【3D Printing Application】3D Printing Waste Bottles: Recycled Plastic Becomes Gifts!
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines uses recycled PET bottles to manufacture 3D printed parts and tools. This is a pioneering move for an airline, reducing engineering and maintenance costs while promoting resource recycling and environmental friendliness. Ton Dortmans, Executive Vice President of KLM Engineering & Maintenance (E&M), emphasized: "KLM continues to invest in sustainable and innovative manufacturing processes. For our customers, our employees, and society as a whole, we are proud to be able to turn recycled waste into more valuable products."
Circular Manufacturing Method
KLM first set the goal of "reducing waste by 50% by 2030 (compared to 2011)." Reusing recycled materials is a major focus, and "PET" is one of the most common materials. Previously, KLM purchased PET from raw material suppliers for the E&M department. Now, they directly collect PET bottles from passengers and transport them to a local recycling company (Morssinkhof Rymoplast) where the PET is processed into plastic pellets and then transformed into 3D printing filaments.
Starting from the filament production process, the recycling company collects several tons of plastic bottles from Amsterdam Airport each year, while KLM's E&M department uses approximately 1.5 kg of high-quality filament daily. With KLM's PET recycling, the cost of these filaments has dropped from 60 Euros per kilogram to 17 Euros. Thanks to the open filament function, KLM can now apply these eco-friendly materials to the Ultimaker S5 Pro Bundle to produce more tools.
(Sustainable 3D printing filaments made from PET water bottles on an Ultimaker S5 Pro Bundle, with Air Manager and Material Station. Image courtesy of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.)
From Beverage to Application, Water Bottles Become Gifts
In the past, these were used to develop protective covers for painting, preventing the wheel holes of Boeing 737s from being covered during final painting. In addition, they also 3D printed accessories for luggage compartment doors to help retrieve high-up luggage on Boeing 787s, allowing a job that previously required two people to be completed by just one. Beyond tools and assistive devices, KLM has also partnered with "Local Makers" to launch 3D printed miniature houses as commemorative gifts for business class VIPs, creating more added value.
(The image shows 3D printing filaments and applications made from PET water bottles, image courtesy of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.)
We are delighted to see KLM's pioneering initiative, successfully transforming recycled materials into a complete supply chain operating system and creating more value for these global resources. 3D printing plays an indispensable role in the development and application of emerging technologies, allowing material remanufacturing to be as desired. Contact us now to choose the appropriate optimal solution and join the ranks of digital manufacturing!
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