ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS AND WEAKNESSES OF ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING PROCESSES IN THE BUSINESS SECTOR. KEY PLAYERS INFLUENCING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF DIGITAL MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES

Abstract

Industry 4.0 include additive manufacturing (AF) technologies. They offer the possibility of revolutionising a wide variety of production processes but potential environmental impacts caused have not yet been studied in depth. Academic literature, mainly based on laboratory studies, is limited and focuses on certain environmental aspects, considered relevant, such as energy consumption. The present research has approached the environmental implications of AF from a business perspective in an exploratory way, for which a multiple case study of AF equipment and service companies has been carried out. A drastic reduction of noise from AF operations has been observed with respect to traditional subtractive techniques and a better use of the material, a more flexible and personalized production, which allows reducing production costs and saving time in the design and manufacturing processes of products. However, depending on the raw material, especially important impacts are generated in the obtaining of such materials (metallic and/or plastic), during the manufacturing process by the relevant release of volatile organic compounds or at the end of life of products with completely new plastic compositions. These are created by means of the material injection technique and they compromise the recycling of the material. In addition, the average life span of these plastic products is shorter, which means more product replacement. Finally, it should be stressed that neither the companies participating in the study nor the experts consulted consider the increase in energy consumption to be a relevant environmental aspect. This varies depending on the FA technology used and the intensity of use of the manufacturing systems, which are always oriented towards short series.