3DPRINTUK unveils a £2 million expansion
MultiJet Fusion part costs cut by up to 50%
3DPRINTUK, a leading additive manufacturing service provider and a key division within the TriMech Group, unveiled a £2 million investment to increase its HP MultiJet Fusion production capacity. This move represents the most significant expansion of MJF capabilities in the UK to date, making additive manufacturing more accessible, economically feasible, and scalable for businesses seeking high-quality production alternatives.
With this investment, the company has added three advanced HP 5210 PRO systems to its existing production lineup, resulting in a 60% increase in MJF capacity. This expansion solidifies 3DPRINTUK’s position as the foremost provider of MJF services in the UK, enhancing operational flexibility and enabling faster turnaround times while accommodating higher order volumes. The increase in production capability strengthens the role of AM as a viable alternative to injection molding by improving scalability and cost efficiency.
The financial benefits of this expansion are immediate. Customers, both existing and new, will experience substantial cost reductions. Certain complex geometries and bulk orders will see price reductions of up to 50%, while the average cost of MJF manufacturing is set to decrease by 20%. These reductions are complemented by larger volume-based discounts, making AM more competitive with traditional manufacturing techniques. The extended lifecycle of AM-produced parts further enhances cost-effectiveness, particularly for high-volume production runs. Additionally, the improved affordability of AM encourages greater design flexibility, allowing businesses to refine and iterate without budgetary restrictions.
Maintaining consistent quality at scale is often a challenge in manufacturing expansions, but 3DPRINTUK has proactively addressed this concern by implementing its proprietary RAMP Calibration System. This system analyzes thousands of data points to ensure machine precision, guaranteeing consistency from layer to layer. By minimizing variability and adhering to the highest industry standards, this technology ensures that all MJF-produced components maintain the structural integrity and durability required for advanced applications. CEO Nick Allen emphasized that this rigorous calibration process guarantees customers receive high-quality parts regardless of order volume.
Beyond improving production capabilities, this expansion aligns with the industry-wide movement toward decentralized and sustainable manufacturing. By strengthening local production infrastructure, 3DPRINTUK reduces dependency on overseas manufacturing, leading to faster lead times, lower shipping costs, and a smaller carbon footprint. Adapting quickly to shifting market demands further enhances the resilience of UK-based supply chains, mitigating risks associated with global disruptions.
This investment marks only the beginning of 3DPRINTUK’s growth trajectory. The company has confirmed that phase two of the expansion will commence in early 2025, bringing additional advancements to meet further the demands of industries seeking scalable, production-ready AM solutions. Alan Sampson, Group CEO of TriMech, described the significance of this development, stating that by increasing MJF capacity by 60%, 3DPRINTUK now operates the largest MJF manufacturing facility in the UK. He highlighted that this investment is a crucial step in positioning AM as a mainstream production method, effectively closing the gap between injection molding and additive manufacturing.
Nick Allen, Founder and CEO of 3DPRINTUK also added that the company is also launching RAMP calibration system across all our Powder Bed Fusion technologies. “This – he explained – is a layer 2 calibration system on top of the OEM calibrations. It takes thousands of data points across hundreds of builds to hone in the accuracy of the machines, meaning better than industry standards for accuracy repeatability.
“Why is this important? Production. If you are in the habit of using quoting platforms, it may sometimes be cheaper, but you get parts from different suppliers with varying quality, accuracy, and orientations. You need reliable and repeatable parts to form any product production line. Our RAMP calibration system – Allen continued – means you should get the best and most repeatable quality every time across our 8 HP5210 Pro MJF machines, all in-house, meaning you don’t run the risk of varying quality which can be both extremely costly and time-consuming.”
