Heineken is now using 3D printers to manufacture some of their parts

Heineken is using Ultimaker 3D printers to develop tools and device parts for its brewery in Seville, Spain.

Particularly, Heineken is using a set of Ultimaker S5 printers to develop and print its safety gadgets, tools and parts. Previously, Heineken would outsource those parts to 3rd party vendors. The upshot is that Heineken has been able to save about 80% in production costs due to the 3D printing method.

Another perk has been uptime at the brewery. Heineken's Sevilla brewery produces about 400 million liters of beer a year. Heineken has been leveraging Ultimaker 3D printers for a year or two. It began with the Ultimaker 2+, but now utilizes Ultimaker S5 printers, which are larger.

Heineken's method rhymes with the method 3D printing is typically embraced.

Heineken started with one usage case-- making safety equipment-- and after that broadened to customized practical parts.

After a year, Heineken is utilizing Ultimaker for:

1. Printing parts for the production line to prevent downtime and create parts on demand.
2. Tweaking and enhancing part styles.

3. Heineken has retooled styles as it changes parts.

4. Developing quality control and maintenance groups.
4. Bolstering safety by printing parts that prevent accidents.