With innovative 3D printing technology and new flexible polymers, Peugeot is reinventing automotive parts. The PEUGEOT LIFESTYLE boutique offers a range of accessories, including sunglasses frames, can stands and mobile phone/card holders, specially built for the new PEUGEOT 308. This is the first time 3D printing technology has been used in auto parts.
These accessories are the result of a collaboration between PEUGEOT's design, product and R&D teams with HP Inc., M der and ERPRO. They are 3D printed using the new HP Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) 3D printing technology. The aim is to deliver innovative products that are comfortable to the touch, lightweight, rugged and easy to use, and to enhance the cockpit interior comfort offered by the 308 and the latest generation PEUGEOT i-Cockpit.
The designer's goal at the beginning of the project was to create accessories that were visual, innovative and made of modern materials. After a detailed analysis of how customers use the lockers in the car, a range of accessories was developed. Since traditional materials do not conform to specifications, peugeot's "Colors and Materials" team, together with its partners, has developed a more innovative material for this purpose. 3D printing is the obvious solution.
3D printing adapts to increasingly demanding and unpredictable market demands; a variety of customized items and accessories can be produced without the need for expensive molds and manufacturing tools. Importantly, 3D printing is more environmentally friendly and therefore helps brands seek more sustainable manufacturing processes. It is becoming more widely used and is revolutionizing manufacturing systems in many industries. In fact, additive manufacturing is becoming an alternative to manufacturing techniques such as injection molding. The 3D printed accessories range is available in two colors, black and mint green.
3D printing offers many additional advantages, the technology is constantly evolving in terms of the materials used and the methods of production; and the cost of production is constantly decreasing.
Design Freedom: Fewer manufacturing restrictions mean that 3D printing gives designers greater creative freedom and endless possibilities for part complexity (due to the absence of injection molding).
Optimize the structure: reduce weight, increase strength, reduce assembly.
Agile production: Unlimited customization possibilities for mass production with shorter lead times and without storage due to "on-demand" production.
Innovative materials: In just a few months, the team worked together to develop a new polymer with 3 main advantages:
Flexibility: A flexible, ductile and strong polymer
Speed: The manufacturing process is short and tailor-made
Rendering quality: Highly accurate detail due to very fine molecules
The result of HP's collaboration with BASF is the flexible ultrasint thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), which provides durable, robust and flexible components. It is the ideal material for the need for highly elastic impact-absorbing components and flexible mesh structures. The material can be used to produce parts with high surface quality and a very high level of detail. The use of TPUs in automotive interiors is a new approach that has been patented by the STELLANTIS Group. PEUGEOT chose to use HP Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) 3D printing technology. HP Multi Jet Fusion is a new layer-by-layer additive manufacturing technology for powder beds. PEUGEOT was one of the first companies to use the technology to develop a range of 3D accessories.
3D printing is still in its infancy in the automotive industry, but this technology is used not only in the range of accessories, but also in more technical parts of the next generation of PEUGEOT models.