With machines requiring high levels of customization, the need for advanced material capabilities was
not van de Rijzen’s only concern. The existing metal part was malfunctioning with such regularity it
necessitated replacement three times a month. Given each part must be handmade using traditional
means, replacing these via suppliers took over a month, a time frame that posed a huge problem for the
factory team.
“Considering the essential role of this part, it is crucial that a spare part is available on demand to
ensure the packaging machine is always operational,” said van de Rijzen. “With the Stratasys Fortus
450mc, we have a rapid, high-throughput solution that delivers highly accurate and repeatable results.
As a result, the downtime on these parts is dramatically reduced. The Chocolate Factory can now have replacement parts manufactured and delivered in under a week, which is instrumental to its business continuity.” The switch to 3D printed replacement parts resulted in significant economic benefits too, saving 60% on the part. “The ability to optimize the design with our 3D printer has improved the actual functionality of the part on the machine,” van de Rijzen added.
