Sustainability in the spotlight as EOS and Siemens both showcase green tech at Formnext

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Industrial manufacturing firmSiemens和粉床融合（PBF）3D打印机开发人员EOShave both debuted sustainable new 3D printing applications, Siemens, and powders, EOS, at theformnexttrade show.

尽管西门子已经演示了如何3 d打印的我nherent design freedoms can help reduce the footprint of automotive grippers, EOS has introduced two eco-friendly materials. Traditionally petrol-based, the firm’s carbon-reduced PA 2200 now contains nearly 45% less CO₂than before. EOS has also launched a climate-neutral PA 1101 that manages to be bio-based without compromising on quality.

“We currently evaluate the climate impact of every aspect of industrial 3D printing to create transparency of the status quo,” said Björn Hannappel, Head of Sustainability at EOS. “We also evaluate and improve production efficiency. For our new environmentally green materials, we reduce greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible. And we invest in gold standard climate protection projects to offset unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions.”

“Sustainability is not just a key driver for us but has also become increasingly important to our customers as well.”

西门子促进绿色3D打印

西门子说，要使制造商实现其气候目标，他们必须透明地考虑产品的整个价值链。在FormNext上，该公司展示了如何通过一系列3D打印应用程序在实践中部署这种方法，这些应用程序可以节省资源，同时帮助企业减少其碳足迹。

Utilizing itsNX for AMdigital process chain andProduct Carbon Footprint Calculator, Siemens has found it possible to cut the mass of an automotive handling bot’s grippers by 64%. Doing so not only yielded a topologically-optimized part, which was 73% cheaper to produce than before but one with an 82% lower CO₂footprint. Due to the gripper’s much smaller size, the end-user has even been able to begin using smaller factory robots in a way that has cut its related energy bill by 54%.

In a second use case unveiled at the show, Siemens showed how it has worked withGenerato improve the energy consumption of its 3D printers. Specifically, using Siemens Advanta’s AM Digital Factory Planning toolbox, the firms have been able to identify ways of improving system energy management, through manufacturing simulations. It’s thought energy savings could amount to 25-30% per part.

Siemens’ third application demo at Formnext showed how 3D printing infrastructure could bring enormous sustainability benefits. As part of the欧盟Seabiocomp项目,CEADand Poly Products have 3D printed flax harbor fenders designed to ensure that quay walls don’t damage ships in port. These are usually made from plastics that wear, dropping microplastics into the sea. By printing and milling their fenders, the team made them more precisely from biodegradables.

EOS’ new eco-friendly materials

For EOS, material sourcing, consumption, and reusability are critical to minimizing powder waste. When it comes to sourcing, the firm focuses on finding the ideal powders for 3D printing before turning to how they can be created and qualified for EOS systems, with the belief that through the use of raw materials and greater production efficiency, it’s possible to drive down scrap produced.

为了与这种理念保持一致，EOS介绍了PA 2200碳雷德，一种使用更有效的生产过程开发的材料，可有效降低其碳足迹。在FormNext上，该公司也启动PA 1101 ClimateNeutral. The bio-based powder has a smaller footprint than petrol polymers too, and ships with a certification proving its carbon-offsetting credentials.

As well as new materials, EOS showcased theFormiga P 110 FDR3D printer during the show. Unlike the firm’s existing offering, the system uses a CO laser with a focus diameter twice as small as existing SLS technologies to print parts with extremely fine surfaces and a minimum wall thickness of just 0.22 mm. As such, it’s thought the machine could have applications in areas where precision engineering is vital, like the creation of optics, and small gears, valves, pipes, plugs or electronics.

Targeting sustainable materials

开发可持续的3D打印材料仍然是整个行业制造商和研究人员的关键目标。今年早些时候，Braskem’s first sustainable filament rangewas released atRapid+TCT, consisting of bio-based ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), recycled polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).

Over in Estonia,Filarethas begun将香烟屁股变成细丝. Having set up bins along the coast of a beach in the country’s capital Tallinn, it plans to use them to collect waste which it can convert it into a compostable 3D printing material.

At Formnext, the桌面金属福特System还被首次亮相，该机器能够将升级的木屑打印成功能性的最终使用木制零件。该单元的背后过程于去年首次亮相，但此后该公司已完善了该技术，现在将其推向市场。

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Featured image shows a Siemens-redesigned 3D printed robotic gripper. Image via Siemens.