Additive manufacturing’s greatest impact for this company is the versatility that has allowed it to offer different solutions than other manufacturers.
It takes more than machines on the shop floor to push additive manufacturing to the next level. According to one manufacturer, it takes customer service, education and training, too.
Some of the technologies and applications on display at Euromold 2013 illustrated the possibilities for using additive manufacturing to manufacture functional parts.
An interesting definition of “additive” from one shop was “anything that is outside the core product we manufacture or service we provide; ancillary services and technologies.” The response emphasized that, to this shop, additive equals value-adding. Although this is not an accurate definition of additive manufacturing (AM), you could look at the use of additive technologies as a value-added service to your customers.