“The market needs massive, economical and immediate solutions, and now there are technologies capable of responding to this demand.”

Aitiip3D was created to transform Aitiip into one of the most diverse centers in Europe and a benchmark for Industry 4.0.

What is Aitiip3D?

Aitiip 3D is a proposal from the Aitiip Technology Center to respond to the growing demand for 3D printed parts, but accompanied by knowledge and experience.

It’s not just about manufacturing a piece, it’s about understanding what customers need and advising them on design, materials and techniques, in order to obtain realistic, time- and cost-effective results that allow us to open a gap between traditional manufacturing methods. For a few hundred or thousands parts, we are faster and cheaper. 3D printing is revolutionizing the industry, especially thanks to the fact that it can now be used in projects as a final part and we have equipped ourselves with the latest technologies that allow us to manufacture thousands of parts per day, while maintaining mechanical properties. traditional processes, as well as the freedom of geometric shapes offered by additive manufacturing.

Why did you decide to open this specialized center now, after 20 years of specializing in this technology?

There is already more than two decades of experience in this sector, yes. However, technological processes are evolving rapidly, and we all have to keep up with them. Additive manufacturing has taken a leap in maturity and we are growing in parallel. Doing what we always do: listening to the needs of the companies that come to us. Up to that point, the market had been asking for prototypes: parts in small, very specific quantities, which resulted in a high cost. Now, the market needs massive, economical and immediate solutions, and now there are technologies capable of responding to this demand.

In addition to our technological progress, of course, we continue to offer the service of manufacturing “that special part”, that prototype, that development even of raw or process materials to be able to offer solutions in the field of research, as a technology center. But we have supplemented our suite of technologies to guide operations towards greater productivity, thus responding to new customer needs.

What technologies are they developing?

We have techniques for both advanced service and research and development. In our laboratory you can find two metal fabrication machines, with open parameters, which allow us not only to print parts from materials such as aluminum or steel, but also to study the limits of these materials to offer the best solution for the industry. We’ve also acquired two Stratasys flagships: the OBJET 1000 with nearly a cubic meter of resin, for those high-definition prototypes, and the FORTUS 900, the largest volume of FDM technical plastics on the market. These machines allow us to work with carbon fibre-reinforced materials, or with specific materials to meet the needs of strategic sectors, such as railways, aviation, automotive or mobility.

One of our newest additions was the HP5200. High productivity focused printer, powered by PA12 technology. This machine allows us to manufacture thousands of parts per week, with extraordinary quality and mechanical properties.

Research is vital for us and, therefore, we also have technologies in the laboratory such as the NEXA400, which, in addition to providing the possibility of manufacturing resin parts in record time, allows us to test very specific materials for all those other special needs that the technology center receives. This is the case, for example, for the last material we worked on, which is able to print molds and then inject materials like PEEK with carbon fibers inside them, which can also be melted later.

Following this path, we have signed cooperation agreements with companies that innovate in processes, such as BCN3D, which has developed a disruptive technology called VLM, which we have already integrated into our facilities to aid in its development and, above all, in future research and applications.

What are the sectors allocated to it?

We cover a wide range of sectors. Fortunately, many of them, from medical, to food or… Facilities management, but not limited to, already incorporating 3D printing as a forward strategy. In our case, first of all, we work in the automotive and railway sector. The truth is that we provide solutions to very difficult requests. We have a 3D printing laboratory of more than 800 square metres, a highly specialized technical office, and an area focused on aviation and strategic sectors, managed by specialists who deal with the sector every day. We also have a measuring area that allows us to validate parts before sending them to our customers. All this makes us define ourselves as synonymous with assurance.

An example of this is RENFE. We have close collaboration with them, and even one of our team members works full-time with them, offering their knowledge in both digitization and reverse engineering, as well as 3D printing. He helps them and gives them advice about all the possibilities that technology offers.

What services do you provide?

We cover the entire value chain of 3D parts manufacturing. From researching and developing raw materials, to designing and printing prototypes, and continuing to produce the first series with realistic finishes. Moreover, thanks to our characterization and metrology laboratories, we can prepare accurate reports as requested by our customers. Likewise, we are increasingly expanding our finishing and post-processing capabilities, to provide different materials or colors for the pieces we manufacture. We are fortunate to have a loyal demand, which knows our potential, and is increasingly demanding of our needs. We love it because it forces us to adapt to its rhythms and thus constantly incorporate innovations.

What do you think is the role of 3D printing in Industry 4.0?

3D printing is one of the pillars of Industry 4.0 and, in fact, has been recognized by the European Union as a KET- The key to enabling technologyBut it must be applied well to obtain a consistent and satisfactory result. Sometimes people stumble upon 3D printing, but of course, if there’s a more efficient, traditional technology that meets that need, we let them know. 3D printing plays an important role. It is to add value to the industry and help it grow, innovate and be more competitive and less dependent on countries with fragile and volatile supply chains. We, as the most versatile additive manufacturing laboratory in Spain, are here to help integrate 3D printing into every company’s production processes. We have the knowledge, experience, technical and human equipment to be one of the agents that contribute the most to this field during the next ten years.

in Etip 3DWe have advanced technology, high-quality materials, previous experience and deep knowledge of industrial processes, which makes the center a reliable partner for addressing different sectors in the field of 3D printing. The Technology Center offers personalized and innovative solutions to each of its clients. With years of preparation in the 3D printing industry, their experts work with dedication to take projects to a new level. As a result, they have gained the trust of their clients thanks to their ability to provide fast and accurate results on every project they undertake.

More information at https://aitiip3d.com/