Barleben/Schopfheim, 16 December 2024 - Laempe Mössner Sinto GmbH (‘Laempe’), a leading global manufacturer and solution provider for core production, is now presenting its latest innovation in additive manufacturing technology: Laempe completes its product and service portfolio with the successful development and acceptance of a fully automated high-volume 3D printing line for the production of sand cores to the BMW Group foundry in Landshut (Germany/Bavaria). The 3D printing line was developed in close co-operation with the car manufacturer and its partner R.Scheuchl GmbH. The BMW Group is already using it to produce printed moulds for components of its new six-cylinder generation. With 3D printing technology, Laempe is future-proofing itself for the changing requirements of its customers and is the only manufacturer to offer everything from a single source.
The six 3D printers that Laempe has successfully handed over are equipped with comprehensive automation solutions that do not require any manual steps, including 3D measurement and core removal. The innovative technology, which has been ready for series production since 2016, was developed at the Laempe technology site in Schopfheim (Baden-Württemberg) and produced in Barleben (Saxony-Anhalt) and is primarily aimed at foundries. Following the successful takeover of the 3D printing line by the BMW Group, sales of Laempe 3D solutions will start immediately.
Laempe presents the world's most efficient 3D sand printer
With their bidirectional printing and high printing speeds, Laempe 3D printers are the most efficient core sand printers in the world. The design is suitable for casting and utilises established industry standards. In addition, the entire value chain was always taken into account in the system. This begins with raw material storage and moulding material preparation and continues through to the actual printing, unpacking, cleaning and measuring of the printed components. In addition, the Laempe 3D printing line is ‘open’, meaning that customers are not tied to specific raw material suppliers. Even the single printer is designed in such a way that it can be expanded into a fully automated solution at any time - and at competitive costs - this modular approach is unique on the market. Laempe has also developed the ‘Laempe Printing Wizard Software’, a powerful tool that optimises the slicing, scaling and morphing of print jobs.
A mid-double-digit million euro sum was invested in the development project, most of which was financed from a project with BMW Group and a substantial part of which was financed from Laempe's own capital. ‘As with any project of this size, there were uncertainties, challenges and uncertain schedules along the way - together with the customer, we were able to solve all of these tasks. We would particularly like to thank our employees and the BMW Group for the successful outcome,’ Mössner continues.
The BMW Group emphasises Laempe's performance and innovative strength, which is particularly evident in the highly automated 3D printing line. According to the car manufacturer, the technology impresses with its exceptionally high printing speed and the bidirectional printing process, which enables efficient and precise production. Thanks to the comprehensive automation solutions, the system is able to seamlessly fulfil the demanding requirements of high-volume production. This combination of technological excellence and process stability represents a decisive added value for the BMW Group and confirms Laempe as a reliable partner in manufacturing technology.
‘With our innovative 3D printing technology, we expect that many more applications can be economically transferred from classic core shooting to additive manufacturing in the future. We can therefore offer our customers and partners a real competitive advantage and a forward-looking solution that will open up new growth opportunities for us. We are the only supplier to develop and operate both core shooters and 3D printers, which means we know the cost structures of both technologies inside out,’ says Mössner.
Hybrid core production with Laempe offers maximum flexibility
With its solution, Laempe enables ‘hybrid core production’, which gives foundries the choice: classic shot cores, additively printed cores or a combination of both. Laempe also offers the flexible ‘pay per part’ model via the INACORE joint venture (partner: R.Scheuchl GmbH). The company in Ergoldsbach (Bavaria) has already had a range of core shooters and a Laempe printer for three years and supplies numerous customers with printed or shot cores.
FOTO: LAEMPE MÖSSNER SINTO/TEAM TIMO LUTZ INDUSTRIEFOTOGRAFIE
