Case Study: Eckhart achieves faster, safer assembly and improved ergonomics with Stratasys 3D printing

Eckhart takes steps toward improving the life of factory-floor workers

Eckhart, a leader in advanced industrial solutions, needed to improve factory-floor safety, ergonomics and efficiency while accelerating design iteration for clients in automotive, aerospace and medical industries. To address repetitive-strain, heavy-use tooling and rapid prototyping requirements, Eckhart partnered with Stratasys, using GrabCAD Print™ and Stratasys engineering-grade materials (Nylon 12 with carbon fiber and ULTEM 1010) to develop tailored additive manufacturing solutions.

Using Stratasys 3D printing, Eckhart produced lightweight, durable jigs and fixtures—such as lug nut starters and badge/wiper alignment tools—that boosted assembly speed, reduced operator strain and withstood intense use (tools are used ~60 times per hour across multiple shifts). Stratasys-enabled tooling let Eckhart rapidly iterate and deploy solutions for customers like Ford, Mercedes and Airbus, delivering measurable durability and productivity gains (including enabling one operator to match the output of several).

Eckhart

Andrew Storm

President & Chief Executive Officer