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AM Summit 2022 breakout session: Learn from Danish AM Experts

Learn from Danish AM Experts

The session brought together four of Denmark’s absolute frontrunners in 3D printing and to get their insight into what is happening on the Danish AM scene now and in the near future. The panel experts gave their take on developments in materials, technologies and trends – and answered questions from an engaging and curious audience.

 

The session was moderated by Steffen H. Schmidt, CTO at Danish AM Hub. The panel participants were:

  • Michel Honoré, Specialist and Project Manager, 3D Print & AM Technology, FORCE Technology
  • Peter Bay, Managing Director and Owner, J. Krebs & Co.
  • Sander Skovhus Michelsen, Lead Engineer, Additive Manufacturing, Grundfos
  • Jesper Damvig, COO, Prototal Damvig

 

Where is Denmark in the development and use of 3D Printing technology in comparison to countries around us?

A key discussion is often where Denmark is in comparison to bigger industrial manufacturing countries. One of the answers that gave food for thought was from Sander Michelsen, who talked about his experience with smaller SME companies in Germany, that, despite Germany’s image as a technology nation, were surprisingly behind compared to Denmark in 3D printing. The companies at the forefront of the technology are primarily the biggest manufacturing companies. Given Germany’s size there will naturally be more cases than in Denmark. However, if we compare ourselves on an SME level, Denmark performs extremely well. Denmark is particularly well positioned especially because we embrace the digital changeover, which not many other countries do.

 

How can we help Danish SMEs to get started with 3D Printing?

In short, the answer is: “get started”. Buy or borrow a 3D printer – AM hub lends them out for free. The first printer is rarely the optimal one, so rather buy a cheaper machine and explore what it can do, said Sander Michelsen.

Grundfos itself has invested in quite a few 3D printers, which stand around in the various departments, so that there is always access to the technology.

This announcement generated a question from the audience about what was available in terms of education. The panel offered suggestions, and both AMU, Nexttech, SDU and others were mentioned, and opportunities for education within the field have been improving within the last couple of years.

 

Which 3D Printing technology is best to start out with?

The extrusion / filament type FDM/FFF, i.e. the “ordinary” available 3D printers known to most was the unanimous answer from the panelists. It was even suggested that beginners look for models that can work with filament that has a fiber content, as it increases the strength and finish of the 3D prints

 

The best advice to the audience

“Find an employee who already has an interest in the topic”, “reach out across your network”, “look for training opportunities” and (fortunately) all this good advice also pointed in the direction of what AM Hub offers and stands for.

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AM Summit 2022 breakout session: Meet the Women in 3D Printing

Women in 3D Printing

The breakout session titled ‘Women in 3D Printing’ addressed the challenges and opportunities sustainability offers to additive manufacturing users and innovators. As referenced in the title of the session, there was also a focus on the experience of being a woman in what is typically a male-dominated industry. Women in 3D Printing (Wi3DP) is a global organization dedicated to promoting, supporting, and inspiring women who are using Additive Manufacturing technologies.

 

The session was moderated by Nora Touré, Founder and Chairman of the Board at Wi3DP. The panel participations were:

  • Thea Wulff Olesen, Group CEO, Ossiform (fka. Particle3D)
  • Stefanie Brickwede, Managing Director, Mobility Goes Additive & Head of AM, Deutsche Bahn
  • Mandaná Moshiri, Senior Technology Manager, The LEGO Group & Wi3DP Ambassador Denmark, Women in 3D Printing
  • Greta d’Angelo, AM Business Development Lead, Gränges Powder Metallurgy

 

What sustainability means to you?

Nora Touré started asking what sustainability in AM means to each panellist. Emphasis was places on maintaining a holistic point of view of the value chain (not only the printing process itself, saving materials with optimised design, but asking how the material constituting the powder is extracted, how the powder is made, the energy source, how the products perform, comparing also with other technologies). Other answers revolved around the importance of considering the way the powder is manufactured, how a printed component can perform better than a conventional manufactured one (especially in bio-application, as Thea Wulff Olesen mentioned).

