Bentley invests £3-M to expand 3D printing capacity at Crewe factory

MANILA: Bentley Motors has released details on the impact of a £3-million investment to increase the Additive Manufacturing (AM) capacity of its headquarters in Crewe, England, where all Bentley models are produced. A cutting-edge AM facility has been put to work on a variety of projects, generating over 15,000 components in 2021 alone. Bentley will also be able to use modern technologies to generate 3D-printed vehicle components and even more personalization in customer cars.

Bentley’s goal to build a long-term, sustainable business model and stay ahead of technical innovation is exemplified by this type of investment in such an innovative procedure.

AM systems transform 3D CAD models into physical components and are widely regarded as one of the world’s most rapidly evolving technologies. Bentley’s innovative research and development team has already found a wide range of items to print, including on-the-job assisted tools for production colleagues, such as lightweight sanding blocks in Bentley’s legendary wood shop. In addition, historically precise tooling equipment was made to produce parts for the Bentley Blower Continuation model, as well as face shields for the healthcare sector due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Physical components for many prototype Bentleys, including full-scale powertrain models and aerodynamic wind tunnel models, were created using AM. Parts for the record-breaking Bentley models that competed in the demanding Pikes Peak Challenge were also made using the modern techniques.

The most up-to-date methods help fast-track product development, allowing Bentley to make a plethora of parts without having to outsource. It is part of the company’s revolutionary Beyond100 strategy, which aims to rethink every facet of the business in order to achieve sustainable mobility leadership.

The state-of-the-art AM equipment causes 50% cost savings on parts, and the facility can produce thousands of components in more than 25 material options by operating around the clock. Bentley employees from all departments are now receiving AM training to learn how they can benefit from using the cutting-edge process in their work.

“Bentley’s approach to additive manufacturing is industry-leading and the facility is quickly becoming a cornerstone of our ‘Dream Factory’ ambitions. One of the key benefits is that it is efficiency led, cutting down on the cost and complexity of a myriad of jobs,” Bentley Board for Manufacturing Member Peter Bosch stated. “This latest investment is also making a significant impact with our colleagues from across the company, helping to create advanced assisted tools to drive continuous improvement throughout manufacturing processes. As we look to the future, there really is huge potential to where this advanced technology can progress, including having a greater ability to personalize parts for our customers and further enhancing the individualization program offered on every car.”

Photos from Bentley Motors

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