Siemens, Desktop Metal Collaborate to Support Additive Manufacturing

Siemens and Desktop Metal have entered into a multifaceted partnership aimed at accelerating the adoption of additive manufacturing (AM) for production applications with a focus on the world’s largest manufacturers.

The collaboration will touch many aspects of the Desktop Metal business and benefit end-users in a variety of ways. It will involve increased integration of Siemens technology in Desktop Metal’s AM 2.0 systems, including operational technology, information technology, and automation.

Also, Desktop Metal solutions will be fully integrated into Siemens simulation and planning tools for machine and factory design. For example, Siemens Digital Twin tools are now used for designing some machines and Siemens Advanta can simulate all levels of the binder jetting process and global plant planning, enabling fast and reliable decisions for factory planning.

The two companies will be working on specific, industrial-scale projects involving  data handling and environmental, health and safety topics. Siemens and Desktop Metal will also work together to promote the benefits of AM 2.0 technologies, with a focus on binder jet 3D printing as a key technology solution that can reduce waste, produce more and build more resilient supply chains.

“Additive Manufacturing plays a crucial role as horizontal technology for many industries on their way to improved material efficiency and decarbonization,” says Tim Bell, head of the Siemens Additive Manufacturing business in the U.S. “We are very excited about this partnership with Desktop Metal. Combining our digital twin concept for planning and simulation, as well as the automation of the production systems with the technology of Desktop Metal, will accelerate the transformation to scale. As additive manufacturing continues its path to industrialization, collaborations like this will drive additive manufacturing to greater levels of quality and throughput only traditional manufacturing methods profit from today.”

It is said the partnership offers value to customers. “We’re proud to partner with Siemens to improve the integration of Desktop Metal solutions into existing trusted Siemens manufacturing infrastructures, which can help manufacturers prove out their manufacturing resources and concepts prior to the purchase of full work cells,” says Ric Fulop, founder and CEO of Desktop Metal. “Enabling customers to simulate different task-time scenarios for the full binder jetting process can help customers plan before they purchase any equipment. As our technology continues to make inroads toward high-volume production, we believe Siemens technology will be of increasing value to our customers.”