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Dutch Army to work with DiManEx to solve spare part supply challenges with 3D Manufacturing
Utrecht, the Netherlands - May 14, 2018: Earlier this month, the Material Stock Logistic Command of the Dutch Army signed a letter of intent to cooperate with DiManEx in order to deploy Additive Manufacturing (AM) within their supply chain. This initiative falls within the scope of the Army's Land Maintenance Initiative. It is part of their effort to make the Armed Forces more adaptive and is aligned with their recently presented roadmap for AM.
Additive Manufacturing (AM), also known as "3D printing," is a technology that has advanced considerably in recent years. The Dutch Ministry of Defense has been experimenting with the technology for some time. Their ambition is to embed AM into their operations in a streamlined manner. In order to do so, the army's Material Stock Logistic Command (MatLogCo) has recently presented a roadmap for implementation. A new AM Center will be created within this command division to foster capacity and knowledge building, aiming to cover the institution's needs in the field of AM.
Replacing legacy parts and avoiding obsolescence through experimentation
At the outset, the partnership between DiManEx and the Dutch Army will focus on experimentation, as well as tackling spare part supply issues. Fourteen parts have been selected for 3D printing and testing. DiManEx will support the Material Stock Logistic Command with engineering expertise, manufacturing, and quality assurance, guiding the institution throughout the material testing process. The experiment and its results will also be discussed and shared with the German Armed Forces, who are collaborating with their Dutch counterparts in the field of AM.
Sourcing legacy parts is a recurring challenge for the army, just like it is for many manufacturers and service organizations. DiManEx and the Dutch Army have already worked together to tackle challenges in the spare parts supply chain by applying AM. These parts are currently being used in the field, after having gone through the end-to-end service and obtaining the necessary approval.
Colonel and Head of Innovation at the Dutch Army, Robert Meeuwsen says: "In order to reach other destinations, you sometimes have to choose a new route. This holds true for the Royal Dutch Army. By choosing new production methods, we are choosing a new route. A route that will be faster to travel through using DiManEx's in-depth knowledge and market expertise. The printed parts are tested and approved once they fulfill our quality control requirements. For this pilot, we chose to print parts for a combat vehicle, the Fennek, because innovation must go hand in hand with our core task. We are committed to our AM roadmap. A roadmap which was prepared in coordination with other defense units and the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). This proves that 3D printing and other Additive Manufacturing (AM) techniques are ready for regular business operations. We hope other organizations will be open to taking this new route as well."
"We are excited about the cooperation with the Dutch Army, and proud of the fact that we have already been able to provide a solution for spare / service parts, which were no longer available or would become obsolete when buying the Minimum Order Quantity. We will work together to secure the availability of these parts whenever needed, and in the required volume." - DiManEx CEO, Tibor van Melsem Kocsis
About DiManEx
DiManEx provides a cloud-based, end-to-end service for distributed 3D manufacturing through a network of certified Additive Manufacturing partners. Ideal for manufacturers and parts intensive companies, our digital supply platform can be accessed anywhere in the world to produce industrial parts and small series with the click of a button. We are strongly committed to quality.
Visit www.dimanex.com to learn more.
Media contact
Gloria Quintanilla
DiManEx
gloria.quintanilla@dimanex.com