On September 9, 2018, Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) was using 3D printing technology and will replace some damaged train parts with 3D printed replacement parts. At present, Dutch Railways has 20 3D printed spare parts, and plans to produce more than 50 3D printed spare parts by the end of this year.
The first train with 3D printed parts is already operating on the Dutch network. Traditional manufacturing requires bulk orders. With 3D printing, Dutch rail companies can order separately, saving time and money. Additive manufacturing also reduces maintenance operation time, which helps avoid train shortages in service.
Deutsche Bahn will not print the parts itself, but outsources them to Utrecht's 3D printer supplier Dimanex. Parts are made of plastic and metal. Components such as plugs for public address systems and radio frames for operator turntables are already 3D printable. "We work with suppliers to find the best solution," said NS spokeswoman Anita Middelkoop. "After all, they are also looking for innovation so they can do their jobs better."
In addition to simply creating replacement parts, Middelkoop said that additive manufacturing enables the company to make tools. "We work with organizations that have 3D printers," Middelkoop said. "You can imagine that if we have a printer somewhere, we have to wait until the parts are finished to print the next part. By working with these organizations, we always have enough capacity."