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Automotive: Another successful Kick-Off

The automotive industry is very diverse, as are its use cases: From prototyping to tools and first small series, are just the beginning. Drives, braking systems, batteries, seats and much more complete the overall picture. Now AM has the potential to revolutionize the automotive sector, which is why on May 24 we launched the MGA AUTOMOTIVE Working Group.

In our office in Berlin we welcomed OEMs, suppliers, innovative start-ups, software providers, printer manufacturers, scientific institutes and many more AM enthusiasts to start an open-topic discussion.

A big thank you to our keynote speakers Christoph Hansen, COO of Sauber Technologies AG and Jens Krämer, Prototyping FireFighting Magirus GmbH who inspired the first discussions of the group.

During the Kick-Off the participants identified the first topics they would like to concentrate on as a Working Group and at the next meeting in September 2022 those topics will be more clearly defined.

Another thank you to BigRep GmbH for inviting everyone from the Kick-Off over for Beers & Burgers afterwards – it was great to have a look at the BigRep facility in Berlin.

Now we are looking forward to the next meeting of the MGA Automotive Working Group.

If You would like to join this group, please contact us

Kick-Off Automotive

We are expanding our mobility portfolio and launching our AUTOMOTIVE working group! We cordially invite you to join us at the MGA office in Berlin on May 24, 2022 from 11:00 to 15:00.

The industry is far-reaching, the use cases as well. From prototyping to tools and first small series, it’s all here. Drives, braking systems, batteries, seats and much more complete the overall picture.

During the kick-off, we will get a first overview of the topic with the help of short pitches by the participants. Afterwards, the relevant topics will be defined together before the first projects are launched at the next working group meetings.
We look forward to reviving the automotive topic area!

In view of the pandemic development, the event will take place under 2G-Plus regulations, where the “Plus” stands for an official, daily Corona test. Feel free to contact Dr. Cora LĂĽders-Theuerkauf with any further questions.

Update Working Group Use Cases

Despite unfavorable conditions thanks to Corona, we have made a first mark regarding regulatory frameworks in orthopedic technology with the workshop for orthopedic technicians – requirements for AM manufactured orthoses – on March 22.

The workshop was completely booked out, the interest was great. In addition to representatives from medical supply stores and orthopedic technology companies, representatives from the Berlin Chamber of Crafts and the DIN Institute were also present. We heard two fantastic presentations on experiences from the dental industry and regulatory requirements for AM manufactured medical devices. Everyone agreed on the importance of validated manufacturing processes in orthopedic technology and the need for communication regarding digitalization into the trade to create safety and minimize fears of new technologies. There is still a lot of work ahead of us, but we are well on our way to navigating the regulatory jungle.

Neuer Förderaufruf für die Additive Fertigung in Berlin!

UPDATE:

Wir haben uns sehr gefreut, dass am 30. März so viele Berliner zur Informationsveranstaltung AMBER Pro FIT Call zu uns in den Marienpark gekommen sind.
Herzlichen Dank an Berlin Partner fĂĽr Wirtschaft und Technologie fĂĽr ein wundervolles Berliner 3D-Druck-Netzwerktreffen!

Mit dem Ziel, die Hauptstadtregion als herausragenden 3D-Druck-Standort in Europa zu etablieren, treibt Berlin die Entwicklung seines innovativen Ă–kosystems im Bereich des Additive Manufacturing (AM) Berlin Brandenburg AMBER, voran.
Berlin wird Testfeld und Showroom für neuartige Produktionstechnologien und innovative Wertschöpfungsnetze, verbunden mit einer wegweisenden Forschung.

Mit dem AMBER Pro FIT Call können Forschungs-, Entwicklungs- und Innovationsprojekte im Bereich der Additiven Fertigung unterstützt werden. Themenfelder sind:

  1. Personalisierte Medizintechnik
  2. Bau und Leichtbau
  3. Additive Fertigung mit biobasierten Werkstoffen
  4. Additive Fertigung im/fĂĽr den Weltraum.

Weitere Informationen hier: https://www.berlin.de/industriestadt/industriepolitik/artikel.1186217.php
Die Bewerbung geht an direkt an die IBB.

