Midlands 3D opens new 3D print manufacturing operation

Midlands 3D has announced what is believed to be the most automated polymer 3D print production facility in operation in the UK today.  

The Stone based company been at the forefront of the industry in responding to this growth, continually investing in the latest tools, machines, and techniques to keep ahead of customer demand in providing 3D print manufacturing as a service. 

Last week, Midlands 3D threw open the doors of its new headquarters at an industry open day to demonstrate the latest investments and this new capability.

More than quadrupling the floor space, the company has taken the opportunity to upgrade its fleet of HP MultiJet Fusion (MJF) printers, adding their automation system to each. The system enables machines to automatically change their ‘build unit’ once a build is complete, enabling another build to begin within minutes. Utilising these technologies enables the machines to run continuously, dramatically increasing overall efficiency, lowering operating costs and lead times for large print runs. 

‘The shift toward industrial production using Multi Jet Fusion is not only real but it is accelerating at pace and what Midlands 3D has built is a timely response to that growth,’ said François Minec, vice president and global head of sales and business development, HP Additive Manufacturing Solutions.  ‘The scale and the quality of output coming out of the new facility clearly demonstrate how additive manufacturing can deliver both lower costs and faster lead times at volume. It is a compelling example of how UK manufacturing is alive and thriving, and why doubling down on automation and end to end capability is exactly what this moment demands.’

In addition, Midlands 3D had invested in the automated Powerfuse, vapour smoothing system from DyeMansion. A new finishing option alongside deep dye colouring and Polyshot surfacing, this technology gives printed parts a smoother, stronger, scratch resistant and waterproof finish.  

‘We saw the tipping point where production manufacturing became a bigger part of the business than prototyping last year,’ commented managing director and founder Paul Moloney. ‘We are running hard to keep up with demand, and the dramatic expansion in both capacity and capability you see demonstrated here is the next big milestone. 3D print manufacturing is exploding right now, but there are so many industries who are still barely dipping their toes in the water. Being in the heart of the Midlands is a terrific location to support UK manufacturing, and we are just getting started in terms of what is possible with additive manufacturing (3D printing) going forward.’

Demonstrating one such example at the open day, attendees were able to look around two Midlands 3D sponsored British touring cars and chat to members of the WSR racing team in attendance. Working together with Midlands 3D, they have developed over 100 printed parts for use on the cars and in the pit lane, contributing to the competitive edge that saw the WSR team recently crowned the most successful British touring car team in history. 

The company’s customer centric, consultative approach has made it a favoured supplier across many industries including consumer goods, automotive, healthcare, marine and UAVs. ‘We love working with customers helping them derive the most value from adopting the technology across their supply chain,’ concluded Paul. ‘We operate an open door policy and welcome customers to visit our facility, especially now work on our new headquarters is complete.’