Roboze Automate: Pioneering the Future of Industrial 3D Printing with High-Performance Polymers and Composites

Roboze, a leading Italian-American manufacturer at the forefront of industrial 3D printing technology, recently unveiled Roboze Automate. Heralded as the industry’s first industrial automation system, Automate is designed to seamlessly integrate customized 3D printing of super polymers and composites directly into the production workflow. This groundbreaking system marks a significant stride towards advancing industrial-scale 3D printing, particularly within the United States. Beyond enhancing manufacturing capabilities, Roboze Automate offers a crucial solution to the ongoing metals shortage impacting various industries. By enabling the creation of consistent, high-performance parts from advanced polymers and composites, the system provides a viable alternative that can rival components produced through traditional manufacturing processes such as CNC machining and injection molding.

Over the past few years, the landscape of manufacturing has been profoundly reshaped by the increasing recognition of 3D printing as an indispensable industrial tool. This sector has witnessed an impressive surge in investment, demonstrating remarkable resilience even amidst the global economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The growth of additive manufacturing (AM) has been particularly pronounced in the United States, a market that presents a compelling dichotomy: it boasts the largest installed base of 3D printers worldwide, with an astounding 422,000 units, according to the recent 3D Printing Sentiment Index. Simultaneously, the US is also one of the markets where 3D printing is projected to experience the most substantial future growth. Currently, only 38% of US companies that could significantly benefit from 3D printing have fully integrated it into their operations, indicating a vast untapped potential for expansion. This potential is especially relevant in the industrial market, where an increasing number of companies are discovering the profound value of 3D printing. They recognize its ability to drastically cut production costs while simultaneously yielding parts that are stronger, more efficient, and optimally designed for performance. However, despite these clear advantages, the adoption of industrial 3D printing can sometimes be slow. Manufacturers often express concerns about potential inconsistencies in part production, which can stem from factors such as human error, environmental variables like temperature fluctuations, and the inherent complexities of managing advanced material processes.

Photo Credits: Roboze

It is precisely this critical issue of inconsistency that Roboze Automate is engineered to address head-on. The Roboze Automate system functions much like sophisticated Manufacturing Execution System (MES) software, meticulously designed to streamline the entire additive manufacturing workflow. From initial design to final production, it provides comprehensive tools to monitor results in real-time and meticulously report data across all phases of part creation. This intelligent automation is powered by advanced sensors, robust remote control capabilities, and sophisticated diagnostic functionalities. Through these integrated features, Roboze aims to empower its customers to achieve unprecedented levels of consistency and repeatability in their part production, eliminating the variability often associated with manual processes.

Roboze CEO Alessio Lorusso underscored the significance of this innovation, stating, “As the need for strong, resilient infrastructure in the U.S. and around the world continues to climb, we are bringing 3D manufacturing to a new level of consistency, repeatability, and process control and production speed. Our components-as-a-service approach is upending error-ridden manufacturing fluctuations and materials shortages to support true industrial-scale 3D manufacturing.” This vision aligns perfectly with Roboze Automate’s capabilities, which will be integrated into all new ARGO 500 Additive Production Systems. This integration will enable customers to not only produce but also certify each printed component, facilitating batch productions of up to 3000 parts from a single machine. This ensures that every part meets stringent quality standards, providing complete traceability and reliability essential for critical industrial applications.

Furthermore, Roboze Automate serves a dual purpose: not only does it revolutionize the production process, but it also champions the crucial importance of advanced polymers, especially materials like PEEK, within the industrial 3D printing landscape. At a time when industries are grappling with widespread metals shortages and volatile supply chains, Roboze Automate offers an empowering solution. It facilitates the creation of parts that can genuinely rival the mechanical properties and performance of metal components. This is achieved through a powerful combination of Roboze’s innovative polymer platform technology—which excels in handling high-performance materials like PEEK—and a sophisticated PLC industrial automation system. This automation system was meticulously developed in a strategic partnership with B&R, a renowned Austrian leader in automation and process control technology. The collaboration with B&R brings unparalleled precision and reliability to the entire manufacturing process, ensuring that the inherent strength and resilience of Roboze’s super polymers are fully realized in every printed part.

This unique and integrated system powerfully demonstrates Roboze’s unwavering commitment to advancing industrial 3D printing within the American market and beyond. By providing a robust, reliable, and scalable manufacturing solution, Roboze Automate is strategically positioned to support the significant infrastructure initiatives currently underway in the United States. It offers a viable, cutting-edge alternative that can enhance resilience, streamline supply chains, and foster localized production capabilities, all while delivering components with exceptional performance characteristics. The system’s ability to produce certified parts with industrial-grade repeatability underscores its potential to transform various sectors, from aerospace and automotive to energy and healthcare, by meeting their demanding material and quality requirements. Roboze Automate represents more than just a new product; it embodies a vision for a more agile, sustainable, and technologically advanced manufacturing future. For those eager to delve deeper into the specifics of Roboze Automate and explore its transformative capabilities, further comprehensive information is readily available on Roboze’s official website HERE.

What are your thoughts on the groundbreaking potential of Roboze Automate and its impact on the future of industrial manufacturing? We invite you to share your insights and comments below, or connect with us on our social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn! Stay informed about the latest innovations and developments in the 3D printing industry by signing up for our free weekly Newsletter here, delivered directly to your inbox!