3D printing has become the perfect solution for Openers & Closers to produce high-quality electric strikes for everyone, in addition to improving their business expectations. From tools previously made with iron, which involved a very high expense; in addition to new product verification tools: all these prototypes can now be manufactured thanks to 3D printing and additive manufacturing.

About OPENERS & CLOSERS

Openers & Closers is a company specialized in the manufacture of door closing systems, such as electric and electronic strikes, electromagnetic locks and many other door systems and accessories. With more than 30 years of experience in the electronics sector, the second generation of this Barcelona-based family business wanted to continue the legacy left by their predecessors.

The challenge: continue offering maximum customization, reducing prototyping costs

At Openers & Closers they want to continue innovating, and after starting up the business and expanding internationally, the time had come to invest in improving production systems and saving costs. The manufacture of electric strikes requires a lot of customization to adapt it to the needs of each client. Therefore, the costs of prototyping represented a significant item, as high as that in a single project about 180,000 euros could be spent on molds.

Due to the nature of their production, at Openers & Closers they are totally dependent on the moulds. In order to create new products that solve the problems proposed by customers, the company must have numerous prototypes and carry out different tests until finding the part that fits perfectly with the other parts of the same strike or product.

Tired of depending on external suppliers to manufacture these equipment, the company's managers began to look for the perfect solution. For years they had relied on Metal Injection Molding or MIM (combination of injected plastic and metals), and they decided to add a new manufacturing method to their value chain. In this search for better solutions, they found INTECH3D's 3D printing technologies and a team of experts willing to help them throughout the process.

The solution: 3D printing to design prototypes and create workshop tools

The 3D printing that is offered allows the managers of Openers & Closers to create personalized molds according to the designs that they are making in their innovation and development department. The materials used to manufacture these pieces are polycarbonate (PC) and PLA, with 80 grams of each product. Thus, the cost of each piece is approximately only 25 euros, which allows them to try more to offer their clients better and more lasting results, adapting to the specific needs of each one of them.

In addition, they forget to buy those molds from external suppliers. This supposes, on the one hand, a saving of costs and logistics. On the other, to be faster when carrying out the trial and error processes for the design of the parts. And as a result, greater flexibility when it comes to making last-minute changes or betting on more innovative ideas.

Another reason why our 3D printing technologies have improved the production processes and profitability of the Openers & Closers company is that they have managed to manufacture custom tooling and workshop supplies, so that professionals can work more efficiently. and precision. Most of these tools created with 3D printers are positioning tools, the dimensions of which are approximately 29 centimeters.

Project results: cost reduction, resource savings, and more and better variety of products thanks to 3D printing

The industrial sector in which Openers & Closers is located is one of the most benefited from the popularization of these types of 3D printing. Among the main benefits that they have noticed in their company, we can mention:

• Obtaining a wide variety of parts and part of these.
• Saving of resources, since models that are sometimes reusable are used for this type of parts.
• Cost savings, since the material to create a part with this type of printing is less than if parts were made in the previous way.
• Greater response to customers, improving the customization of each product according to specific needs.

Many experts speak of a new revolution in the industry thanks to the popularization of 3D printers and additive manufacturing. The improvement in response times, being able to offer customers a more personalized product, flexibility and cost savings are some of the reasons why companies in the sector are betting on introducing this type of equipment in their processes.

Openers & Closers is the clear example that you do not have to be a large multinational company to be able to enjoy the advantages of 3D printing, and at INTECH3D we are delighted to be able to help your company to continue innovating in its creation and manufacturing processes. electric and electronic strikes.

The INTECH3D 3D Consulting process

INTECH3D we are business advisers and consultants, in the field of the integration of additive production technologies in the value chains of companies. We take responsibility for the correct integration of the teams in the value chain of each company or business:

• Advice during the choice of the right technology
• Marketing of equipment, consumables and spare parts
• Training for the use of the necessary Hardware and Software
• Integrated equipment maintenance
• Official technical service for all products marketed

The INTECH3D technical team has more than 6 years of experience in various 3D printing technologies. We have different technologies and manufacturing materials with 3D printing, to cover the different technological or business needs of each sector:

• Conceptual prototypes
• Functional prototypes
• Final components
• Workshop tools
• Spare parts
• Short and medium production series.

It is also very important that all the departments of the same company know all the possibilities and benefits that 3D printing can bring to their sector:

• Risk reduction in manufacturing
• Reduced manufacturing costs
• Reduced manufacturing time
• Validation with a prototype before making an investment in final manufacturing
• Manufacture "on demand", without discarding material.
• Reduction of the "Time to Market" of the final product
• Manufacture of "Bridge" series to know its fit in the market
• Possibility of making short production series
• Elimination of time in the provision of Stock

If you want to apply 3D printing technology in your company or business, do not hesitate to contact us. We are at the service of companies for the immediate resolution of any doubt or query related to the use of the equipment.