3D Printing as a Solution to Tariff Challenges
With tariff challenges come business opportunities. We believe that Huntsville’s unique combination of innovative companies and manufacturing capabilities can address a national need.
SpaceFactory is interested to work with any Huntsville area businesses to explore if large scale 3D printing is a suitable, cost-effective alternative to an existing part or product which is being impacted by recent tariffs. Not only does this hedge against rising costs but translates into shorter lead times and reduced inventory—ultimately opening the door to new products and services for U.S. consumers.
The following examples illustrate the capabilities of our StarForge Industrial large-scale 3D printing platform, manufactured in Huntsville. Our current equipment can build parts and products up to 4 x 4 x 5’ tall using a pellet extruder, which offer faster production times (typically 2-6 hours) and is more cost-effective than traditional filament solutions.
Examples 3D printed on our StarForge platform:
3D printed lamp
3D printed wind turbine blade
Pilot Program Outline
1. Initial Free Consultation:
Begin with a no-cost, one-on-one consultation to understand your company’s part/product and current supply chain issues to determine if large-scale additive manufacturing is a good fit for your products or processes.
2. Design for Advanced Manufacturing (DFAM):
If a good fit, SpaceFactory will work at no-cost with your company’s engineering team to review and optimize your design for our StarForge platform, balancing quality with time and cost efficiency.
3. Prototype Print:
SpaceFactory provides equipment usage and our print operator’s time while your company covers the cost of materials for the prototype production. We’ll work with you to evaluate the prototype for dimensional accuracy and post-processing needs.
4. Pilot Production Run:
If you determine the prototype meets your needs, will can conduct a short pilot production run at-cost to assess production cycles and how well the part meets your operational requirements.
5. Path to Full-Scale Production:
With the pilot validated, your company can then consider moving to a more extensive production phase which might entail purchasing/leasing of SpaceFactory’s equipment for self-operation, or working with a 3rd party service bureau who can produce the parts on your behalf.
Interested?
We’re interested to learn more about your challenges and how our 3D printing solutions might help. Don’t hesitate to reach out.