3D printing offers machine builders freedom of design in the component construction. This allows the design of more efficient parts that are manufactured in a cost and resource efficient manner. This applies to the injection nozzle Bionic Production manufactured for the SBM Maschinen GmbH.

The original components consisted of several individual parts, had a very complex structure and were made of cast iron. The engineers re-designed the injection nozzle and focused in the engineering process on:

• the integration of functions,


• the integration of several components as well as


• a production-oriented design.

After successfully testing the components in the application, SBM granted serial production.

Due to the substitution of the manufacturing process from casting to 3D printing, 70 injection nozzles are now assembled on a building platform for a quality assured production. Overall, the cost for the components were reduced by 10 %. Bionic Production accompanied the Bavarian machine builder on the way from the prototype to additive serial production. At present, 1,500 nozzles are produced annually.