Together We are Strong

That’s why we as the Additive Manufacturing Community – an association of various industrial 3D printing companies – want to show a clear sign and stand up for our beliefs with this statement below.

Workshop für Orthopädie- und Medizintechniker | Thema: Anforderung an AM-gefertigte Orthesen und Prothesen

Innerhalb unseres Netzwerks nehmen die Prothetik und Orthetik einen immer größeren Stellenwert ein, da dort die meisten Anwendungen für den 3D-Druck zu finden sind. Das Interesse vieler Orthopädietechniker ist groß an dieser Technologie, die Anforderungen allerdings auch.

Deshalb veranstaltet unsere Arbeitsgruppe USE CASES unter Leitung von Dr. Cora LĂĽders-Theuerkauf am

22. März 2022
von 13.00 – 16.00 Uhr
in Berlin

als 2G+-Präsenzveranstaltung einen Workshop für Orthopädie- und Medizintechniker.

Thema des Workshops sind Anforderungen an AM-gefertigte Prothesen und Orthesen. Der Workshop richtet ich nicht nur an AM-Experten, sondern an alle Interessenten, die sich zukünftig ggf. mit der additiven Fertigung beschäftigen und diese nutzen möchten. Zur Zielgruppe gehören Handwerker, Orthopädietechniker sowie Medizintechniker aus Betrieben, Sanitätsfachgeschäften u.a. Die Berliner Handwerkskammer, das DIN-Institut sowie Vertreter der Landesinnung für Orthopädietechnik Berlin-Brandenburg sind auch mit an Bord.

Wir werden einen Impulsvortrag zu den Erfahrungen aus der Dentalbranche von Gregor Reischle, Experte für AM, hören und uns dann pro-aktiv an die Arbeit machen, um Standards, Normen etc. zu sammeln. Ziel ist es, eine Art Blaupause mit allgemeingültiger Vorgehensweise zu Testmethoden und Prüfverfahren zu entwickeln, die auch dem DIN-Institut für zukünftige Ausschüsse zur Verfügung gestellt werden kann.

FĂĽr mehr Informationen kontaktiert bitte Cora

How to train your AM staff

One of the greater challenges for implementing Additive Manufacturing in the industry is the education and training of the workforce:

Machine operators must learn how to handle the 3D printers’ special features for producing components that meet the high requirements of the market. Designers should learn to consider the additional benefits of Additive Manufacturing as early as in the development process to promote the technology out of the niche of spare parts business or the reworking of existing components.

For this purpose, numerous market participants offer further education and training on various topics. The search for appropriate offers is time-consuming and the offers are difficult or even impossible to compare. This is due on the one hand to often superficial descriptions of the training content, and on the other hand to the high degree of individuality of the offerings, which are to be developed for customers depending on their needs and prior knowledge.

MGA has recognized these issues and wants to help make the training landscape more transparent. This will support companies, venturing into the field of Additive Manufacturing, to get started and provide guidance in choosing appropriate training.

Based on this motivation, the networks working group “Education” has developed a modular training system that is designed to meet the different requirements of workplaces, based on the experience of various industry participants from all parts of the process chain, together with training providers and certification bodies. It is basically based on the process diagram of DIN Spec 17071.

WeBoostAM.com: The AM platform

The biggest goal of MGA is to boost AM into industrial series production. To reach it, we need way more awareness of our technology in all areas of industry as well as certified production processes. There will certainly never be “enough” new applications. One fact is clear to all our members: We will not achieve that goal as individual players. Hence, we agreed on sharing our knowledge with everyone interested in Additive Manufacturing, following the mission of enabling more companies to adopt the technology and thus increasing its impact on the manufacturing industry. Finding an adequate way to share our findings became a key element of our process.

In 2018 the Working Group Education came up with the idea to create a map-based platform with all our network members listed with their own company profile. Based on the member company listings we wanted to create transparency and so we added more listing types step by step. Based on a filter property model elaborated by the Digital Supply Chain Working group, companies are now able to share successfully implemented AM Use Cases to give AM newcomers orientation and good practice examples for their own start in the field of 3D printing.

But we did not stop with companies and use cases, we also added with the help of the Materials Working Group a Materials Compass, that is intended to give all users an overview of which materials are available on the market and, above all, to which mechanical requirements they fit. Because we all know that in AM the range of materials is even greater than the number of different technologies.

