EOS helps manufacturer Atlas Copco to reduce costs

EOS, a leading provider of industrial 3D printing solutions, has announced the success of its project with customer Atlas Copco. By switching to in-house polymer-based additive manufacturing with EOS technology, Atlas Copco was able to reduce production costs by 30% and lead times by 92%. This has brought AM volume production of component manufacturing in-house, shortening the supply chain and reducing environmental impact.

“We wanted tighter control over our manufacturing that would lead to shorter lead times, lower costs, and the ability to rapidly prototype new products. Working with EOS and Additive Minds has given us a turnkey solution, and helped us adapt our processes such that we are now in serial production with several components, are rapidly prototyping hundreds more, and achieved ROI in just 18 months”, said Jason Edwards, Technical Manager at Atlas Copco.

Eighteen months ago, Atlas Copco launched a project to exploit new market opportunities, particularly in the field of electromobility. The aim was to bring additive manufacturing into the company in order to be able to react more flexibly to customer needs and shorten development times. The collaboration with EOS and its Additive Minds consulting service played a key role in this. They not only supplied the necessary hardware, such as the EOS P 396 3D printer, but also provided support in adapting processes, training employees and optimizing production processes.

The EOS P 396, known for its flexibility and high precision, became the centerpiece of the new production strategy. The machine supports a wide range of materials and parameters, allowing Atlas Copco greater design freedom and efficiency in production. In addition, the DyeMansion DM60 coloring system was integrated to highlight certain products, such as safety markings for use in automotive production.

“This project shows how important the trust and collaboration is between all parties if a company is to embark on such a dramatic change to its core manufacturing business.  No company should feel that it cannot transition to AM, and EOS helps organizations to make sure it is a success through strong communication, cooperation and a unified team spirit”, said Nathan Rawlings, Sales Manager at EOS UK.

The decision to bring additive manufacturing into the company not only reduced the dependency on third-party suppliers, but also cut production time from several weeks to just a few days. At the same time, material waste has been virtually eliminated, which was not possible with traditional manufacturing methods.

By combining state-of-the-art 3D printing technology with a strategic partnership, Atlas Copco has not only increased its competitiveness, but also laid the foundation for future innovation.