 

How does your company approach sustainability? 

Nora then asked about how each company approaches sustainability. Within the LEGO Group climate impact and collaboration with partners also focusing strongly on sustainability are key factors in any decision on strategy, projects, or investment.

Emphasis was also placed on scouting for materials which are more sustainable and investigating how to re-process scrap steel to produce new powder. Research, LCA investigations, how to get rid of the printed part once it reached the end of its life cycle were also common approaches and challenges mentioned.

 

Diversity and Inclusion

The discussion focused on the importance of diversity and inclusion, and the activities that each the panellists’ companies are doing to address each issue. Unsurprisingly the panellists were unanimous in their assessment that these issues are extremely important. Despite largely positive experiences the gender gap has always been significant, potentially due to stereotypes about “careers for men or for women”, among others. As a discussion in the rest of the panel, the point was made that when people hire a new person, they tend to look for someone “similar”, men hiring other men, for example, since this can create a more “comfortable” place of work, even if less creative and efficient, since diversity can spark innovation and boost the development of an organisation.

A simple, yet potentially quite impactful initiative to improve the gender balance within the industry was put forward: Bring your daughter to work. As mentioned, often children are inspired to work within the same fields as their parents. Planting a seed of inspiration in the mind of one’s daughter could therefore go a long way to breaking down gender barriers.

 

The art of networking

A question from the public mainly addressed to Greta d’Angelo, was on how to create a network to find new customers when you are creating a new material/powder. Greta mentioned how difficult a task this is without prior networks. Among all the panellists was the viewpoint that it is important to proactively reach out to people, especially at events such as AM Summit.

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AM Summit 2022: The Movie

AM Summit 2022: The Movie

450 visitors – 44 speakers – 45 exhibitors!

Fourth time was definitely the charm for AM Summit 2022. This year marked another attendance record of just over 25 percent compared to 2021 and the highest attendance to date.

On Wednesday September 7th, Danish AM Hub held the annual AM Summit – Scandinavia’s largest conference for additive manufacturing (AM) / industrial 3D printing. The theme for this year’s conference was ‘Additive Impact – additive manufacturing and 3D printing as a driver for sustainable manufacturing’ inspiring us with concrete solutions and inspiration on how new technology like 3D printing can help us produce more sustainably and competitively – with stronger and more circular business models and more robust supply chains.

See also all the pictures of the speakers and exhibitors!

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3D print guider lægerne til bedre operationer

Klik på billedet for at se hvordan Aarhus Universitetshospital bruger 3D printede skæreguides til at operere.

3D print guider lægerne til bedre operationer i kæber og kranier

 

Fremtidens operationer bliver med højere præcision, kortere operationstider og langt mere bæredygtig takket være AM-teknologien. På Aarhus Universitetshospital har kirurger og ingeniører implementeret 3D print-teknologi som en del af proceduren, når der skal udføres operationer – udelukkende med henblik på at optimere resultatet for patienterne og samtidig nedbringe CO2-udledningen.

”Med denne teknologi kan vi fremstille patientspecifikke modeller og individuelt tilpassede værktøjer og vi kan dermed fremstille de komplekse geometrier, som kroppen nu engang består af”, siger klinisk ingeniør fra Aarhus Universitetshospital, Anders Mølgaard Jakobsen.

 

På Aarhus Universitetshospital samarbejder kirurger og kliniske ingeniører om at udvikle og 3D printe patientspecifikke skæreguides, der hjælper til at udføre mere præcise operationer. Med hjælp fra 3D print kan de således udvikle kopier af det emne, der skal opereres – f.eks. kranier, kæber og andre knogler – og dermed designe og producere skræddersyede skabeloner til den enkelte patient. På den måde minimeres operationstiden og præcisionen øges for et bedre resultat.

”Med 3D print kan vi planlægge og skabe et forudsigeligt resultat af en operation. I de seneste fem år har vi ikke reopereret en eneste af de patienter som vi har opereret på denne måde. Det er et kæmpe stort fremskridt”, siger Johan Blomlöf, overtandlæge på Aarhus Universitetshospital.