Last but not least and again with the help of the Materials Working Group we compiled AM-relevant standards and come up with a filter logic that allows a quick overview of the standards landscape in AM.

So are you looking for a service provider specialised in printing Aluminium? Do you need impressions of Use Cases printed in Steel for your next project? Do you want to get inspiration of the latest innovative ideas from other professionals? Or are you just missing a standard for testing plastic parts? All this and much more can be found on the platform. And the best about it: The entries are connected to each other through their properties and are thus cross-searchable!

MGA: A network of 141 members

MGA as a network would be nothing without its members and it is with great pride that we have once again seen an increase in numbers in the past year. Currently we have the following 141 members:

We are delighted to announce that the following 32 members have joined us over the past year:

Q1

Bundesanstalt fĂĽr Materialforschung und -prĂĽfung (BAM)
The Bundesanstalt fĂĽr Materialforschung und -prĂĽfung (BAM) is a senior scientific and technical Federal institute with responsibility to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. It tests, researches and advises to protect people, the environment and material goods. As a member it can contribute expertise about different AM processes, non-destructive testing and in-situ process monitoring into the network.

Formlabs
Formlabs is a developer and manufacturer of 3D printing technology. The company was founded in September 2011 by three students from the MIT Media Lab and develops and produces 3D printers as well as the associated software and consumables.

Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbH
NMB is a non-university research institution that develops novel material variants and the associated processing methods in the thematic field of lightweight construction for plastics, metals as well as fibre-reinforced composites.

Finnester Coatings
Finnester develops and manufactures high-quality specialist coatings for composites and plastics. Their research on ceramifying polymers lead to RED: coatings applied to standard composites and plastics to meet fire protection requirements without disrupting the production.

be-on-Quality GmbH
be on Quality is one of the leading experts in Medical Device Regulation Management – Germany. They want to participate in combining the knowledge about current medical device procedures for market access with the knowledge about AM processes.

KIMYA Additive Manufacturing by ARMOR
Kimya, launched by ARMOR, offers innovative solution of custom 3D materials adapted to the needs of manufacturers. They are happy to discuss high-performance materials with the major European players and bring in their expertise in chemistry and compounding.

NematX
NematX is pioneering the use of a novel class of high-performance polymers for additive manufacturing. With their material-centric approach to AM, the goal at NematX is to enable the production of 3D printed end products for the toughest application environments.

Materion
Materion provides material solutions and high quality technological solutions for long-term success, whether with precious or base metals, inorganic chemicals and powders, specialty coatings, specially developed copper-based beryllium alloys, beryllium and beryllium composites, ceramics or clad and coated metal systems.

Additive Drives
Additive Drives is proud to power the next phase in drive evolution: highly efficient 3D-printed windings for electric motors. The focus is on high-performance copper windings, the main component of every electric motor. The simplified production – directly from the CAD data of the designer – enables shorter development and test cycles.

Q2

University KU Leuven
From Renaissance philosophy to cutting-edge nanotechnology: as one of Europe’s oldest universities, KU Leuven boasts a long tradition of ground-breaking research and high-quality education. They have a clear vision focused on research, education, quality and diversity and extensive knowledge in 3D printing of guides in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Medical University of Graz
The broad field of competence at Medical University of Graz rests on three main pillars: Future-oriented and innovative education for students and people interested in professional development, Competitive and internationally networked cutting-edge research from basic science to clinical application & personalized and state-of-the-art patient care at University Hospital Graz.

AMPOWER
AMPOWER is the leading consultancy in the field of industrial AM and advises their clients on strategic decisions by developing and analyzing market scenarios as well as compiling technology studies. They also support through targeted training programs as well as identification and development of components suitable for production.

miniFactory
miniFactory is an industrial 3D printer manufacturer driven by passion for high-performance polymer 3D printing. Its technology enables the use of a wide range of specialty polymers in 3D printing and ensures the quality of printed parts. The company has also developed a customized process monitoring system.

SpareParts3D
Spare Parts 3D is a French start-up that provides the most efficient additive manufacturing software solution to identify, digitize and 3D print spare parts. With a fully automated solution, called DigiPartTM, its clients can perform technical and economic analysis on the full scale of their traditional parts inventories, and eventually print parts.
By getting their spare parts inventory “AM ready”, our clients can reclaim control of their spare parts supply chain and create value.

