TNT Germany is partnering with established German provider of 3D printing solutions, 3D trinckle, to support customers in the implementation of 3D printing for additive manufacturing in logistics processes.
It follows an announcement by the company in May this year that it was seeking customers for possible 3D printing activities such as spare parts logistics.
TNT has established 3D printing stations at several of its value added logistics sites in Germany enabling customers to play through and discuss possible scenarios with experts for the use of 3D printing.
Martin Winand, TNT's Product Manager for Value Added Services, who is responsible for the 3D printing project, explained the advantages for TNT customers: “As a transport services provider, we support our customers to develop efficient supply chain solutions tailored to their specific needs by integrating the 3D printing solutions in their production processes in the optimal way.”
Through the partnership with 3D trinckle, TNT can provide the technological and production know-how on a professional level.'
As for possible implementation areas for 3D printing services with its customers, TNT highlights prototyping or individual manufacturing and production supply, spare parts production on demand or the actual logistics process such as “Perfect Fit Packing.”
TNT Germany is targeting both large companies with complex supply chain requirements and also smaller and middle-sized customers who haven’t really come in touch with the additive 3D manufacturing process until now.
Commenting on the 3D project when TNT first announced it in May, Willem Prinsen, TNT Managing Director Germany, said: “In the coming years, the requirements of our customers will change through 3D printing. We want to participate in the creation of this future and therefore we are already starting looking for intensive dialogue with our customers.”
