3D printing: HARTING now bundling know-how

With the new competence centre, HARTING is also setting global standards for additive manufacturing. Standards, methods and technological issues and topics are now being addressed and developed at the Rahden location and implemented throughout the organisation on a worldwide basis.

The new Centre of Competence Additive Manufacturing focuses on various 3D‑printing‑processes and materials. They are in use at HARTING from prototyping and on to the first applications in series production. Sample components and specific practical examples will be used to show how additive manufacturing is being deployed in product development, for manufacturing aids or for special internal components.

As Jörn Held, an expert in Industrial Engineering New Technologies at HARTING, explains: "Through the targeted expansion of our additive manufacturing expertise, we are strengthening our innovative power, increasing our technological independence and creating the foundation for new product solutions and future-proof manufacturing processes."

The systematic development of expertise is the crucial factor here. Unlike conventional methods, in 3D-printing the design, material selection and production process are tightly interlinked. Proprietary competence and expertise enable the design of components specifically tailored to additive processes, making expedient use of the scope for design freedom, while ensuring reproducible quality at the same time. Additive manufacturing is opening up new scope for innovation and efficiency at HARTING, resulting in shorter development times, greater flexibility when implementing variants as well as more agile processes. With the Centre of Competence Additive Manufacturing, HARTING is bundling this knowledge centrally at the Rahden location and making it accessible and usable for different company areas – from initial ideas all the way through to industrial applications.

Heinz-Peter Einhoff, Global Director Center of Excellence Industrial Engineering, also highlights the significance of the new competence centre: "Here in Rahden, we are pooling expertise to transfer additive manufacturing into industrial applications in a targeted manner and creating global added value."

What is additive manufacturing? Additive manufacturing – better known as 3D‑printing – refers to a process in which components are built up layer by layer based on a digital model. In contrast to conventional methods, material is not removed but built up in layers, specifically where it is needed. This enables new shapes, lighter components and a high degree of design freedom.

What is prototyping? Prototyping describes the rapid production of initial functional samples or models in order to test and validate ideas, examine designs and optimise processes – well before series production kicks off.

Captions: New centre of excellence: the ceremonial cutting of the tape marks the official opening of the Centre of Competence Additive Manufacturing at the Rahden plant. From left to right: Frank Steinhauer, David Kirsch, Jörn Held, Heinz-Peter Einhoff and Marius Krato).