Danfoss makes 3D printing move

DENMARK: Danfoss has opened the first of three new global centres for additive 3D printing technology.

The first centre, opened in Nordborg, Denmark, yesterday, will provide all Danfoss areas in the EU an opportunity to have prototypes and components 3D-printed. In addition to this centre, another centre is underway in North America while a third has been planned in Asia.

The new 3D printing centre is said to have attracted major interest among employees from all Danfoss R&D departments with the centre already boasting a major project pipeline even before the official opening,

New Danfoss CEO Kim Fausing sees 3D printing as an important part of Danfoss’ digital transformation, and has major expectations of the many opportunities, which the technology opens up.

“We offer world-class knowhow and equipment, and I am looking forward to utilising these new digital technologies to strengthen our offering to our customers,” he said.

The centre is equipped with leading 3D printing technologies, including a $200,000 HP 4200 – the first of its kind to be installed at an end-user in Scandinavia. Launched last year, the HP 4200 is said to be ten times faster than other powder-based 3D printing technologies.

“These centres will help speed up our R&D and development processes and thus speed up time-to-market, optimise production efficiency, and allow us to engineer the products of tomorrow faster,” said Danfoss chief tech officer Andre Borouchaki.