Dutch conglomerate Eriks (Alkmaar / The Netherlands; www.eriks.com), which specialises in machine components and technical services for various industrial sectors, is expanding the possibilities for additive manufacturing at its main plant in Alkmaar with several 3D printers from Ultimaker (Geldermalsen / The Netherlands; www.ultimaker.com). The primary aim is to produce replacement parts and, to a lesser extent, original equipment parts. Alkmaar is also home to a cleanroom production facility for plastic parts for the food industry.

Eriks is using the additional Ultimaker “S5” machines to help customers engineer parts more quickly and with greater design freedom than would be possible using injection moulding. The group also uses the technology to manufacture production aids and elements for occupational safety in its own production facilities. “In 2019 alone, we were able to save over 350,000 euros,” says Sander Splinter, managing director of Eriks Netherlands. “Now we are letting our customers benefit from the know-how. We advise them on which parts are suitable for 3D printing and develop applications together.”

Like Ultimaker CEO Jos Burger, Splinter sees “enormous potential” for industrial applications in 3D printing. According to Burger, “As the 3D printing sentiment index shows, only 35% of companies have introduced additive manufacturing. Margins are currently under high pressure in many industries around the world. Efficiency is a clear competitive advantage, and 3D printing plays an important role in this.”

Eriks is part of SHV Holding, which is headquartered in Utrecht / The Netherlands. Founded in 1940, the wholesale company sells and develops a range of industrial supplies for the automotive industry, the chemical industry, mechanical and plant engineering as well as the food and pharmaceutical sectors in 29 plants with around 7,500 employees. Sales in 2018 amounted to around EUR 1.9 bn.

Its product range includes seals, drive belts and hoses made of rubber, PVC, PTFE and PU. In addition, the company offers injection-moulded and machined parts and extruded profiles made of elastomers, thermoplastics and thermosets, in some cases reinforced with carbon and glass fibres. Semi-finished products such as sheets, rods, films and profiles round off its product portfolio. Among other things, Eriks took over precision machining company Fischer Kunststoff in 2010 – see Plasteurope.com of 13.05.2010 – but sold it to Röchling (Mannheim / Germany; www.roechling.com) in 2017.