Leading AM Companies Unite to Launch AM I Navigator Initiative at Formnext Event

With the model companies can refine their current status as well as their future target into 5 levels

(IN BRIEF) A consortium of leading additive manufacturing companies, including Siemens, DyeMansion, BASF Forward AM, EOS, and HP, has introduced the AM I Navigator Initiative at the Formnext event. This initiative presents a comprehensive maturity model to guide companies through the intricacies of industrial additive manufacturing, covering aspects from materials to automation. It also considers factors like strategy and expertise. Companies can assess their current status and plan their additive manufacturing journey within five distinct maturity levels. A structured Maturity Check offers insights and recommendations for improvement. The initiative is open to collaboration with technology providers worldwide, promoting interoperability and integration across the additive manufacturing process.

(PRESS RELEASE) FRANKFURT, 7-Nov-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Siemens AG (ETR: SIE), a German multinational conglomerate and Europe’s largest industrial manufacturing company, announces that prominent additive manufacturing companies have joined forces to create the AM I Navigator initiative, providing tailored guidance for navigating the complexities of industrial 3D printing. This initiative introduces a holistic maturity model defining five stages of AM industrialization, offering a comprehensive perspective on adopting and implementing AM applications for specific business needs.

The industrialization of additive manufacturing (AM) is on the horizon, and successful navigation through this transformative journey requires expert guidance. Companies must determine the right level of automation, connectivity, repeatability, and quality for their unique applications and business cases. Achieving a seamless transition to production through AM involves a complex interplay of factors, including process knowledge and material expertise.

Recent advancements across the entire 3D printing process chain have greatly enhanced the reproducibility, throughput, and productivity of additive manufacturing use cases, spanning from raw materials to final products. However, unlocking the full potential of these applications hinges on aligning them with a company’s specific business model.

Yet, there are pragmatic doubts about whether the industry and its companies are fully prepared for this transformation. This is where the Additive Manufacturing Industrialization Navigator, or AM I Navigator, comes into play. It serves as a guiding light through the complexities of industrial 3D printing, catering to companies with varying levels of industrialization in additive manufacturing and diverse application requirements.

What Is the AM I Navigator?

The AM I Navigator Initiative, launched at this year’s Formnext, is a collaborative effort by leading additive manufacturing companies, including Siemens, DyeMansion, BASF Forward AM, EOS, and HP. At its core, this initiative introduces a holistic maturity model that defines the stages of industrialization within the additive manufacturing industry. It aims to boost interoperability in additive manufacturing by encompassing the entire process chain, from raw materials to machines to automation.

The model also fosters a shared understanding of these different stages, facilitating the integration of additive manufacturing into traditional production workflows. Beyond production, it considers factors from various areas:

1. Strategy Setup: Comprising an additive manufacturing strategy, applications, and business cases.
2. Organizational Structures: Addressing cultural maturity and the alignment of employees.
3. Expertise: Evaluating automation and connectivity across the value chain, from design to production, quality, maintenance, and service.

The maturity model allows companies to gauge their current status and chart a path to their desired future state within five distinct levels, ranging from basic manual production to fully autonomous additive manufacturing.

Leveraging the Maturity Check

To assess the current state of additive manufacturing within a company, a Maturity Check is applied, following the structure of the AM I Navigator framework. This structured approach reveals the current level of maturity and highlights opportunities for improvement. Depending on the specific use case and business model, each company may require a different maturity level in additive manufacturing.

Based on this assessment, actionable recommendations are provided to guide production development. Ensuring that individual steps in the process chain are seamlessly coordinated is crucial, as only open and interoperable additive manufacturing can deliver value to the entire production process.

The results from these assessments offer detailed insights and best practices, creating a comprehensive picture of the evolution of industrial 3D printing.

Joining the Initiative

The AM I Navigator initiative invites additional AM technology providers worldwide to collaborate with the pioneering companies that have initiated this project. It is an open platform that welcomes thought leaders from all industries to build upon its offerings and shape the future of industrial additive manufacturing.

To learn more about this initiative, attend the joint panel of all participating companies on Wednesday, 08.11.23, from 16:15 to 16:45, on the Technology Stage.

More press information about Siemens and Formnext: www.siemens.com/presse/formnext23

About the AM I Navigator Initiative

The AM I Navigator Initiative is a collaborative effort by leading additive manufacturing companies to advance industrialization in 3D printing. Through a comprehensive maturity model, it aims to enhance interoperability and integration across the entire additive manufacturing process chain, guiding companies to effectively scale and integrate additive manufacturing into traditional production workflows. The initiative is open to industry thought leaders and technology providers worldwide to further develop and expand its offerings.

