Deutsche Bahn (DB), the nationwide railway firm of Germany, has licensed the usage of Essentium’s Excessive Pace Extrusion (HSE) 3D printing platform, in Neumunster, and high-performance supplies for 3D printed practice components and instruments. Essentium’s 3D printing know-how, together with flame-retardant Essentium 9085 and HTN-CF25 thermoplastics, has been examined to display that it complies with the AM Customary ISO/ASTM 52920:2023 and ISO 52920. Essentium’s AM options will permit DB to extend the provision of its fleet by means of the quick and environment friendly substitute of components and instruments.

By leveraging Essentium’s know-how, DB goals to beat provide chain points and uncooked supplies shortages for out of date components. DB maintains a digital warehouse of digital technical drawings of spare components. These components might be 3D printed on demand, with round 1,000 fashions at present out there. DB goals to lift this to 10,000 elements by 2030. The Essentium HSE 3D Printing Platform in Neumunster, and the supplies, will assist Deutsche Bahn improve supply velocity and decrease prices by creating low-run components on demand relatively than mass manufacturing and storing huge portions.

Rolling inventory purposes want to satisfy excessive ranges of flame retardancy – even increased than within the aerospace business. Conventional customary thermoplastics have poor mechanical properties and hearth efficiency and are unsuitable for rail purposes. Essentium’s high-temperature AM supplies allow Deutsche Bahn to quickly produce rail-worthy components that may face up to 180°C and meet business requirements for reliability, repeatability, and efficiency.

“Lots of people nonetheless surprise if additive is prepared for prime time. Deutsche Bahn, which is 3D printing tens of 1000’s of substitute components for its trains, proves it’s. We look ahead to advancing Deutsche Bahn’s AM capabilities to hurry repairs and preserve its property operational with minimal downtime. This partnership will pave the best way for others within the rail and transport industries to observe,” mentioned Blake Teipel, CEO of Essentium.