CNH Industrial is implementing additive manufacturing technology or 3D printing to produce spare parts. The first components created by this new process include four parts for use on buses and agricultural equipment. All parts are manufactured in plastic, and the company is conducting further tests which will enable the future production of metal components using this technology.
One of the main benefits of 3D printing is that it enables the local, on-demand manufacturing of spare parts. This is especially advantageous when only a small quantity of parts are required to satisfy specific urgent orders and also leads to smarter overall management of stock and increased availability. Each product can be printed within 24 to 36 hours with the optimal amount of resources. Unlike traditional subtractive manufacturing, where raw material is removed or cut away, Additive Manufacturing is a precise process which creates less waste and leftover material while at the same time minimizing machine downtime. This, in turn, provides customers with enhanced total cost of ownership.
