Summary
Konica Minolta and Markforged helped AMPC and The Casino Food Co-op prevent costly downtime by 3D printing replacement equipment parts onsite.
CHALLENGE
- Discontinued hinges on hundreds of label printers
- Failed tannery gear halting leather production
- Broken evaporator fan blade risking cool room capacity
SOLUTION
- Markforged X7 carbon fibre industrial 3D printer
- Mobile trial units rotating across processing plants
- Onsite training and support from Konica Minolta
BENEFITS
- Tannery gears printed and fitted within 18 hours, no lost production
- Label printer hinges reprinted on demand, extending machine life
- Evaporator blades produced in days instead of weeks, at a fraction of the cost
- Reduced reliance on discontinued or external part manufacturers
- Stronger ability to meet supply contracts and customer commitments
Customer Success Story: The Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC)
AMPC is the research and development body for Australia’s red meat processing industry. In a world first trial with Konica Minolta and Markforged, it explored how 3D printing could cut equipment downtime across processing plants, starting with The Casino Food Co-op, Australia’s largest farmer owned meat processor.
A Markforged X7 3D printer let the Co-op solve three costly problems: reprinting discontinued label printer hinges, producing a temporary tannery gear within 18 hours to keep leather processing running, and replacing a $10,000 evaporator fan blade in days rather than weeks.
The capability of the Markforged 3D printer, supplied through AMPC and provided by Konica Minolta, was very impressive. It is easy to use, and everything comes out of the printer perfectly, saving not only time but money.
Brian Armstrong · Drafts Person and Project Support Officer, The Casino Food Co-op
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