This is a YouTube video titled "3D Printing in the tractor factory in Mannheim" created on November 9, 2022. The content is a detailed presentation about John Deere's use of additive manufacturing (3D printing) technologies in their production processes, particularly focusing on the development and mass production of a 3D printed metal thermal diverter valve for tractors. It highlights the collaboration with GKN Sinter Metals and the use of HP Metaljet technology to improve manufacturing efficiency and product performance. The video is informative and technical, aimed at showcasing innovation in agricultural equipment manufacturing.
John Deere creates intelligent connected machines that enable life to leap forward. John Deere is the world's leading manufacturer of agricultural and turf equipment. We use state of the art manufacturing technologies to produce products and solutions that serve our customers. Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, uses computer models to create complex parts layer by layer without the use of production tools. John Deere factories around the world have used additive manufacturing for many years. They 3D print thousands of tools, jigs and fixtures per year to improve our processes and increase ergonomics. Furthermore, additive manufacturing is an essential part of our product development at our Design Centre for small and mid sized tractors in Mannheim. Our innovative internal 3D printing capabilities allow our designers to to easily test their ideas and verify their concepts at a very early stage within the development process. Furthermore, it allows us to reduce the design and test iterations and it enables our developers to come up with a perfect solution for our products very fast. Therefore, this rapid prototyping is an important part of our development process. However, with the new thermal diverter valve for tractors, John Deere goes one step further. It is the company's first first 3D printed metal part going into production. Due to this innovative process, the costs per part were reduced and the performance increased. Additionally, more agility is unlocked along the product life cycle from development to manufacturing and finally service parts supply. An enabler for the project is the new additive manufacturing process called HP Metaljet and the cooperation with the company GKN Sinter Metals. HP Metaljet was developed specifically specifically for mass production and is more productive than any other metal 3D printing technologies. In the machines from HP, a metal powder is glued together with a binding agent. Layer upon layer, a so called green part is created. The still fragile green part is then sintered in industrial grade ovens. Known from conventional powder metallurgy to high quality, durable and tough metallic parts. The company GKN Sintermetals is the world's leading manufacturer of powder metal products. GKN offers 3D printed parts for automotive and other industries as well. The product engineers at John Deere and the manufacturing experts at GKN jointly improved the design of the fuel valve for 3D printing, making it the world's first technical application which is mass produced. With the HP Metaljet process. The thermal diverter valve underwent rigorous testing in order to ensure excellent part quality. Currently, over 4,000 valves are being shipped from GKN to the John Deere tractor factory for final assembly. The thermal diverting valve is a result of a targeted John Deere strategy and just one of the many innovative 3D printing solutions to come in the.
