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Press Release31 October 2023Digital IndustriesPlano
Ricoh and Siemens collaborate to realize the industrial aluminum Binder Jetting process for mass production
High efficiency air-cooling heatsink created by RICOH's aluminum Binder Jet Technology (BJT) system
Additionally,
Ricoh is implementing Siemens’
Additive Manufacturing Network to optimize the
aluminum BJT workflow for production preparation, planning, scheduling, and production
management with less effort. Ricoh has also implemented Siemens'
Brownfield Connectivity and has begun
collecting and storing information on each process necessary for quality
stabilization and production control. Siemens will continue to provide Ricoh
with solutions optimized for the aluminum BJT workflow, and both companies aim
for early commercialization of these technologies.
Ricoh’s proprietary Binder Jetting Technology applies the company’s
inkjet printing technology and expertise to enable the production of metal
parts with more complex shapes that would not be possible with conventional
metal processing methods such as machining and casting. In the process of BJT,
the aluminum-alloy powder is spread out over the modeling area and then
solidified with a specially formulated binder to shape the part. The same
process continues layer-by-layer-by-layer until completing shaping the whole
part. After the process, the ‘green-body’ part is sintered in a furnace to
create a densified, end-use component that can be used as is or enter a
downstream post-processing chain.
Ricoh has positioned the “realization of a zero-carbon society” as one of
its material issues. Ricoh aims to achieve zero GHG emissions throughout its
entire value chain, enabling customers to develop highly energy-efficient
products by using Ricoh's 3D printers, thereby contributing to the realization
of a zero-carbon society.
“The production of aluminum parts is a holy grail for the additive
industry and we’re delighted that Ricoh has chosen Siemens’ Additive
Manufacturing Network capabilities from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of
industry software to help them commercialize a much sought-after process,” said
Zvi Feuer, Senior Vice President, Digital Manufacturing Software, Siemens
Digital Industries Software. “Our
collaboration with Ricoh will apply its expertise in additive manufacturing
with our knowledge and experience in delivering additive-specific operations
management technology across a wide spectrum of industries – from order
capture, production planning, and manufacturing to part delivery transaction
closure. Together, Siemens and Ricoh are working to deliver repeatability and
consistency at the scale needed to truly take advantage of using robust and
repeatable aluminum additively manufactured parts in the commercial world.”
Tokutaro
Fukushima, General Manager of Additive Manufacturing Business Center, Ricoh
Futures Business Unit, Ricoh Company, Ltd., said, “Ricoh will enable our
customers to manufacture innovative aluminum components that have never been
produced before by any process and will work with them to realize new customer
value in the area of electrification of EVs and other forms of mobility. By
combining Siemens' powerful solutions and knowledge with Ricoh's aluminum BJT,
we will be able to provide our customers with highly reliable and practical
systems for mass production applications. We hope to promote electrification
together with our customers and contribute to solving social issues such as
realizing a zero-carbon society.”
Metal Binder Jetting Technology for
manufacturing innovative aluminum parts contributes to weight reduction and
improved heat exchange performance of aluminum parts by realizing shapes that
cannot be produced with existing processing technologies. The binder jetting
method saves time and resources due to its high productivity and the ability to
reuse unused materials. Ricoh's industrial inkjet printhead technology,
developed over many years, enables stable manufacturing of parts with complex
shapes and is capable of processing aluminum alloy, a widely used material for metal
parts.
To learn more about how Siemens is
providing world-class manufacturing operations management to the additive
manufacturing industry and how the Siemens’ Additive Manufacturing Network is
supporting pioneers in the industry, visit:
https://additive-manufacturing-network.sws.siemens.com/
To learn more about how Ricoh has been
developing 3D printing technology that enables mass production to aluminum
parts which are widely used they conduct heat well and are lightweight, visit:
https://www.ricoh.com/technology/tech/123_metal_3d_printing
Note to editors:
Formnext is one of the
world’s leading additive manufacturing focused events, held at Messe Frankfurt,
Germany, from November 7 to 10, 2023. Siemens will demonstrate its latest
developments in the field of Additive Manufacturing. Ricoh Company, Ltd. and
Ricoh UK Products Ltd. will exhibit the metal binder jetting technology at the
event.
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Siemens Digital Industries (DI) is an innovation leader in automation and digitalization. Closely collaborating with partners and customers, DI drives the digital transformation in the process and discrete industries. With its Digital Enterprise portfolio, DI provides companies of all sizes with an end-to-end set of products, solutions, and services to integrate and digitalize the entire value chain. Optimized for the specific needs of each industry, DI’s unique portfolio supports customers to achieve greater productivity and flexibility. DI is constantly adding innovations to its portfolio to integrate cutting-edge future technologies. Siemens Digital Industries has its global headquarters in Nuremberg, Germany, and has employed around 72,000 people internationally.