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

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.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • What items has Bentley produced using Additive Manufacturing?

    Bentley 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.
  • How does the investment support Bentley's Beyond100 strategy?

    The investment in 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.
  • 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

    Also read: Bentley Continental GT Speed named 2022 Car of the Year by 'Robb Report'

    Hazel Nicole Carreon

    Hazel Nicole Carreon

    Hazel is a news and feature writer for ZigWheels Philippines. She studied communication at De La Salle Lipa, where she was exposed to writing about various topics, which later has become her passion and now her career.

    Read Full Bio

    Sell your car at the best price

    Verified and genuine buyers Verified and genuine buyers
    Free listing Free listing
    List your car

    Bentley Car Models

    • Bentley Continental
      Bentley Continental
    • Bentley Flying Spur hev
      Bentley Flying Spur
    • Bentley Mulsanne
      Bentley Mulsanne
    • Bentley Bentayga
      Bentley Bentayga
    • Bentley Continental GTC Speed
      Bentley Continental GTC Speed
    Bentley Cars Price

    PIMS 2024

    You might also be interested in

    • News
    • Featured Stories

    Latest Bentley Car Videos on Zigwheels

    Zigwheels
    • 2015 Bentley Mulsanne Driving Review
      2015 Bentley Mulsanne Driving Review
      07 Mar, 2016 . 13K views
    • Bentley Flying Spur 2015 In Depth Review Interior Exterior
      Bentley Flying Spur 2015 In Depth Review Interior Exterior
      07 Mar, 2016 . 48K views
    • 2015 Bentley Flying Spur Overview & Test Drive
      2015 Bentley Flying Spur Overview & Test Drive
      07 Mar, 2016 . 10K views
    • Bentley Bentayga REVIEW Bentley SUV 2016 Commercial Bentley SUV CARJAM TV HD
      Bentley Bentayga REVIEW Bentley SUV 2016 Commercial Bentley SUV CARJAM TV HD
      21 Oct, 2015 . 60K views
    • 2016 Bentley Bentayga SUV Tech & Design REVIEW
      2016 Bentley Bentayga SUV Tech & Design REVIEW
      21 Oct, 2015 . 452K views
    • 2016 Bentley Bentayga Presentation
      2016 Bentley Bentayga Presentation
      04 Sep, 2015 .
    • 2016 Bentley Bentayga SUV
      2016 Bentley Bentayga SUV
      04 Sep, 2015 .
    • Bentley Bentayga concept
      Bentley Bentayga concept
      04 Sep, 2015 .
    • Bentley Bentayga off road 1
      Bentley Bentayga off road 1
      04 Sep, 2015 .
    • Bentley Bentayga en pruebas off-road (Imágenes Oficiales)
      Bentley Bentayga en pruebas off-road (Imágenes Oficiales)
      04 Sep, 2015 .
    Latest Bentley Car Videos

    Bentley Car Articles From Carmudi

    • journal
    • Bentley to introduce 4th-gen Continental GT Speed
      Bentley to introduce 4th-gen Continental GT Speed
      Ruben Manahan IV, Jun 24, 2024
    • Bentley to stop producing W12 engines
      Bentley to stop producing W12 engines
      Ruben Manahan IV, May 13, 2024
    • Bentley promises uncompromised experience' with Batur’s Naim sound system
      Bentley promises uncompromised experience' with Batur’s Naim sound system
      Paulo Papa, Sep 04, 2023
    • Bentley, Little Car Company unveil ‘Blower Jnr’
      Bentley, Little Car Company unveil ‘Blower Jnr’
      Paulo Papa, Aug 24, 2023
    • Bentley showcases one-of-one Continental GT Speed
      Bentley showcases one-of-one Continental GT Speed
      Paulo Papa, Aug 23, 2023

    Compare

    You can add 3 variants maximum*