building sector and the spare parts industry in particular.

Demand for 3D-printed sand casting molds and plastic models has grown considerably, particularly in the US, which is considered the largest growth market for 3D printing. In terms of total costs, 3D printing is much more cost-effective than traditional methods due to the complete lack of tool costs, at least up to a certain batch size. The smaller the batch size, the greater the cost advantage offered by voxeljet’s technology. Particularly in the case of complex geometries, 3D printing is still the most economical alternative even for batch sizes of several hundred units.

3D printing: faster, more flexible, on demand

The other advantages of the 3D printing method range from shorter production periods to less post-processing work of the raw cast components. The same essentially applies to investment casting, where 3D-printed plastic models have replaced classic wax models that are very time-consuming and expensive to produce with injection tools. In contrast to the conventional manufacture of molds using injection tools, in which the production of model plates or core boxes alone can take several weeks, 3D printing makes it possible to print elaborate sand molds over night or in a few days. All that is needed are the CAD data sets, which can even be processed on demand.

• Economical production: Sand molds and cores are printed in one piece without complex and expensive tool production.
• Large-format printing: Large molds can be produced on a build platform measuring 4,000 x 2,000 x 1,000 mm (LxWxH).
• Fast availability: Express delivery in only 3 working days.
• Complex components: Nearly unlimited geometries and even undercuts can be implemented.
• Precise sand molds and cores with high surface quality: With 300 µm thin quartz sand layers.
• Familiar features: Quartz sand and furan resin with series-comparable mold and casting properties.
• Suitable for sand-casting all castable metals, such as aluminum, brass, magnesium, iron and steel casting as well as all common alloys.
• Combinations possible: 3D printed cores can be combined with traditional sand molds, and vice versa.
• Simple core removal: A low binder content means that the behavior during outgassing and core removal is similar to traditional methods.
• Ideal for prototype production and tool optimization: The development and improvement of e.g. tools using 3D printing is faster, more flexible and more economical.

Demand for sand casting molds and plastic models made with 3D printers has grown rapidly in recent years. The benefits this offers in producing prototypes and small batches are obvious: shorter production times, less reworking of cast parts and cost-efficient implementation overall. Up to now, the main beneficiaries have been foundries that use 3D printing as a useful addition to classic mold construction. However, this approach does not yet adequately cover many industrial applications. The voxeljet service center offers industrial and business customers advice on the ways in which they can benefit from 3D printing.

voxeljet is a leading manufacturer of industrial 3D printing systems. The company also operates service centers for the production of metal casting molds and models in its locations in Germany, the United States and the UK, which are able to manufacture sand molds and plastic models on demand, based on CAD data.

3D printing is used in the rapid development and (small-batch) production of cast parts. The more complex the geometry, the more economical it is to produce the parts with 3D printing. However, 3D-printed molds can be produced quickly and flexibly even when laminating CFP molding materials and when optimizing components (to reduce weight or enhance functionality). voxeljet’s customer base includes well-known automobile manufacturers and their suppliers, foundries as well as innovative companies in the arts and design industry.

• Economic feasibility: 3D printing often turns out to be the most cost-effective manufacturing method, depending on the component geometry and size of the series.
• Size advantages: voxeljet has one of the biggest industrial 3D printers in the world, making it possible to flexibly produce large individual molds, many small components or a combination of the two.
• Fast availability: Express delivery in only 3 working days is available by arrangement.
• Complete solution: Expert consulting, from data generation to the finished cast part, ensures smooth project execution.
• Experience: Founded in 1999, voxeljet has many years of experience as a provider of 3D solutions and offers a wide range of services.

3D printing is a hot topic of conversation. Which specific industries can benefit from voxeljet technology?

We specialize in additive manufacturing for foundries. In principle, however, the technology benefits anyone who constructs, processes, uses or optimizes cast parts. The vast majority of our customers are development departments in the automotive industry. Increasingly our processes are also being used in the manufacture of special-purpose machinery, the spare parts business as well as art and architecture.

How does voxeljet’s ordering process work?

Customers can, for instance, send us a 3D data record or a drawing. They can choose whether to simply purchase the molds or whether they’d rather hire us to produce a finished cast part. We review all inquiries individually to determine their technical requirements and feasibility. If necessary, we arrange consultations with the customer. As part of our service, we check the data for errors that may have arisen, for example, during conversion and correct them free of charge in the case of minor impairment. We have high data security standards and take a professional approach to data management. To offer our customers the utmost flexibility, we give them the option of choosing different delivery periods and sand types. Our consultants in the various service centers are happy to provide details and respond to any questions or suggestions.

What sizes can voxeljet handle?

Our service center in Germany uses the VX4000, one of the world’s largest industrial 3D printers for the production of sand cores and mold packages, with a build space of 4,000 x 2,000 x 1,000 mm (L x W x H). When it comes to plastics, voxeljet offers models with maximum dimensions of 1,000 x 600 x 500 mm (L x W x H). At the same time, molds of any size can be created with the use of individual mold divisions.

How does voxeljet calculate its prices?

We aim to offer our customers fair prices, based on the circumstances. In coming up with a price formula, we consider a wide range of factors, weighted according to different criteria. These include dimensions, volume, desired quantity, material, component complexity and, of course, delivery time. While this may sound complicated, it is the only way for us to come up with good prices for a wide range of requirements.

How would you describe voxeljet as a business partner?

We are a young, dedicated team who are fascinated by the possibilities of 3D printing. We are interested in working with industrial partners to come up with new applications daily. Our company is prepared to provide small test parts in order to discover new potential applications. We recognize the importance of development projects and the time pressures involved. Our goal is to work with innovative partners on implementing our technology in order to generate competitive advantages. Customer proximity and fair treatment are therefore particularly important to us.

What can customers worldwide expect when working with voxeljet?

We would like to establish high standards worldwide in terms of our experience, quality and service concept. At the same time, however, we also address country-specific requirements to ensure sustained expansion.