[3D Printing Example] Heineken Beer: 3D printing is all about Ultimaker!
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[3D Printing Example] Heineken Beer: 3D printing is all about Ultimaker!
The globally renowned Heineken brewery operates over 150 production facilities worldwide. Its Seville plant in Spain produces many of its signature beers, from brewing and packaging to delivery to consumers. The Seville plant already has an annual beer production capacity of 500 million liters, but Heineken continues to pursue even greater efficiency, embarking on the exploration of 3D printing .
(Traditional Chinese subtitles are available for the video)
Production Line Re-evolution
After establishing the 3D printing studio, the packaging department attempted to improve production equipment to meet three key objectives: "output," "uptime," and "safety." They quickly discovered that 3D printing was a solution that simultaneously offered customization, speed, affordability, and ease of use. Juan, the packaging manager, happily stated, "Even in the first phase of 3D printing application, we reduced costs by 70-90%, and even shortened delivery times by 70-90%."
Safety First
Safety is Heineken's top priority. Specially designed safety locks engage when the machine stops and are highlighted in bright red for increased visibility, preventing accidental activation during maintenance. These 3D-printed safety locks are used on virtually all machines in the factory, and beyond their practical utility, this safety initiative also enhances employee identification with the company.
In addition to the need to improve the equipment structure, convenience also brings additional benefits. Since the factory environment is usually very busy, small public items such as keys and wrenches are easily lost in the chaos. Using 3D printing to create storage devices that can be integrated into the machinery can provide systematic accessories for personnel handover and the integration of small tools.
Functional accessories
With the above successful experience, the next step was to conduct internal research and produce 3D printed parts according to demand; firstly, for expensive and time-consuming discontinued parts or imported accessories, the use of the Ultimaker 3D printer could bring immediate benefits such as saving time and money, and these parts could also serve as alternatives to metal structures.
Improve part design
The advantages of 3D printing include the freedom to update designs, rapid on-site manufacturing, testing of alternative parts, lighter finished products than metal, and the ability to select materials based on strength requirements. For example, quality detectors on conveyor belts tap glass bottles, but this often causes blockages or knocks good bottles to the ground. Redesigned 3D printed parts solve this problem, freeing up outsourcing not only saves on manufacturing costs but also makes processes more flexible and simpler.
Quality control and maintenance tools
Heineken's current tools mostly use Tough PLA printing, which combines the strength of ABS with the ease of printing on PLA . One of the special clamps can adjust the tightness of the label guide shaft, which previously required expensive CNCoutsourcing and custom-made parts; now it can be easily removed from the 3D printer .The cost of specialized tools has been reduced by 70%, and the completion time has been shortened from three days to one day. Simple tools like these can be printed in an hour, whereas previously it would have taken more than 10 days through outsourcing.
. Tandem material system
Since many 3D printed parts need to withstand pressure, high temperature, humidity or impact for a long time, Ultimaker 's material system comes into play. For example, Tough PLA is often used for pushers and tools, Nylon is suitable for use with metal parts, and TPU is ideal for bumpers and protective parts.
Preliminary Results
After using the Ultimaker S5 in the factory for a year, Heinegan was convinced that Ultimaker had successfully integrated with the production line and created more value, significantly improving employee safety, delivery time, and cost reduction. On average, these in-house 3D printing tools reduced time and money costs by 80% compared to external procurement, proving that 3D printing technology can bring more value to businesses and make employees more efficient.
Global connectivity
The company plans to fully leverage the benefits of 3D printing by sharing designs and solutions through the internet and global supply chain. Since parts can be directly transferred via digital channels, it eliminates environmental costs associated with international shipping and transit time, accelerating its internal global expansion. Want to save costs and accelerate product delivery for your business? The Ultimaker 3D printer, conforming to Dutch and EU standards, provides highly stable and precise finished products, allowing you to immediately stop wasting costs, join the ranks of rapid manufacturing, and create more value with the saved time and money.
