3DnA purchases Stratasys large-scale F900 3D printer

3DnA SRL, one of Italy’s leading engineering services bureaus, purchased a Stratasys F900 3D printer after having successfully used Stratasys’s Fortus 450mc system for prototyping and end-use parts manufacturing. The purchase allows 3DnA to expand its production capabilities into new markets in transportation. The engineering firm will be focusing on expanding into train, bus, coach and drone tool and parts supply.

3DnA has been highly active in leveraging additive manufacturing for the design and production of polymers and metals. The company has witnessed over 50% business growth in industries such as aerospace, defense, automotive, medical, consumer goods and security. 3DnA has also completed several high-level collaborative research and development projects in its dedicated joint-lab (AMUV = Additive Manufacturing Under Vesuvius). This lab is operated as a collaboration with the Center of Advanced Metrology and Technology Services (CeSMA) of Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II.

Stratasys’s F900 is a large-scale production 3D printer featuring a build size of 914.4 x 609.6 x 914.4 mm while offering extremely high print accuracy and repeatability. The system is capable of printing in 14 engineering-grade thermoplastics, including a range of ABS and Polycarbonate materials, as well as carbon-filled Nylon 12CF, Antero 800NA, and ULTEM 9085 & 1010 resins. It also integrates with leading Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) for smart factory connectivity through the MTConnect technical standard.

3DnA’s focus on fused deposition modeling has made Stratasys systems highly desirable. According to Alessandro Manzo, General Director, 3DnA, the use of Stratasys FDM additive manufacturing to date has provided a strong foundation for the business: “Our Fortus 450mc has proved to be an indispensable workhorse, enabling us to serve our customers’ applications needs in both design and production. It gives us access to a range of advanced production-grade thermoplastics, such as ULTEM 9085 resin, which have strengthened our manufacturing capabilities and allowed us to meet the stringent requirements of several high-performance industries. We’ve produced 3D printed parts for aircraft cabins and luxury car interiors, right through to bio-compatible surgical guides for experimental spinal prosthesis.”

While satisfied with its current rate of growth, 3DnA is always looking to the future and has set its eyes on several new market opportunities, which are the key drivers behind the company’s investment in the new F900 3D Printer.

“We see great application opportunities where the requirements for low-volume production and customization make additive manufacturing compelling,” explains Alessandro. “We have already produced working prototypes for trains and drones, but to date, we’ve unfortunately been unable to service customer requests for large-scale tooling and production parts. The F900 opens those doors again, enabling us to cost-effectively create customized parts up to a meter long while accessing an increased range of high-performance materials,” he continues. “Combining our in-house design for additive manufacturing (DfAM) and simulation capabilities, together with best-in-class printers such as the F900, our engineers are able to offer innovative production solutions to customers seeking to exploit the full potential of additive manufacturing.”
In fact, 3DnA has already secured new business with one rail customer to produce a range of customized tools for maintenance works on train carriages and is also in active discussions with drone manufacturers as a result of the company’s expanded production capability.