Continental AG 3D prints ESD-compliant automotive parts for agile production
Best known for manufacturing tires, German automotive technologies leader, Continental AG is experiencing cost-effective production and fast turnaround of high-quality customized parts after installing a Stratasys Fortus 450mc 3D printer at their Additive Design and Manufacturing (ADaM) Competence Center.
Producing anything from prototypes to jigs & fixtures, end-use parts, and ESD-compliant parts, Continental has been a keen adopter of additive manufacturing in recent years under their Continental Engineering Services (CES) division.
The Fortus 450mc is a great addition to our portfolio, as it enables us to access highly specialized materials that allow us to meet the requirements of demanding production applications on the factory floor. In fact, it’s the only 3D printer we have that is capable of creating ESD-compliant production parts in very little time.
Stefan Kammann, Head of Samples and Mechanical Solutions, Continental Engineering Services
CES deals a lot with multiple electronic parts and components on its manufacturing floor, when it comes to producing automotive parts and solutions.
It is thus essential that the produced parts have static dissipative properties to prevent any damage to the part and eliminate fire risks.
ABS-ESD7 has therefore become a vital material for Continental as it meets the necessary electrostatic discharge standards to print several jigs and fixtures, including the gluing jig for automotive display assembly.
“We are able to 3D print the gluing jig for the automotive display assembly with Stratasys’ ABS-ESD7 material, which means we have a fast, safe, and ESD-compliant solution in-house that is customizable,” explained Kaumann.
The production speed of the 450mc has also been a great asset as tools and parts can be produced in just a matter of hours to ensure continuous production. This means less downtime for machines and affords Continental much more production agility, especially when it comes to the replacement of parts.
With the current global economic climate continuing to present challenges, Continental is relying on additive manufacturing to play a key role in delivering much-needed efficiencies across the product development process.