En 3D printet model kan også fungere som visuelt understøttende værktøj, når kirurgen skal forklare patienten, hvad der skal opereres og hvorfor. Derudover bruger kirurgerne modellen til at blive enige om, hvor snittet helt præcist skal ligge. Før blev denne beslutning først endeligt fastlagt under operationen, men nu tegner specialisterne – bogstaveligt talt –  en fælles tuschstreg på plastikmodellen, inden de sender den tilbage til det virtuelle laboratorie hos ingeniørerne Joakim Lindhardt og Anders Mølgaard Jakobsen. Den store fordel ved at arbejde virtuelt er nemlig, at det giver mulighed for at perfektionere snittet og at ændre, hvis det viser sig ikke at være optimalt.

 

Mangel på hjælpemidler skabte frustrationer

Et typisk problem på hospitalet var tidligere, at både plastik- og kæbekirurger oplevede problemer med at kunne skaffe nok 3D-printede hjælpemidler til behandling af alle de patienter, der skulle opereres. Med en 3D printet kopi af patientens underkæbe kan kirurgen nemlig danne sig et meget præcist billede af, hvordan operationen skal foregå og endda foretage prøveoperationer, inden den rigtige operation for at øge kvaliteten af resultatet. Problemet var dog, at disse hjælpemidler skulle bestilles hjem fra udlandet og derfor ikke altid nåede at komme frem i tide til de patienter der skulle behandles hurtigt, hvilket var til stor frustration for kirurgerne.

På Aarhus Universitetshospital ansatte man derfor ingeniører, der skulle hjælpe dem med at komme hurtigere frem til løsning af de problemer, kirurgerne havde. Og allerede efter et års tid var de i gang med at implementere deres egne 3D printede hjælpemidler i operationerne. Før havde afdelingerne på Aarhus Universitetshospital bestilt 3D print fra USA eller Belgien, men det var både dyrt og tidskrævende. En enkelt skæreguide kunne koste 30.000-70.000kr. og ofte kræve, at en kirurg brugte sin fritid for telefonisk at få detaljerne på plads. Til sammenligning koster det ca. 60kr. at printe en kæbe på printcenteret i Skejby, når printer og ingeniørløn er betalt.

Teknologien kan dermed skabe store besparelser for sundhedsvæsenet, da man selv kan producere emnerne og dermed er uafhængige af eksterne leverandører. Derudover bliver hver eneste operation mere bæredygtig, da emnerne produceres in-house og på den måde elimineres behovet for import fra andre lande.

”De åbenlyse fordele ved at bruge 3D print i sundhedsvæsnet er, at vi kan højne resultaterne for patienterne, kirurgerne kan arbejde med større sikkerhed, vi får kortere operationstid, vi kan producere til en langt lavere pris end at skulle købe det udenlands, og det er mere bæredygtigt ikke at producere og fragte fra udlandet”, siger Anders Mølgaard Jakobsen.

 

Fremtiden ligger i 3D printede implantater

De 3D printede hjælpeværktøjer eller skæreguides må kun være i kontakt med patienten i op til 30 minutter, da det anvendte materiale ikke er godkendt til længere tid. På sigt er målet at 3D printe implantater, der skal blive inde i patienten hele livet. Indtil videre har printcentret mest beskæftiget sig med knoglekirurgiske specialer – altså kæbekirurgi, ortopædkirurgi, neurokirurgi osv. Kommende arbejdsområder kunne være inden for mave-tarm-kirurgi, urinvejskirurgi, øre-, næse-, halskirurgi og radiologi.

”Det vi har set indtil videre, det er kun toppen af isbjerget. Der ligger rigtig meget potentiale foran os og vi søger konstant efter at udforske og blive ved med at udvikle 3D-print og 3D-teknlogier i sundhedsvæsenet”, siger Anders Mølgaard Jakobsen.

