Washpower A/S
The company Washpower’s participation in the 3D printing programme Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) has made it possible to develop a component for its range of wash robots for pig barns. In the future, this development using 3D printing could result in a significant reduction in water and energy consumption.
The Danish company Washpower was established in 2016, and sales of wash robots and automated washing solutions for pig barns and poultry houses quickly gained momentum. Today, the wash robots are sold in more than 30 countries – and more are on the way.
– Washpower’s goal is to develop user-friendly robots that take on the hard work of washing – and when, for example, the farmer starts the wash robot in the evening, it is important that it has done its job by the next morning, says Martin Kamp, Technical Developer at Washpower.
With a view to further improving the efficiency of its robots and making the automated washing solutions more advantageous for farmers, Washpower did not hesitate to say yes to participating in the 3D printing design programme DfAM, initiated by Dansk AM Hub.
3D printing creates new opportunities with major impact
During the DfAM programme, Washpower investigated whether it was possible to optimise a component for its x100 series of wash robots.
“For us, it was an obvious choice to explore the possibility of optimising a specific component in our x100 series and thereby realise the potential to make our robots even more efficient,” says Martin Kamp:
“Along the way, we have had a particular focus on optimising water consumption during the washing process. It may also turn out that, with the newly developed component, we make the robot more efficient, so that you can wash faster and in that way further optimise energy and water consumption – or perhaps achieve a greater reach. So there are many parameters we have looked at in this project, and it is clearly a major driving force.”
Results from programmes with Dansk AM Hub
- Optimising the design and the components in the machine
- New opportunities to print internal geometries
- Reduction in number of parts: From 2 parts to 1 part
- A larger network
The benefit is greater design freedom and a faster development process
This focus on energy and water savings depends on several elements – including optimising the design and the components in the machine. Therefore, 3D printing was particularly well suited due to its great design freedom, which can make new solutions and ideas possible.
“What I see with 3D printing is that you can start creating geometries inside the components. That would be incredibly difficult with conventional machining methods, because you cannot get in there with your tool – for example, the component we worked on in the project is not particularly large, and here 3D printing has provided new opportunities to print the internal geometries,” says Martin Kamp.
In addition to the renewed possibilities with internal geometries, Martin Kamp also points to how 3D printing can contribute to a faster development process, because Washpower can very quickly produce physical parts that can serve as functional prototypes and thus significantly shorten development time towards a production-ready part.
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A larger network and new experience
When Martin Kamp describes what Washpower has gained from participating in the DfAM programme, a larger network and cross-disciplinary collaboration are impossible to ignore.
“If you are considering taking part in such a programme, you should also do it because it provides a strong network. In my view, that is really important, because you get out and talk to others who are working on something similar,” says Martin Kamp, adding how a strong network can be beneficial in the longer term:
“Your network can also help you get over the bumps that inevitably arise more easily, which is always a positive thing. But in general, with 3D printing, a programme like this means you can get a 3D-printed prototype that actually works more quickly.”
About the company
Washpower A/S
Elmevej 8, 7870 Roslev
Number of employees: 41
Washpower A/S is a Danish company that develops and sells high-performance cleaning machines for the industrial segment.
About the DfAM programme
Throughout 2022, Dansk AM Hub, in collaboration with the partners Danish Technological Institute, PLM Group, Hexagon and Wikifactory, guided 15 Danish SMEs through a new innovation programme aimed at strengthening companies to an even greater extent to benefit from the technological and business potential within 3D printing. The programme is called Design for Additive Manufacturing (or DfAM) and focuses on spreading 3D printing to small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as providing concrete support and assistance in working with the technology through design. The specific goal of the DfAM programme is to redesign participants’ products or components, enabling these, for example, to be produced with greater strength, less material waste, new and improved functionality, and on-demand.
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