Case Study: Deutsche Bahn achieves ±5% AM costing accuracy with 3D Spark

Deutsche Bahn Implements 3D Spark’s Feasibility and Costing Tool to achieve ±5% Costing Accuracy

Deutsche Bahn (DB), the largest railway operator in Europe, faced a challenge in its additive manufacturing (AM) division. Its team performed manual, time-consuming, and error-prone tasks to check part feasibility, estimate costs, and select the optimal AM technology for incoming requests. To scale its operations, DB needed to automate these processes and improve the accuracy of its costing estimates. The company implemented a feasibility and costing tool from the vendor 3D Spark.

3D Spark's AI-powered software analyzes CAD files and metadata to automate manufacturability checks and generate precise cost, lead time, and CO2 calculations. The implementation by 3D Spark resulted in a dramatic increase in costing accuracy to within ±5% and cut the time required for cost calculations by two-thirds. This provided DB with improved workflow efficiency, enhanced reporting, and the new ability to instantly assess the carbon footprint of different manufacturing options.

Deutsche Bahn

Sven Gaede

Application Engineer