 

Om Aarhus Universitetshospital

  • Aarhus Universitetshospital udfører årligt mellem 10-15 operationer med 3D-printede skæreguides.
  • Aarhus Universitetshospital 3D-printer skæreguides i materialet BioMed Clear, hvilket er et resin fra FormLabs. Det tager 8-12 timer at printe én skæreguide.
  • Ifølge en rangering af 2.200 hospitaler i det amerikanske nyhedsmagasin Newsweek er Aarhus Universitetshospital (AUH) det 19. bedste hospital i verden og nummer ni i Europa.
  • Den primære opgave for Aarhus Universitetshospital er sundhedsfaglige uddannelser, herunder grunduddannelsen af medicinske kandidater og videreuddannelsen af speciallæger samt forskning

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AM Summit 2022 breakout session: AM & Health

AM & Health

AM Summit 2022 breakout session: The breakout session about Additive Manufacturing in the health sector focused on how the technology can help medical doctors and patients, and how 3D printing can explore new design opportunities, use mass-customization and create more production flexibility. 

 

The session was moderated by Michael Mølmer, Chief Medical Officer from Nordsjællands Hospital. The panel participations were:

  • Nadine Moises, 3D print Production Consultant, Formlabs
  • Anders Mølgaard Jakobsen, Clinical Engineer and Project Manager, Aarhus University Hospital
  • Martin Gerth Andersen, Founder and CEO, Snapform
  • Mads Tendrup, CEO and Founder, Exo360

 

1 size fits 1!

We are accompanied by three manufacturers of customized solutions to the healthcare sector. All with the same overall conclusion; 3D printing gives opportunities that have not previously been possible. With the new technology, they can now offer solutions customized to the specific customers need whether it be prosthetics, cast or surgical tools. The need for customized solutions is rather big in the healthcare sector, as every customer has a different anatomy. Previously, it has either been solved be an inefficient generic solution or a very expensive and complex customized solutions. 3D printing is offering the solution of customizing new products to the customers in a more flexible, economic and value optimizing way. Summed up, within the three areas they can now offer better and cheaper products to the customers. What’s not to like!

 

Regulations are still a huddle…

3D printing is still a new way to manufacturer products and components within the industry. Unfortunately, all the panel participants are using many resources on coping with regulative challenges in relation to the new technology. A problem, which we need to overcome to give 3D printing a broad and commercial breakthrough in the industry. As of now, 3D printing is equalized with traditional manufactured products, which in some cases do not make that much sense. Anyhow, the panel participants are in great belief, that it will change in the coming years as more and more companies and hospitals are focusing on the technology in their production.

 

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AM Summit 2022 breakout session: Sustainable Materials

Sustainable Materials

AM Summit 2022 breakout session: Sustainable materials focused on how we can decarbonize the supply chain by choosing and developing more sustainable materials. Additive Manufacturing is widely recognized to include a range of sustainable benefits such as less transport and less material waste. Anyhow, if the goods produced by Additive Manufacturing are not made from the most sustainable materials, we are not harvesting the optimal benefits of the technology. In this session, we focused on how to choose and design new materials in order to reach our sustainable goals.

 

The session was moderated by Ditte Lysgaard Vind, managing partner in Lendager. The panel participants were:

  • Adrien Lapeyre, Global Market Manager, Arkema
  • Markus Glasser, Senior Vice President EMEA, EOS
  • Rasmus Kock Grusgaard, Innovation Consultant, The Danish Plastics Federation
  • Niels Appel, Project Manager, Nordic Metals

 

Is bio-circular material going to be the new impact-material?

Both Arkema and EOS presented their view on how PA11 made from castor bean is having tremendous positive effect. PA11 has a low environmental impact, consumes less non-renewable resources to be produced, and has high thermal resistance. The material is used as powder in 3D printing production. Besides the benefits in the production, the material is also highly recyclable.

