Volvo Trucks now 3D printing 500 tools and fixtures in New River Valley (NRV) plant at Dublin, Virginia, U.S.

Briefing

Volvo Trucks now 3D printing 500 tools and fixtures in New River Valley (NRV) plant at Dublin, Virginia, U.S.

September 17, 2019

Briefing

  • Additive Manufacturing – Volvo Trucks now uses 3D printing to produce 500 tools and fixtures at New River Valley (NRV) plant in Dublin, Virginia, U.S.
  • Selective Laser Sintering – Common 3D printing technique that applies laser rather than heat to form objects, allowing engineers to draw design, input in machine and 3D print in hours
  • 3D Printed Parts – Include roof seal gauges, fuse installation platens, drilling fixtures, brake piston gauges, vacuum drill ducts, brake valve fitting gauges, hood drilling fixtures, power steering adapter holders, luggage door gap gauges and door pins
  • Benefits – Include faster production, improved quality, increased flexibility, reduced inventory expenses and costs, error elimination, streamlined manufacturing and replacement processes, and product delivery speed
  • Sample Cost Savings – 3D printing one-piece diffuser, used in paint atomizer cleaning process, resulted in over $1,000 savings per part, and eliminating need for multiple piece component
  • Sample Efficiency Improvements – Reduced production time of tools by 94% in 2015, from 36 days down to two, using thermoplastic ABSplus and Stratasys Fortus 3D Production System

Business Model and Practices

Business Model
and Practices

Sector

Industrial Manufacturing, Transportation and Logistics

Function

Operations, Manufacturing and Production

Organization

AB Volvo

Source

Original Publication Date

September 5, 2019

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