Volkswagen aims to make 100,000 components through 3D printing by 2025

As Volkswagen wants to speed up its use of 3D printers in car production, the German carmaker has introduced binder jetting at its main plant in Wolfsburg, Germany.

By 2025, Volkswagen's aim is to produce up to 100,000 components by 3D printing in Wolfsburg each year.

Whereas conventional 3D printing uses a laser to build a component layer by layer from metallic powder, the binder jetting process uses an adhesive. The resulting metallic component is then heated and shaped.

Using the binder jetting component reduces costs and increases productivity, Volkswagen said, and the finished components weigh only half as much as those made from sheet steel. Volkswagen claimed it's currently the only carmaker using this 3D printing in the production process. 

For the 3D printing, VW partnered with Siemens and printer manufacturer HP Inc. HP is providing the high-tech printers, and Siemens the special software for job. The three companies aim to produce twice as many parts per print session through their processes. 

The first components made using the binder jetting process have gone to Osnabrück for certification, and are found in the A-pillar of the T-Roc convertible.

Photo from Volkswagen

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