 

Traditionally, plastic is produced using crude oil. By rethinking the way, we produce plastic, we can both decrease the pollution from the production process while also stop the use of natural resources like oil. As castor bean is produced in otherwise non-growable areas, the production gives new opportunities for farmers in these areas. Castor beans for PA11 is most often grown in India on fields, that are not used otherwise giving social benefits as well.

 

It is not only how we produce goods, but also how we think about consuming them!

A great area of discussion was also how we go from a linear system to circular system. Nordic Metals gather scrap metal and turns it into new metal powder usable for 3D printing. A characteristic of metal as a material is that it does not degrade over time like plastic. By that, it is theoretically possible to recycle metal scrap repeatedly. Metal production is highly polluting as it is today, but by recycling it in a smart way, we can mitigate the pollution from production and stop the use of natural resources. According to a study from DTU, Nordic Metal’s way of producing metal powder is having a 50 % less impact on global warming than the traditional way of doing it.

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AM Summit 2022 breakout session: 3D Printing Sustainable Cities

Changing Paradigms

AM Summit breakout session: 3D printing sustainable cities focused on how additive manufacturing technologies can help build the sustainable cities of the future. 3D printing houses, systems, and components can help to create more affordable housing options and even entire residential areas. The session addressed how 3D printing technology is the future of construction with its multitude of unrealised sustainable and economic opportunities. 

 

The breakout session was moderated by Frank Rosengreen Lorenzen, CEO, Danish AM Hub. The panellists included: 

  • Morten Bove, Founder and CEO, WOHN 
  • Sebastian Aristotelis, Co-Founder and Lead Architect, SAGA Architects & 3DCP Group 
  • Paul Nicholas, Associate Professor, CITA, The Royal Danish Academy, School of Architecture 
  • Henry Glogau, Architect, GXN Innovation 

 

The construction sector is one of the most environmentally damaging industries globally and yet despite this knowledge it has been very slow to respond. New technologies like additive manufacturing present some major advantages and has potential to significantly improve the environmental impact of construction and architecture. 

 

Demonstrate how AM contributes to sustainable construction 

The panellists agree that it is important to showcase what is possible and demonstrate the potentials of AM for sustainable construction. This includes documenting resource streams and value streams. Architects and designers are early adopters, but there is a movement taking place also by other actors in the construction industry where the approach to construction projects is multidisciplinary by nature. 

The move to using and developing renewable materials is under development, e.g., in cooperation between industry and academia. Reaching larger scale of 3D printing for construction projects is also under development. From the side of CITA, The Royal Danish Academy, School of Architecture, sustainability is increasingly a focus for students. For example, students grow new AM materials such as mycelium, they design their own tooling and generally use AM technology in the move from the traditional to a more integrated process. 

A significant point highlighted by panellists in the move towards a more sustainable construction industry is to build smaller, and to support design for disassembly. Changing the expectations to buildings and materials is also significant, leading to the issue of regulation. 

 

Regulation is not adapted to AM and new materials 

Increasingly the demand for sustainable construction is there, but regulation is not catching up. A key challenge regarding realising the potentials of AM in construction is to impact changes on regulation and standards. New materials need to meet standards especially regarding moisture and fire safety, and consequently the issue of insurance becomes a barrier for using new materials. Attention should therefore be directed towards finding faster and alternative ways for materials to enter the market.  

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AM Summit 2022 breakout session: Changing Paradigms

Changing Paradigms

AM Summit 2022 breakout session: Changing Paradigms placed focus on how Additive Manufacturing has and will impact different manufacturing industries. The session brought together industry leaders using AM as an industry disrupter to drive forward a radical new way of designing, innovating, and producing products and components. 

 

The breakout session was moderated by Tim Frank Andersen, CEO and Co-Founder, Liveshopper. The industry leader participants in the panel included: 

  • Andrew Lamb, Innovation Lead – Global, Field Ready
  • Stefan Larsson, Founder, Maker and Entrepreneur, Lostboyslab and Whatt.io 
  • Adam R. Pawloski, VP Manufacturing Solutions, Stratasys 
  • Federica Chinese, Sales Manager EMEA, Nano Dimension 

 

Although in recent years AM technology is increasingly being adopted by the manufacturing industry, and their examples where it has disrupted the industry and led to new ways of designing and manufacturing products, the panellists agree that there is still work to be done for AM to reach the so-called ‘Spotify moment’. One of the ways to facilitate this move towards changing paradigms is for industry leaders to share their good examples. Especially two issues were discussed more at length, sustainable materials and distributed manufacturing. 

