Mass production is the Eldorado of additive manufacturing. It is not easy to achieve and very few companies have been able to cost-effectively produce thousands and even millions of parts using AM technology. OECHSLER is one of them and the German company’s next challenge is to mass-produce custom products, leveraging lot size one capability. Welcome to a new VM Podcast episode.
OECHSLER is a major manufacturer of polymer (and ceramic) parts for various key industries, including automotive and sportswear. The German company achieved several world firsts in terms of serial production after building multiple additive production facilities.
Under the leadership of Andreas Knoechel, Head of Program Management Additive Manufacturing, OECHSLER is now going to the next level, targeting “lot size one” and highly customized products. These include 3D printed insoles for the orthopedic market (and beyond), as well as multiple bike saddles. In addition, the company recently launched an advanced Online Ordering Platform, which empowers clients to place orders for 3D printed parts quickly and redefines the manufacturing landscape by combining technology and convenience.
In this VM Podcast, Mr. Koechel discusses OECHSLER’s greatest achievements in AM for production and how the company is now transitioning into the production of multiple small lots. He also provides details about how OECHSLER can customize the INSOLO insoles to meet the individual needs of each patient, considering material, size, and shape. He then offers more detail about the growing bike saddle production business and the most relevant products that are on the market today. Finally, we explore how the new online ordering platform enables OECHSLER to address the demand for smaller lot-size productions, with a look at other types of products that will be offered in the future.
