Case Study: Ford Motor Company achieves the Automotive Factory of the Future with Proto3000 metal 3D printing

Ford uses Metal 3D Printing to drive the Automotive Factory of the Future

Ford Motor Company was looking to modernize its manufacturing and accelerate prototyping, tooling and new-vehicle concept development as part of its “Factory of the Future” initiative. To meet this challenge, Ford partnered with Proto3000 to deploy metal 3D printing solutions using binder‑jet and bound‑metal deposition technologies (such as systems like the Desktop Metal Studio System) to produce prototype parts, jigs and fixtures and explore on‑demand production.

Proto3000 implemented metal additive manufacturing across Ford’s Research and Innovation Center, enabling engineers to print parts immediately after design, iterate more quickly, and produce high‑performance components on demand. The Proto3000 solution shortened design iteration cycles, reduced reliance on traditional supply chains, and helped Ford integrate 3D printing into factory operations—delivering measurable improvements in prototyping speed and the ability to produce tooling and parts as needed.

Ford Motor Company

Ken Washington

Vice President of Research and Advanced Engineering