 

Sustainable materials and the issue of cost 

One of the panellists, from Lostboyslab, use 90 percent recycled materials in their 3D printed products. The recycled material is generally more expensive than virgin material. However, they experience that their customers are willing to pay extra for sustainability and the “story” of the material. Recycled fishnets collected in Indonesia, where local fishermen are being paid for collecting waste from the ocean, is one example of the recycled material being used. This addresses one of the biggest environmental challenges of removing waste from the oceans while securing an income for local fishermen. 

For others the costs of recycled materials, but also in general the costs of 3D printing compared to other manufacturing methods, remains a barrier for more widespread use of AM by the manufacturing industry. In order to overcome this barrier, stronger collaboration in the AM ecosystem is needed. A point that is highlighted in connection with this is the need to produce and share data based on early AM adopters to demonstrate that industry can adopt AM with low risk. 

 

Unleashed potential of distributed manufacturing 

The potentials of distributed manufacturing were discussed in connection with a question to the panel on what it takes for additive manufacturing to reach the ‘Spotify moment’. This involves a need to change business models and create distributed networks of partners or satellites to 3D print locally. For Field Made, a humanitarian organisation transforming aid logistics by manufacturing supplies in the field, there is an imminent need to map 3D printers across the developing countries of the world. In time this could allow the possibility to contract private makers and companies around the world to deliver individually on one single large order for 3D printed devices. For this to become reality, it is also necessary to address regulatory implications related to quality control processes in distributed manufacturing.  

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AM Summit 2022: Meet all the speakers

AM Summit 2022: See pictures of this year’s speakers

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More people than ever gather for sustainable 3D print conference

More people than ever gather for sustainable 3D print conference

Fourth time was definitely the charm for AM Summit 2022. This year marked another attendance record of almost 450 visitors – an increase of just over 25 percent compared to 2021 and the highest attendance to date.

On Wednesday September 7th, Danish AM Hub held the annual AM Summit – Scandinavia’s largest conference for additive manufacturing (AM) / industrial 3D printing. Visitors were inspired with insights on latest developments and innovations within additive manufacturing and 3D printing from 44 speakers and 45 exhibitors.

 

“We succeeded in addressing an important and current challenge by focusing on a more sustainable production, and by extention that of increased innovation and competitiveness among manufacturing companies. The growing interest and commitment from both Danish and international visitors demonstrate that Denmark has a leading role when it comes to new technologies”, says Poul Skadhede, Chairman of the Board of the Danish AM Hub.

 

The theme for this year’s conference was ‘Additive Impact – additive manufacturing and 3D printing as a driver for sustainable manufacturing’. Under this theme, 44 speakers took the stage with concrete solutions and inspiration on how new technology like 3D printing can help us produce more sustainably and competitively – with stronger and more circular business models and more robust supply chains.

Danish AM Hub works to strengthen the Danish business community’s competitiveness by promoting the use of AM and 3D printing, and helps companies take the first steps towards a more sustainable production, with AM providing the opportunity for local on-demand production with less transport and less CO2 emissions.

 

“The fact that we once again set a record in terms of the number of visitors at AM Summit confirms what we experience on a daily basis – that the ecosystem and interest in the technology’s potential and possibilities grows every day, and that more and more people are becoming aware of the technology. New technologies can change the way we design, develop, and produce, and 3D printing is a crucial technology to create positive development and contribute to a green transition across our production companies”, says director of Danish AM Hub, Frank Rosengreen Lorenzen.

 

Danish AM Hub is initiated and supported by The Danish Industry Foundation.

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