FUJIFILM Biotechnologies
Reduced lead time and greater agility in production with 3D printing
A springboard for scaling additive solutions more broadly across the organisation
FUJIFILM Biotechnologies reduces lead time and increases production agility with 3D printing. By rethinking a key component as an additive solution, they achieve significantly faster delivery, less complexity, and lower tied-up inventory—while also taking the first step towards a more scalable and flexible production model.
The case – overview and context
FUJIFILM Biotechnologies is an international CDMO player, where high-speed production and frequent changeovers are a natural part of the business. With capacity expansions and new facilities, efficiency and flexible solutions are crucial to keeping processes scalable. Therefore, technologies that can reduce bottlenecks and strengthen equipment robustness are particularly relevant to them.
They were familiar with 3D printing, but primarily for small, non-critical prototype applications, and were looking for a way to work more systematically with additive solutions using already approved materials. The ambition was to test whether 3D printing could create operational agility and reduce time, complexity, and tied-up inventory.
Results from programmes with Dansk AM Hub
- Up to 6x shorter delivery time for components
- Significantly reduced tied-up inventory and less need for air freight
- Consolidation of approx. 20 parts into one single component
- Increased flexibility and faster adaptation of production equipment
The programme with Dansk AM Hub
Through the AM Sustain programme in collaboration with the Danish Technological Institute, we converted a classic (milled metal) vacuum gripper into an additively optimised solution: significantly lower weight, better vacuum distribution, and design consolidation from around 20 parts to one single component. As the component must operate in pharmaceutical production, the design was based on an already approved material, with a focus on cleanability and surfaces that meet FUJIFILM’s requirements.
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The development programme was designed for rapid iterations and to identify the most valuable place to start, so FUJIFILM could obtain a reliable proof of concept without committing additional resources or time.
As part of the programme, key employees were trained and were thus able to translate the technological possibilities—such as metal and (plastic) powder technologies—into seeing significantly greater potential than before.
About the company
FUJIFILM Biotechnologies
Hillerød, North Zealand
Number of employees: >2000
FUJIFILM Biotechnologies is a global CDMO player that develops and manufactures biological medicines, with a focus on scalable and flexible production
Results and potential
The results clearly demonstrate the potential: the 3D-printed gripper can be delivered in one-sixth of the time, at no higher cost, and enables a significant reduction in tied-up inventory and air freight. AM enables local production close to the site, avoiding air freight when time is critical—or having too many parts produced and sitting in stock. Increased digitalisation with print-optimised parts enables much faster changes and optimisation of sub-components, making it realistic to expand the share of 3D-printed parts without major investments in in-house design capabilities.
This provides a springboard for scaling additive solutions more broadly across the organisation, also across sites and national borders—from fast internal parts to more flexible process equipment, as capabilities and practices mature.
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