Nestlé Adopts 3D Printing for UK Factories

3D printing is probably not what comes to mind when one thinks of Nestlé, the international food and drink corporation. (And no, we aren’t talking about 3D printed chocolate.) However, over the past year, Nestlé has been integrating 3D printing technology into its maintenance for its UK factories. The company has a team of three who have been creating replacement components and spare parts in York, which are transported to sites including Tutbury, Halifax and York factories. The company reported that its adoption of 3D printing is beneficial on several fronts: it saves time and money, reduces the need for external suppliers and helps it meet its sustainability goals.

Thanks to its central 3D printing workshop in York, Nestlé claims that it has been able to cut down on its reliance on third-party suppliers. This minimizes transportation needs and therefore cuts down on carbon emissions. The company also reported that by 3D printing parts on demand, it reduces waste and enables the creation of custom parts, contributing to a greener supply chain.

Neslté’s York location (Photo Credits: Nestlé UK)

Nestlé has set a target to produce over 5% of its site inventory using 3D printing, a goal that, the company said, reflects its commitment to innovation. The team is optimistic about the technology’s implementation. Simon Billington, Head of Technical & Production at Nestlé UK and Ireland, noted:  “As we continue to embrace 3D printing technology, we are not only enhancing our operational efficiency but also paving the way for sustainable manufacturing practices that will define the future of our industry.”

Last month, the corporation even hosted a workshop with Markforged at its York campus. The event brought together industry leaders, engineers and digital transformation teams to discuss the scalable implementation of 3D printing in high-volume production environments. Attendees engaged in demonstrations and discussions about best practices in manufacturing. Alan Yu, Senior Application Engineer at Markforged, spoke of Nestlé’s incorporation of AM: “Nestlé has advanced its use of additive manufacturing in production line maintenance by creating a clear, standardized process to evaluate and scale its impact. It’s been great to support their team along the way and see how they laid the foundation for Nestlé’s broader adoption.” 

Going forward, Neslté plans to advance its in-house 3D printing operations, expanding this technology to include food-safe components. In the next two to five years, they aim to enhance autonomy in 3D printing, ensuring that each site can independently meet demand while maintaining high standards of quality and efficiency. Learn more about the plan here.

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*Cover Photo Credit: Nestlé