3D Systems drives commercialisation of Oqton OS

3D printer manufacturer 3D Systems announced that the company has reached an important milestone in the commercialisation of Oqton Manufacturing OS.

This software enables complete integration of manufacturing processes, making production workflows more efficient and transparent. Energy company Baker Hughes has successfully deployed the system at its centralised manufacturing facilities in Houston, Texas.

“We are pleased to achieve deployment of this solution with our strategic partner, Baker Hughes,” said Reji Puthenveetil, EVP, additive solutions & chief commercial officer, 3D Systems. “Oqton Manufacturing OS’ holistic approach to manufacturing, alongside Baker Hughes’ expertise in production for regulated industrial environments, has enabled us to demonstrate the real-world impact of this unique solution. Following this key demonstration of Manufacturing OS’ ability to drive efficiencies, increase automation and achieve savings in complex industrial environments, we are looking forward to its continued adoption.”

The partnership between 3D Systems and Baker Hughes, which was concluded in March 2023, aims to support decentralised manufacturing processes. With the Oqton Manufacturing OS, additively manufactured parts can be developed and produced more quickly. At the same time, compliance with regulatory requirements is ensured. This complete solution optimises the entire manufacturing workflow and allows production to be scalable without compromising on quality.

Baker Hughes began using Oqton in June 2024 to expand its additive manufacturing workflow. The integration has allowed the company to increase production capacity while reducing investment in infrastructure. A notable improvement can be seen in the monitoring of production processes: The time spent monitoring printers was reduced by 98%, resulting in a saving of 136 engineering hours per printer per year. In addition, automated reports have accelerated root cause analyses and reduced the cost of rejects by 18%.

“The Manufacturing OS production software improves efficiency through the automation of the complex process, from order requirements, design revision controls, qualified build setups, traceability and reporting. It provides the tools to industrialize at scale the manufacturing without compromising the quality assurance of its production,” said Jim Apostolides, senior vice president, enterprise operational excellence, Baker Hughes.

Oqton Manufacturing OS offers manufacturers the ability to move from prototyping to full-scale production by tracking the entire process from raw material processing to finished part. This traceability is especially critical in high-reliability applications. With this software, companies can increase production capacity and maximise efficiency while reducing production costs.

The successful implementation at Baker Hughes demonstrates the potential of the Oqton Manufacturing OS to sustainably improve additive manufacturing in industrial environments.