Daimler Buses expands 3D printing portfolio

DAIMLER BUSES in Europe has expanded its commercial 3D printing and is offering a new product and service portfolio in the field of additive manufacturing, it has announced.

The aim is to support customers of other industries when procuring and providing parts, and to facilitate the digital transformation of their companies, Daimler says.

Daimler’s Center of Competence 3D-Printing at Daimler Buses is now offering 3D printing as well as various consulting services, data preparation, digital warehousing and individual component production.

“We at Daimler Buses have been working intensively on additive manufacturing since 2016,” said Daimler Buses head of customer services and parts Bernd Mack.

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Siemens to bring 3D printed parts to Dubai Metro

Once the world’s longest driverless transit rail network (until 2016 when it was surpassed by the Vancouver SkyTrain) the Dubai Metro transports over 160 million passengers each year.

To keep trains running, and passengers happy, the city’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed an MOU with the Middle Eastern branch of award-winning automation conglomerate Siemens.

The agreement will enhance the RTA’s existing 3D printed spare parts initiative, contributing to the endeavor to become “the world’s smartest city” by the year 2020.

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Big changes coming to the supply line, just not where you thought they’d be

Self-Driving TruckWhen talking about exciting new advancements that are coming to the supply chain, the discussion will always usually end up focused around 3D printing. Rightly so, as the 3D printer has opened up new opportunities never before possible in the supply chain. Rather than having to wait for a specialized part, companies can now print the part they need right on site. This can be a huge time and cost saver for companies involved in projects, but when looking at the overall supply chain worldwide, 3D printing is a pretty niche example. Even with 3D printers popping up everywhere, changing the way companies rely on the supply chain, there will always be limitations.

Sure, 3D printers might be able to print space habitats on Mars, but they can’t print everything and there will always be a need to transport an item(s) from one destination to another. 3D printing is revolutionary, but there is another absolute game changer about to deploy in the supply side that is an evolution; self-driving trucks. When looking at the amount of freight moved just in America alone, there was 9.2 billion tons (primary shipment only) moved by truck representing 67% of the total tonnage moved in 2011.

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