Global supply chains have become increasingly complex, a challenge highlighted by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Bottlenecks can occur even without pandemics, particularly in energy production, where downtime can lead to significant costs. To respond quickly, companies maintain large inventories of spare parts, which can be costly and inflexible. Often, spare parts worth millions are stored but rarely needed.
Additive manufacturing processes offer a flexible and demand-oriented approach to producing spare parts without high inventory costs. The mobile solutions from Fraunhofer IAPT aim to print components directly at the point of use, significantly reducing lead times. For this purpose, container manufacturing units have been developed that can be deployed at various locations as needed. These units come equipped with user-friendly infrastructure, enabling even inexperienced users to carry out 3D printing. This is supported by a digital process chain and augmented reality (AR).
