Automotive Trim Developments: two new EOS M 290 industrial 3D printers for component innovation

Embracing additive manufacturing for the first time at its production facility, ATD and EOS Additive Minds, upskill staff and install new turnkey solution for high-end automotive component manufacture.

____ Warwick, UK, August 3, 2022

EOS, a leading supplier for responsible manufacturing solutions via industrial 3D printing technology, has today announced that Automotive Trim Developments (ATD), a group of companies focused on the engineering and manufacture of complete interior trim and electro-mechanical assemblies to the automotive and other transport industries, has installed two award-winning EOS M 290 metal 3D printers.

The new industrial 3D printers mark a step change in ATDs ongoing evolution and commitment to the highest engineering and manufacturing standards.  Building on its extensive CNC manufacturing experience, ATD has now adopted new additive manufacturing processes, with EOS providing support at every stage for a rapid shift to active production.

An innovative automotive design and turnkey solution

During the engineering phase of a project to develop an electro-mechanical module for a luxury vehicle interior, ATD hit an engineering challenge with one particular component.  The physically large and complex component was highly visible, but also lightweight, and it became clear that the only way to manufacture the component would be additive manufacturing.  Taking this approach would enable ATD to achieve the target weight while ensuring a high-quality component, both cosmetically and functionally, once highly polished and electroplated in post-processing.

Additive manufacturing was a completely new process for ATD, but working with the EOS Additive Minds team they were able to implement a complete turnkey solution, that not only covered training, installation and setup of the EOS M 290 machines, but every aspect of undergoing a transformation on the production floor.  This included production business case analysis, floor layout, health and safety procedures, maintenance regimes and guidance on the quality requirements of certified components.  Additive Minds provided consultation support on the development of prototype parts, with machines pre-programmed before installation onsite by EOS – ready to get to work straightaway – a complete turnkey solution. 

EOS M 290
EOS M 290 - Photo credit: EOS

"Metal printing is often wrongly perceived as an immature process, and too expensive for production volumes but for us it has proven ideal. Our investment in additive manufacturing and EOS is one for the long term, and a relationship that has already enabled us, at speed, to move to high quality production of complex automotive components."
Brett Townsend, owner and managing director at ATD

Brett Townsend, Managing Director ATD
Brett Townsend, Managing Director ATD - Photo credit: ATD

Setting the industry standard

The EOS M 209 system set the industry standard for reproducible part quality when it was launched in 2014 and is widely regarded as the industry benchmark industrial 3D printer. It boasts a wide array of validated materials to meet the needs of any use case, and its exceptionally high beam quality and detail resolution are ideal for producing highly complex components with consistent properties, such as those needed throughout the automotive sector.

Davide Iacovelli, Regional Director EMEA at EOS concludes: "Adopting additive manufacturing as a new process brings new opportunities for manufacturers, in exactly the same way it has for ATD. 

Our solutions are designed to support manufacturers of all sizes, and our Additive Minds team offers a range of training and consulting services on optimizing, validating and scaling your additive manufacturing, helping get the most out of machines from day one.  

We also support companies across all certified industries with complex engineering challenges."

Davide Iacovelli
Davide Iacovelli - Photo credit: EOS

About the Companies

 

Automotive Trim Developments (ATD)
Automotive Trim Developments (ATD) is a UK-based group of companies focused on engineering and manufacturing complete interior trim and electro-mechanical assemblies primarily for the automotive industry, but the product range extends to all transport sectors. The group provide full-service supply solutions to all the UK’s major luxury and performance automotive brands. Using a skilled workforce and the latest technology, products ranging from luxury bespoke goods through to volume production of interior trim and seating are manufactured inhouse. With five sites throughout the Midlands, manufacturing technologies include the production of off-tool seat foams, cutting and sewing of leather and fabric covers and CNC manufacture of metal components. More under http://www.autotrimdev.com

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EOS
EOS is the world’s leading technology supplier in the field of industrial 3D printing of metals and polymers. Formed in 1989, the independent company is pioneer and innovator for comprehensive solutions in additive manufacturing. Its product portfolio of EOS systems, materials, and process parameters gives customers crucial competitive advantages in terms of product quality and the long-term economic sustainability of their manufacturing processes. Furthermore, customers benefit from deep technical expertise in global service, applications engineering and consultancy. 

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Source: ATD, EOS