adesso meets Additive Manufacturing

Shaping new potential in the life sciences sector

Additive manufacturing has the potential to revolutionise the life sciences industry – and adesso is right at the heart of it! As an industrial engineer with over ten years of experience in a wide range of industries, I know that innovation arises where technology and industry expertise meet. That is exactly what happens when adesso meets additive manufacturing.

3D printing is not a technology that is still in its infancy. Additive manufacturing has been continuously developed since 1984:

• What began as a gimmick for technology enthusiasts has evolved into one of the most innovative tools in modern industry.
• 3D printing is not just for gamers who want to print out their favourite characters; it has long been an integral part of the business world.
• The market is growing rapidly, with an annual growth rate of 44.6 billion US dollars.
• The material efficiency is impressive: compared to subtractive processes, the raw material is used almost completely – depending on the type of printing. We encounter printed parts everywhere in everyday life.

Imagine: an Airbus A350 takes off. On board are over 1,000 components that come from a 3D printer. Printed parts are also flying around the world in orbit, installed in satellites. In the automotive industry, the BMW i8 Roadster was equipped with a roof rack made of metal that is 44 per cent lighter and ten times stiffer than conventional alternatives. Maritime applications are also possible. Shipping is an industry known for its massive and complex components. The Finnish company Wärtsilä, known for its innovative technologies in shipping, uses 3D printing to manufacture complex components such as fuel nozzles and heat exchangers for ship engines. Additively manufactured products are no longer a dream of the future, but a reality. A real game changer in a wide variety of industries.

But what makes 3D printing so special?

• It is the combination of precision, flexibility and efficiency.
• Additive manufacturing enables the realisation of complex geometries that would be simply impossible with conventional processes or could only be achieved through additional manufacturing steps.
• What does this mean for the world of life sciences? Additive manufacturing enables decentralised production, cost-effective yet customised manufacturing from batch size 1, and a fully digitalised value chain. Whether bioprinting, patient-specific implants or personalised medicines – the possibilities are endless.

Additive manufacturing is a driver of digital transformation and opens up new possibilities. The most important potential can be divided into three key areas: digital processes, decentralised production and customised solutions.

Additive manufacturing requires digital processes

To fully exploit the potential of this technology, end-to-end digital processes and efficient data management are essential. AI-supported platforms and predictive analytics enable seamless traceability and optimise production processes by intelligently evaluating data and deriving recommendations for action. Secure data management systems ensure that sensitive information is protected and can be used efficiently at the same time. Compliance tools play a central role in ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. In addition, digital twins and IoT platforms offer innovative ways to monitor products, plan maintenance cycles and improve traceability. In the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, data platforms are setting new standards by seamlessly integrating patient data and research results, thus creating the basis for personalised solutions.

Want to be able to respond quickly and flexibly? Sure, but only at reasonable logistics costs, please.

No problem. A key advantage of additive manufacturing is the possibility of global, decentralised production. Instead of relying on central distribution centres, spare parts and products can be manufactured ‘on demand’. This not only reduces storage costs, but also significantly minimises delivery times. A digital warehouse ensures that parts are available worldwide, while versioning and reproducibility remain essential to guarantee consistent quality.

The customer is king

Flexibility is particularly advantageous in medical technology, as individualised products such as implants or surgical models can be manufactured directly on site. This not only increases efficiency but also improves patient care. The ability to manufacture economically from a batch size of 1 opens up completely new perspectives for customer-specific solutions. This means that patient-specific products, tailored precisely to the needs of the individual, can be realised in an economically viable manner. In addition to the customised manufacture of an end product, rapid prototyping accelerates development cycles and promotes communication by enabling haptic experience and simulation-based validation. Platforms for integrating 3D printing software with patient data also improve traceability and patient support. This not only increases efficiency, but also sustainably improves the quality of products and services.

The pandemic has shown how flexible and responsive additive manufacturing can be. Within twelve days, 3D-printed nasopharyngeal swabs for coronavirus testing were developed and made available worldwide. 3D-printed adapters enabled ventilators to be converted at short notice to meet the increased demand – a real-time innovation and the golden solution to a sudden problem!

adesso is shaping the future of additive manufacturing

Our experts at adesso are also solution developers. We bring not only technological expertise, but also a deep understanding of regulatory requirements in the biotech, pharmaceutical and medtech sectors. With our AI-supported software solutions, we ensure compliance, data management and process reliability. With digital platforms, IoT solutions and cybersecurity, we create the basis for secure, scalable and networked production. Our customers benefit from predictive analytics, end-to-end automation and tailor-made communication platforms – from development to customer service.

Your advantages with adesso as your partner:

• adesso stands for pragmatism and implementation based on partnership.
• We understand that 3D printing is more than just a technology: it is a key to digital transformation.
• With our expertise in software development, data management and process consulting, we help companies fully exploit the potential of additive manufacturing
• Together, we analyse what is really necessary and develop tailor-made solutions – whether as standard tools or customised software.
• Our experts in the fields of production, software development and consulting bring experience from numerous projects to the table.
• We adapt work plans and processes to suit your needs – no more, no less. We lay the foundation for our customers to not only keep up, but to actively shape the future.

Additive manufacturing is a game changer for the economy and ecology: it enables material savings, revolutionises design with new geometries, optimises communication and shortens development cycles.

We ensure that you fully exploit this potential – with reliability, efficiency and innovative strength.

The journey into the world of 3D printing is fascinating and offers many new opportunities. The technology is not only changing the way we manufacture things, but also the way we think about production, logistics and value chains. On-demand production, no warehousing, no waiting times – these are just some of the advantages that additive manufacturing brings.

Let's shape the future of the life sciences industry together!