Ultimaker has accumulated many case studies in different fields since its establishment, such as customized 4x4 car parts, optimized production lines, and 3D printed prosthetics previously introduced. This time, we will introduce a case study of another end-part development company to help you better understand the applications of Ultimaker and the benefits of 3D printing.
ERIKS was established more than 80 years ago and has maintained its industry leadership by adopting cutting-edge technologies, such as the UltiMaker 3D printing ecosystem, to meet the changing needs of its diverse customer base. With more than 5,000 skilled colleagues in 15 countries, ERIKS is a multi-product expert providing a wide range of high-quality mechanical engineering components and services.
ERIKS is an early adopter of 3D printing, integrating it into all aspects of its operations, from jigs and fixtures to production parts. ERIKS places great importance on lean manufacturing practices, creating more value for customers with higher efficiency, better quality, and limited resources. The company differentiates itself from competitors through its commitment to quality and precision, as evidenced by its decision to use 3D printing in clean manufacturing facilities. Notably, ERIKS achieved a milestone by creating a certified workflow for food-safe printed parts, positioning itself as one of the global pilot sites.
Reliability and Longevity of UltiMaker 3D Printers
Most ERIKS 3D printers are dedicated to prototyping, customized jigs, fixtures, and tools for production or maintenance purposes. Over time, the company has begun to use 3D printing technology to manufacture end-use parts, utilizing various materials to meet specific requirements such as heat resistance, food safety, or EMD safety.
Job van de Sande, Head of Engineering at ERIKS, highlighted the versatility of 3D printing, which can produce flexible or rigid components for different applications, including optimizing assembly or production processes, quality tools, and safety equipment.
Van de Sande emphasized the importance of UltiMaker in their 3D printing journey, stating:
"We made UltiMaker the platform of choice for FDM 3D printing at ERIKS. Now, we have expanded our fleet to about 25 printers, across 10 different teams in 6 different countries."
ERIKS uses a variety of UltiMaker printers from the S-series, including the latest UltiMaker S7 3D printer. The reliability and future-proof nature of UltiMaker are crucial for ERIKS, ensuring that their investment in printers remains viable in the long term.
👉 【Introduction article】：UltiMaker Launches New Flagship S7 with Integrated Air Manager, Flexible Build Plate, and Other New Features!
Van de Sande praised UltiMaker's reliability and longevity, stating:
"It's very important that a printer we buy today is still usable five years from now. With continuous updates in firmware and other aspects, we are still able to use the entire UltiMaker printer lineup purchased over the years."
Smoother, Faster, Better 3D Printing Process
Jan Brabander, Product Manager at ERIKS Industrial Plastics in Ede, Netherlands, emphasized the important role of 3D printing in their processes, especially for rapid prototyping and small-batch production, where cost-effectiveness and speed play a crucial role.
"During development, we can produce a part to make it easier to show to our production team or customers," Brabander noted. "We also use 3D printing throughout our internal processes, such as for production or quality control. For example, for tools used to assemble products, check measurements, or make our processes faster, smoother, and of better quality. We are increasingly using 3D printing to manufacture industrial-grade end-use parts that can be used in our customers' machines or factories."
ERIKS Industrial Plastics specializes in CNC machining and injection molding, but also considers 3D printing as a viable option for producing customized parts according to customer needs.
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👉 Roland CNC Machine
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Van de Sande explained, "Whether they are looking for heat-resistant, food-safe, or EMD-safe applications, 3D printing can do it. And when they consider more dynamic properties, such as flexible or very rigid parts, they can really use 3D printers to achieve this." The engineering plastics production facility in Ede is designed to produce food-safe parts according to EC1935 and GMP standards.
ERIKS drill alignment fixture for electronics enclosures
Van de Sande outlined a bottom-up approach to 3D printing. ERIKS encourages the entire team to explore the potential of 3D printing in their production environment and gradually become part of a panel of 3D printing experts. ERIKS has established a community where experts from different business units and locations come together to exchange ideas and knowledge, ensuring a holistic approach to 3D printing implementation.
Trinckle (software that provides parametric design and automation solutions) further democratizes 3D printing, enabling a wider audience (not necessarily with engineering backgrounds) to create applications and leverage 3D printing. The software also offers a range of industry-standard preset fixtures, allowing ERIKS to streamline and accelerate the creation of 3D printing applications.
The UltiMaker Material Station makes it easy to load up to 6 rolls of filament from the front, detects the end of the filament, provides NFC identification for compatible materials, and automatically switches materials.
Leveraging the Power of the UltiMaker 3D Printing Ecosystem
ERIKS has adopted the complete UltiMaker 3D printing ecosystem, utilizing UltiMaker Marketplace and Digital Factory Enterprise to establish standards within the organization. Digital Factory provides a comprehensive solution for 3D printer management, allowing users to remotely prepare, queue, print, and manage their projects. Reliability and continuous updates, including firmware and applications (such as Cura, the world's most popular slicer), ensure that ERIKS has a fleet of long-lasting printers and enables the team to expand the applications of 3D printing.
Security is a top concern for ERIKS and its customers. The deployment of Digital Factory Enterprise ensures secure operations, maintaining systems behind firewalls, while Cura Enterprise facilitates collaboration with IT partners to ensure seamless technology stack integration. This comprehensive approach allows ERIKS to create a broad community of enthusiasts and experts, driving widespread adoption of 3D printing.
UltiMaker's 3D printing software allows ERIKS engineers to quickly design and iterate to ensure components are built to specification.
Design Flexibility of 3D Printing
Brabander highlighted the benefits of 3D printing, stating: "Design flexibility is a significant advantage. There are fewer limitations in the production process. And it's very fast."
The flexibility of 3D printing allows for rapid prototyping during development, simplifying communication with production teams and customers. ERIKS strategically chooses between various manufacturing/production technologies, considering factors such as series size, part quantity, lead time, and technical parameters to effectively meet customer needs and offer 3D printing as a solution when it fits customer requirements.
Brabander emphasized: "We don't push any particular technology. If 3D printing offers the best solution for our customers, we can use it as our tool."
As ERIKS continues to integrate 3D printing into more locations, the company expects further cost and time savings, further expanding the technology's applications. Brabander continued: "In our opinion, the real benefit is being able to produce better quality parts for customers faster." The design flexibility and speed of 3D printing make it the best choice for some applications.
Expanding 3D Printing Capabilities
ERIKS' forward-thinking approach to 3D printing has not only improved its internal processes but also become a valuable tool for meeting customer needs. The combination of UltiMaker's reliability, continuous updates, and comprehensive 3D printing ecosystem drives ERIKS to the forefront of manufacturing innovation.
"With the development of more reliable and repeatable end-use parts, ERIKS has begun to take steps to align them with industry standards and ensure that 3D printing truly becomes an alternative, or even preferred, for new and exciting high-end applications," said Van de Sande.
Van de Sande concluded,
"To expand our capabilities at ERIKS, UltiMaker has proven to be a reliable and flexible solution."
【Related Products】：
👉 UltiMaker S7 - 3D Printer
👉 UltiMaker S5 - 3D Printer
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