Alstom
Alstom is Germany’s only manufacturer of infrastructure, signaling and digital mobility solutions, offering maintenance, service and modernization of all commuter trains and their components for series of all manufacturers, as well as information systems.

Universität Basel
The Swiss MAM, Medical Additive Manufacturing Research Group of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at University Basel bring in many years of experience in computer-assisted surgery and medical 3D printing as well as a well established network of international contacts.

Q3

Ponticon
Ponticon develops solutions for coating, repair and additive manufacturing of high-performance components. They are a team of passionate engineers, bold entrepreneurs and experienced strategists embedded in strong networks of academic and industrial end-users.

VUB BrĂĽssel
The University of Brussels’ Additive Manufacturing Research Lab has the vision to enable Smart Components through Advanced Manufacturing solutions. Therefore, AMRL specializes itself in the development of Hybrid DED Metal AM equipment and the integration of Embedded Structural Health Monitoring sensors in Metal AM components to enable true Predictive Maintenance.

SRH Berlin
The SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences is one of the leading private universities in Berlin. They work closely together with other European universities with the goal of establishing a Master level course in Additive Manufacturing.

Universität Bayreuth
The Research Center for Additive Innovations is a unique interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary think tank that bundles technical and non-technical competencies and expertise from 25 chairs and professorships at the University of Bayreuth and non-university research institutions in the field of additive innovations.

School of Finance and Management Frankfurt
Frankfurt School is a leading business school in Europe, focusing on finance and management in research, education and consulting. Having designed and taught a course on “Entrepreneurship in the 3D printing era”, they would like to engage projects at the interface between AM technology, management and human behavior.

Grenzebach
Together with manufacturers of 3D printers and equipment in the AM environment, as well as companies using this process, Grenzebach develops holistic solutions that precisely fit the respective requirements. Grenzebach is also active as a partner in research projects such as Polyline, which focuses the series production of plastic components.

CTC – An Airbus Company
CTC is Germany’s leading center R&D in the design in manufacture of large, complex components of dry fiber of prepreg with specialization on complex aviation-quality components. CTC is a full-service partner for developing efficient series production of components with composite materials.

TU Berlin
The Space Technology Department of the Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics at TU Berlin is the first German chair of space technology. Together with BAM, the Department of Astronautics at TU Berlin would like to advance the topic AM in Earth orbit and on other celestial bodies.

Essentium Europe GmbH
Essentium manufactures and delivers innovative industrial 3D printers and materials, enabling the world’s top manufactures to bridge the gap between 3D printing and machining and embrace the future of Additive Manufacturing. Essentium believes an open ecosystem is the best solution for users who want to innovate their own pace.

AM Entrepreneur
After his time at EOS and TĂśV SĂĽd, Gregor Reischle set up his own business as a consultant for AM topics. Active collaboration in the fields of AM business model design, entrepreneurship, digital process chain, distributed manufacturing, platform solutions in AM area, medical manufacturing and process standardization is particularly important.

Q4

Velo3D
Velo3D provides an end-to-end metal 3D printing solution for mission-critical parts used for space exploration, to enhance transportation efficiency, and to produce cleaner energy. The End-to-End supplier focuses on metal printing systems, especially for individually designed, system relevant parts and their software.

3DCeram
3Dceram produces ready-to-use 3D printing systems for ceramic materials, that include printing, firing and cleaning. As a 3D printing process provider for technical ceramics, 3Dceram is specialized in three areas: industry (defense and automotive), aerospace and aeronautics and biomedical (eye implants, cranial implants etc.).

Arnold Umformtechnik
Arnold Umformtechnik is a German automotive supplier focusing on fasteners, cold forming and processing systems. As expert for intelligent fastening systems Arnold Umformtechnik also offer solutions for lightweight construction and electric mobility.

KMUE Consult
With more than 35 years of aerospace and maintenance experience Klaus MĂĽller, owner and founder of KMue Consult, can contribute his knowledge about AM activities of the Aerospace industry, insights into new research fields, equipment and education.

