Accelerating Innovation: Unilever’s Rapid Bottle Design with 3D-Printed Molds
In the fast-paced world of consumer goods, speed to market is crucial for staying ahead of the competition. Unilever, one of the world’s leading FMCG companies, is embracing innovation to accelerate product development and meet consumer demands. One such innovation involves the use of 3D-printed molds to speed up the design and production of new bottle designs.
Unilever, known for its diverse portfolio of brands spanning personal care, home care, nutrition, and more, is constantly evolving to meet consumer needs. With the help of Stefano Cademartiri, CAD and prototyping owner at Unilever, and Flavio Migliarelli, R&D design manager at packaging supplier Serioplast Global Services, the company is exploring the potential of 3D-printed molds for low-volume stretch blow molding applications.
Plastic containers are produced through blow molding, a mass-production method with short cycle times suited for high-volume production. The traditional workflow often involves lengthy lead times and high costs, posing challenges for rapid product innovation. 3D-printed molds, Unilever, and Serioplast have revolutionized the prototyping and pilot testing process, slashing lead times by six weeks and reducing costs by up to 90%. This innovative approach allows Unilever to bring new bottle designs to market faster than ever before, gaining a competitive edge in the industry.
Consumer goods companies like Unilever understand the importance of agility and responsiveness in today’s market. With 3D printing, they can rapidly iterate on bottle designs, ensuring optimal aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability. By streamlining the production process and minimizing waste, Unilever is not only meeting consumer demands but also advancing environmental sustainability goals.
The collaboration between Unilever and Serioplast represents a paradigm shift in the packaging industry. By embracing 3D printing technology, these companies are breaking barriers and accelerating innovation in product design and development. As 3D printing continues to evolve, we can expect further advancements in packaging design and manufacturing, driving greater efficiency and sustainability in the FMCG sector.
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This entry was posted in "Additive Manufacturing DIY Projects: Elevating Home & Lifestyle with 3D Printing", "Green Printing: Sustainable Materials for Eco-Friendly Additive Manufacturing in 3D Printing", "Next-Gen Fashion and Construction: Advancing with Additive Manufacturing in 3D Printing" and tagged 3D Printing, Accelerating Innovation: Unilever's Rapid Bottle Design with 3D-Printed Molds, fast-moving consumer goods, Flavio Migliarelli, packaging design, product development, Serioplast Global Services, Stefano Cademartiri, Unilever.
