Replacing Industrial Components with Additive Manufacturing
Specialised industrial machinery doesn't stop needing parts just because the original supplier has moved on. Repairing and maintaining this kind of equipment can be difficult and costly at the best of times, and locating a specific component is often time-consuming, uneconomic, or simply impossible. Rather than writing off an entire system because one part is obsolete, additive manufacturing offers a practical, cost-effective way to source it again.
Step one: replicating the component
The process starts with the physical part itself. Our team measures the original component to a high level of dimensional accuracy, then replicates it using 3D design software. Where useful, individual aspects of the design can be printed and tested along the way, so we can confirm the design is fit for purpose before committing to the final build.
Step two: choosing the right material
Once the design is confirmed, the process moves to manufacturing — and that starts with material choice. We work with a wide range of high-end polymers, each suited to different applications depending on the properties needed: durability, rigidity, temperature resistance, or chemical resistance, among others. Our consultation process helps identify which properties actually matter for the part in question, and where trade-offs are acceptable, before selecting a material accordingly.
From print to installation
From there, the component goes through manufacturing and finishing, ready to install. It's a process built on accuracy at every stage — from the initial measurement through to the finished part — because a replacement component that doesn't fit or perform isn't a solution at all.
This approach suits businesses running equipment where the manufacturer no longer supports it, where lead-times on genuine parts stretch into months, or where a small production run of replacement components makes far more sense than a full re-tool. It's one more way additive manufacturing bridges the gap between a problem on the factory floor and a working solution.
If you're dealing with an ageing piece of equipment and a part that's proving hard to source, we'd be glad to talk it through.
Contact us to discuss your manufacturing challenge or product development project, and let's see if we can help you get to market more efficiently and cost effectively.