Takeda
Takeda is the largest R&D oriented biopharmaceutical company worldwide and owns its own research centers, focusing on four core therapy fields: oncology, gastro enterology, rare diseases and neuroscience. They are interested in sharing knowledge on AM solutions for machines, spare and format parts.

Institut fĂĽr Anaplastologie Velten & Hering
The Institute fĂĽr Anaplastology Velten & Hering has more than 25 years of experience in the field of medical custom-made products and offers epithetic and respiratory solutions, dental technologies and special prosthetics. With the rising regulation and certification requirements in the medical sector, they are looking forward to sharing their expertise with the network.

Review of 2021 – what we achieved last year

The pandemic still has its firm grip on the global economy, on supply chains and productions, but nonetheless the network managed to turn the last 12 months into the busiest months since the launch of MGA: 9 companies, one idea – and the MGA network was born. This happened in 2016, so this year we celebrated the 5th birthday of MGA and the countless achievements of the past years. Check out what happened since June 2016…

Potential growth is something everyone is looking for – and we achieved it when it comes to our members. In the past 12 months we welcomed 32 more members into the network, ending the year with the astonishing number of 141 members. Check out who is part of the network!

Our Working Groups have met virtually more times than we can count to produce amazing results:

  • Our Education Working Group published a Training Modul Catalogue.
  • WeBoostAM became so much more than a slogan and our knowledge database really kicked off this past year.
  • Our Mobility Working Group Materials has hosted the first successful “Fuck-Up-Night”, they are establishing a new task force focusing on WAAM, they are dabbling with the topic of printing copper and the Round Robin Test is once again on the table.
  • We kicked-off two new Medical Working Groups and both Hospitals and Pharmaceutics are already starting to earn their keep.
  • With Aero+Space we left earthbound mobility behind and focus on AM in the aviation sector and the new Working Group is starting to attract a lot of attention from our members
  • Medical Approval has not only published the MDR Decision Tree, they also hosted a very successful workshop for orthopaedic and medical technicians on the approval of 3D printed medical products
  • A greener future is on everyone’s minds so we also relaunched our Working Group Ecological Sustainability that is focused on making AM the sustainable technology that we all know it can be

Unfortunately the year has not only brought good news: With the passing of Uwe Fresenborg, former chairman of the board and Honorary Member of MGA, we lost one of the most charismatic voices of our industry in April. He is dearly missed!

But as the saying goes, the Show must go on, and so the year went on and was filled with event after event:

  • In July we hosted the Women in AM Summit together with IPM and eventhough the AM Forum was held as a digital-only event, quite a few women travelled to Berlin to network with the female representatives of our industry.
  • In the summer we celebrated the premier of the MGA KidsCamp and with the amazing support of Autodesk and Ultimaker were able to exited more than 20 children for the topic of 3D printing.
  • Every two years we are proud to join our mobility members at the Railway Forum in Berlin and even though the pandemic is still on everyone’s minds, this years Forum hosted by IPM was a great opportunity to spread the word on AM in the railway sector.
  • Last year’s Annual Meeting was very special indeed – not only was it one the 5th birthday of our network, you also voted for a third honorary member and for many of you it was the first face-to-face meeting in a long time.
  • In November finally the formnext in Frankfurt once again opened it’s doors to welcome the fAMily and we were happy to join Berlin Partner at the Berlin Brandenburg booth and to meet so many of our members at the trade fair.
  • Last but not least we premiered another event in November: the AM Medical Days were the most successful event that IPM ever hosted (according to feedback received from their participants) and we cannot wait for next year, when this format will once again take place in Berlin.

Throughout the year, we found the ear of more and more politicians and with the 3D industrial initiative have made it our goal to give the AM industry a unified voice. It was great to see how many members of the German parliament followed our invitation to learn more about Additive Manufacturing.

All in all 2021 has been a challenging year, full of never-seen-before hurdles, but we are proud to say that it has been a very successful year for our network.

None of these achievements would have been possible without each and everyone of our members and we would like to thank you all for your contributions and support and are looking forward to the next year with you!

16.04.2024

Kick-Off Focus Group Dental

On April 16, 2024 the time has finally come: MGA Medical is kicking off a new Focus Group for the Working Group Use Cases.

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