Nestlé is using 3D printing to create replacement components for its factory machinery.
A team of three experts at Nestlé have, over the past 12 months, established a standardised process for using the technology within the company, which sees digital designs printed, layer by layer, into physical, three-dimensional objects.
Spare parts for factories are printed at a central 3D printing workshop in York, then transported to various UK sites, including Nestlé’s Tutbury, Halifax and York factories.
The company said the move had reduced its reliance on third-party suppliers and “led to substantial cost savings” compared with traditional manufacturing methods.
The use of 3D printing had also led to a reduction in emissions, Nestlé said, from both manufacturing parts in house, and not needing to have them delivered from afar.
“As we continue to embrace 3D printing technology, we are not only enhancing our operational efficiency but also paving the way for sustainable manufacturing practices that will define the future of our industry,” said Simon Billington, head of technical & production at Nestlé UK and Ireland.
Nestlé has set a target to produce more than 5% of its site inventory using 3D printing technology.
It plans to expand its use of the technology to include food-safe components in the near future.
“The roadmap for the next two to five years aims to enhance autonomy in 3D printing, ensuring that each site can independently meet demand while maintaining high standards of quality and efficiency,” Nestlé said.
No comments yet