Innovation at Serviplast Industrie: a technical plastic part injected in a mould made by 3D printing metal. Thanks to its collaboration with the Luxembourg company Simaform, Serviplast Industriesaves its clients time and lowers production costs.
The mould: a strategic issue
Any injection project for a plastic part requires the production of a mould. The centre of this mould contains the impressions that shape the part. Thanks to its experience as a tool-maker and injector, Serviplast Industrie’s design office helps its clients to analyse and optimise the design of the part. Creating the mould is a key step: it can take many months of production and the investment costs can be high. These elements often impede the completion of the project.
Innovation at the heart of manufacturing impressions
To reduce these limitations, Serviplast Industrie worked on two elements:
- Separating the production of the mould and the impressions: Serviplast Industrie invested in a mould-frame that can be used for multiple productions. As a result, the client only has to invest in producing the impressions.
- Reducing the lead time and cost of production for impressions: Serviplast Industrie used additive technology instead of traditional milling and erosion techniques. Serviplast Industrie opted for 3D print metal.
State-of-the-art technology
Simaform specialises in the production of complex, high-precision sheet-metal parts for all industries and brought its expertise in 3D printing metal to creating new impressions. This technique, which is based on the selective laser melting process, is already used by NASA for engine parts.
A successful application
Atlas Copco, manufactures compressors. It called on Serviplast Industrie to produce plastic connectors. After an analysis by its design office, Serviplast proposed a prototype for the mould and its design by 3D printing metal. The injection was then carried out by Serviplast Industrie.
Saving time and reducing costs for the client
Thanks to this innovation, Serviplast Industrie is able to offer new alternative solutions to its clients to:
- Reduce production costs: the client only invests in producing impressions.
- Reduce manufacturing lead times: shorter manufacturing times allow the client to start production quicker and reduce the ‘time-to-market’ period for their project.
Serviplast Industrie and Simaform: a successful pairing
Serviplast Industrie and Simaform pooled their expertise to make this innovation a reality. This is the first collaboration between the two companies and represents an innovation for both of them. Based on the success of this first collaboration, the two companies are determined to continue developing their partnership.
