Heidelberg is branching out into industrial printing, demonstrating its printing technology at the IAA international motor show in Frankfurt this month. Heidelberg has worked with a number of companies, on various applications including customized speedometer bezels, ventilation nozzles and alloy rims.
Mercedes-Benz, for example, has used the Omnifire 4D printing system to customize its Smart cars with the options to apply different colours to many components. Mercedes-Benz is using the Omnifire to show trim components being printed live. Customers can select items such as ventilation nozzles, instrument bezels and multi-media interface trim and design their own motifs in a configurator app. The designs can be viewed on a tablet or in virtual reality before being printed in colour as well as with haptic effects on the surfaces of the real components.
Borbet, which makes alloy wheels, is showing alloy wheels finished using Omnifire technology, which, unlike other methods, also enables complex colour gradients, as well as smaller batch sizes and greater personalization of rims.
Meanwhile, Ritzi Lackiertechnik, which specializes in innovative surface finishes for high-quality components such as speedometer bezels, trim strips, switches and dashboards for various automotive manufacturers has been working with Heidelberg’s Omnifire 1000, which it will integrate into industrial production process to personalize both series and after-sales parts.
Günter Ritzi, managing director of Ritzi Lackiertechnik, explained: “We spent a long time searching for a solution that would allow us to meet the exacting requirements of our customers for custom decoration of passenger compartment accessories in an efficient way in terms of quality, flexibility, and cost. In Heidelberg we have found a partner that can supply us with an attractive overall package of innovative technology and matching service with the Omnifire 1000.”
The Omnifire 1000 and 250 systems can be used for custom or personalized printing and decoration of three-dimensional objects of almost every shape and made from a wide variety of materials, including balls, bottles, hockey sticks, car and plane parts, even entire planes. The system can be integrated into practically any digitized production process.
Dr Ulrich Hermann, Heidelberg’s Chief Digital Officer, commented: “The enhancement of digital printing for integration into industrial processes is opening up new growth markets for us. We have the expertise and technologies to design the personalized world, and support customers from a wide range of industries in establishing their digital business models.”
The IAA show dates back to the beginning of the automobile industry with the first show taking place in 1897 in Berlin. It’s an annual show, currently running in Frankfurt until 24th September.
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