Siemens Digital Industries (DI) is an innovation leader in automation and digitalization. In close collaboration with partners and customers, DI drives the digital transformation in the process and manufacturing industry. With its Digital Enterprise portfolio, Siemens offers companies of all sizes end-to-end products, solutions and services for the integration and digitization of the entire value chain. Optimized for the specific requirements of each industry, the unique portfolio enables customers to increase their productivity and flexibility. DI is continuously expanding its portfolio through innovations and the integration of future technologies. Siemens Digital Industries is headquartered in Nuremberg and employs around 72,000 people worldwide.

Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, transport, and healthcare. From more resource-efficient factories, resilient supply chains, and smarter buildings and grids, to cleaner and more comfortable transportation as well as advanced healthcare, the company creates technology with purpose adding real value for customers. By combining the real and the digital worlds, Siemens empowers its customers to transform their industries and markets, helping them to transform the everyday for billions of people. Siemens also owns a majority stake in the publicly listed company Siemens Healthineers, a globally leading medical technology provider shaping the future of healthcare. In addition, Siemens holds a minority stake in Siemens Energy, a global leader in the transmission and generation of electrical power.
In fiscal 2022, which ended on September 30, 2022, the Siemens Group generated revenue of €72.0 billion and net income of €4.4 billion. As of September 30, 2022, the company employed around 311,000 people worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.

DyeMansion is the global leader in post-processing solutions for industrial polymer 3D-printing that turns 3D-printed raw parts into high-value products. From perfect fit eyewear to personalized car interiors, their technology makes 3D-printed products become a part of our everyday life. Starting in 2015 with the first industrial coloring solution for powder bed fusion parts, the Munich-based company extended its portfolio with advanced part cleaning and surfacing solutions for a wider range of 3D-printing technologies in the field of plastics. Today, DyeMansion’s Print-to-Product workflow combines industry-leading hardware with the widest range of color and surfacing options on the market. Their systems are applicable for Industry 4.0 and can be integrated seamlessly into various production processes. The ability to provide a flexible solution for both small batches and high volumes makes DyeMansion a trusted partner for future factories. Through close collaboration with customers across all industries, the 3D-finishing technology and expertise continuously grow with the market. Reduced cost per part, unmatched quality, and high sustainability are core values that drive each innovation of the fast-growing company. In addition to these principles, finding the right finish for every application is what drives them. Learn more about DyeMansion and visit www.dyemansion.com, LinkedIn, Instagram, twitter or YouTube.

HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) is a global technology leader and creator of solutions that enable people to bring their ideas to life and connect to the things that matter most. Operating in more than 170 countries, HP delivers a wide range of innovative and sustainable devices, services and subscriptions for personal computing, printing, 3D printing, hybrid work, gaming, and more. For more information, please visit: www.hp.com.

BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH, headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany, is a 100% subsidiary of BASF. It focuses on establishing and expanding the industrialization of 3D printing applications under the Forward AM brand with advanced materials, system solutions, components, and services in the field of 3D printing. BASF 3D Printing Solutions operates in an agile structure to create customer value with complete 3D printing solutions, in collaboration with partners, for the most innovative applications. It cooperates closely with the global research platforms and application technologies of various departments at BASF and with research institutes, universities, startups and industrial partners. Potential customers are primarily companies that intend to use 3D printing for industrial manufacturing. Typical industries include automotive, aerospace and consumer goods. For further information please visit: www.forward-am.com.

At EOS, we provide responsible manufacturing solutions based on additive manufacturing technology to companies around the world. Connecting high-quality production efficiency with pioneering innovation and sustainable practices, we were formed in 1989 and since then, are shaping the future of manufacturing. Our industrial 3D printing solutions enable our customers to be successful by having access to a holistic portfolio of services, materials and processes. Acting responsible for our planet and keep on thriving for sustainable alternatives and solutions is part of our DNA and anchored in our purpose of responsible manufacturing.

Media contacts:

Fabiane Hoermann
Siemens AG | Media Relations | Digital Industries
+49 (1523) 8919337
fabiane.hoermann@siemens.com

Katharina Rebbereh
Siemens AG | Media Relations | Digital Industries
+49 (172) 8413539
katharina.rebbereh@siemens.com

Pia Kramer
DyeMansion | Director of Marketing, Brand & Experience
+49 172 692 9360
pia@dyemansion.com

Adriana Curulla
HP | Strategic Communications Global Lead for 3D printing
adriana.curulla@hp.com

Anna Tardieu
BASF Forward AM
+49 15115071512
Anna.tardieu@basf-3dps.com

Claudia Rupp
EOS | Director Global Marketing
+49 171 107 9335
claudia.rupp@eos.info

SOURCE: Siemens