Deloitte Report Says 3D Printing Will Change Automotive Industry

3D printing has already produced two entire cars, the Strati EV on the IMTS show floor, and a replica of the historic Shelby Cobra sports car. But those were R&D projects by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, not high-volume production vehicles made in Detroit.

A new report from Deloitte University Press says incorporating 3D printing will transform automotive production, both in printed end-parts and in specialized tooling, by offering more control over both, as well as lighter-weight parts. Additional benefits include much faster production time and lower costs from reduced waste materials, and lower capital equipment costs by eliminating the need for expensive new tooling.

An article in our sister publication, EBN, tells more about the study and gives additional input on the subject from other sources. Here's the full story: 3D Printing Reshapes Automotive Supply Chain.

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Ann R. Thryft is senior technical editor, materials & assembly, for Design News. She's been writing about manufacturing- and electronics-related technologies for 25 years, covering manufacturing materials & processes, alternative energy, machine vision, and all kinds of communications.