Market Insights

Interview: Ultimaker CEO von Hollen reveals how to “crack the code” to accessible 3D printing

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the world’s supply chains have been challenged like never before, causing shipping delays and the scarcity of consumer products with ever-shortening lifecycles. Add increasing political instability, climate change and trade barriers such as those erected by Brexit to the mix, and it becomes clear that the pandemic has exacerbated many existing global manufacturing issues.

但是,在那段时间里,3D打印也以自2010年代初以来就从未出现过的方式抓住了头条新闻。这项技术不仅证明了至关重要的producing COVID-19 medical supplies,,,,but 3D printing-equipped businesses have demonstrated the ability to adapt their processes at short notice, eliminate problematic supply chains and customize goods to meet the changing demands of customers.

现在,之前Ultimaker’sfirst live Showcase, its CEO Jürgen von Hollen has spoken to 3D Printing Industry, outlining his vision for keeping pace with this shifting production environment. According to von Hollen, building a portfolio around flexibility and the idea of open innovation, has enabled Ultimaker to steal a march on its competitors, and help users ‘in-source’ to meet their supply needs.

冯·霍伦(Von Hollen)解释说:“我们创建了一个领先的3D打印平台和生态系统,它是开放,集成和不断发展的。”“有了它,3D打印就可以开展业务,我们看到市场以实物做出回应。我们的Cura 3D打印软件继续受欢迎程度,每月有超过80万用户。由于越来越多的客户采用远程3D打印,我们还看到了今年数字工厂印刷品的巨大增长。”

“Ultimaker has cracked the code on how to take the complexity out of 3D printing at a mainstream business level.”

An engineer using an Ultimaker system to 3D print tooling.
Ultimaker's建立了3D打印组合,以帮助客户克服世界上的“ VUCA”问题。通过Ultimaker的照片。

采用“ VUCA”心态

1987年首次使用的“ VUCA”一词,或波动性,不确定性,复杂性和歧义性,如今仍然很重要,它是描述现代制造世界复杂性的首字母缩写。在实践中,VUCA在诸如苏伊士运河危机caused by the Ever Given container ship earlier in 2021, but von Hollen says that it also “exposes society and economies in unpredictable ways.”

因此,要为企业做好准备,并在其给定的行业中承受挑战,因此他认为灵活性是关键,不仅在解决问题上,还可以利用潜在的机会。根据冯·霍伦(Von Hollen)的说法,这意味着能够快速枢纽,重新部署工程师,流程或技术以“满足客户需求并保持竞争的领先地位”。

As well as versatility, von Hollen also emphasizes how proactive management can help firms mitigate risks, and that one of the main restraints preventing manufacturing success is a lack of talent retention. In order to turn this around, empower their people, and ensure their long-term prosperity, he says that companies therefore need to develop a culture of what he refers to as “sustainable value.”

“Sustainable value is about continuity and an organization’s long-term relevance. It has several elements for successful business growth,” said von Hollen. “It’s also about having the learning culture and mechanisms in place that inspire human ingenuity, resourcefulness, and continuous improvement within our organizations.”

Ultimaker首席执行官Jürgenvon Hollen
Ultimaker CEO尤尔根·冯·霍伦告诉3 d Printing Industry how AM can help address supply chain instability. Photo via Ultimaker.

Tackling ‘VUCA’ via AM

In the past, von Hollen describes 3D printing as having been “a fragmented landscape” of “complex, closed ecosystems,” that included too many barriers to adoption. To make the technology truly mainstream, and help businesses overcome these obstacles, he believes that striving for flexibility and sustainable value is vital, hence he has gradually shaped Ultimaker’s platform to meet clients’ needs.

Sincerelocating to Utrechtin 2019, the firm has added to its portfolio significantly, launching itsEnterprise software packages对于新采用者,Ultimaker S3,,,,S5 Pro BundleandUltimaker 2+连接系统和介绍Lubrizol TPU的兼容性

In doing so, the company has opened its technologies to multiple new applications, and just last year, equipment supplier埃里克斯found it was able to use Ultimaker S5 Pro Bundles to3D print food contact-safe parts。同样,与Ultimaker合作,3D Metalforge已经建立了一个Singaporian print farmof S3 machines, with which it’s targeting the Southeast Asian defense, maritime, medical, and oil and gas sectors.

For his part, von Hollen says that he’s seeing a growing number of clients adopt 3D printing to produce bespoke products remotely, in a way which would be impossible with a fixed production process. In future, he believes this trend will continue, bringing the manufacturing of goods “closer to the consumer,” and allowing products to be cost-effectively customized to customers’ needs on an expanded global scale.

“With 3D printing now moving rapidly from hobbyist tech to a maturing professional platform, it is here for the long haul, and Ultimaker is leading the way,” adds von Hollen. “While the 3D tech sector focused on its own technology, Ultimaker also made it about a customer-centric platform of hardware, software, materials, and a world-class network of expert partners.”

Ultimaker 3D打印机以及相关材料和软件。
Ultimaker计划展示最新添加to its portfolio at a live event on Thursday October 14, 2021, at 5pm CEST. Photo via Ultimaker.

Ultimaker’s live showcase

冯·霍伦(von Hollen)计划在下个月在Ultimaker的展示活动上演讲中详细阐述他的想法,以面对这些VUCA挑战。除了更详细地探索这些主题外,该活动还将看到他展示了Ultimaker如何将产品推向市场,以帮助其客户满足全球供应链挑战。

During the one-hour online show, attendees will gain an insight into the firm’s most recent and upcoming software updates, including how they can transform a manufacturing workflow for the better. Ultimaker also intends to outline the latest features of its machines, as well as unveiling new business partnerships, and additions to its academy course roster.

Finally, and potentially most significantly, the company has teased “exciting announcements” about its product ecosystem as well. In fact, von Hollen says the event will showcase “the next evolution in Ultimaker’s leading 3D printing platform,” and that attendees will get the chance to see first-hand the “transformative impact that a truly integrated additive manufacturing solution can offer businesses.”

“It won’t just be about new announcements,” he adds. “We’ll also be showcasing ecosystem partners and customers who are already benefiting from being part of this 3D printing ecosystem, who are driving the transformation of supply chains and production workflows needed to thrive in the ‘VUCA’ world.”

Ultimaker’s Showcase is set to be live-streamed在周四的YouTube上October 14, 2021, at 5pm CEST or 11am EST, and readers can find out more about what to expecthere

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Featured image shows an engineer using an Ultimaker system to 3D print tooling. Photo via Ultimaker.