Toyota Motorsport and 3D Systems Join Forces to Drive Innovation for Automotive Industry

Rock Hill, S.C, and Cologne, Germany, Aug. 29, 2019 – 3D Systems and Toyota Motorsport GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corp., announced that they have entered a partnership to change automotive engineering. TMG provides services to external clients as well as members of the Toyota family from its testing and development facility located in Cologne, Germany. 3D Systems designs additive manufacturing solutions designed to accelerate manufacturers’ production workflows. Through this partnership, the companies say they intend to develop manufacturing solutions — including 3D printers, materials and software — to change automotive design and production.

“In motorsport, we know that being first is what counts and we bring this same attitude to our entire business,” said Andreas Schambach, project general manager future production technology, TOYOTA Motorsport GmbH. “We are on the cutting-edge of motorsport and want to partner with companies that are leading the way so TOYOTA can maintain its advantage. TMG has chosen 3D Systems for this partnership because they share our pioneering spirit – exhibited by the fact that they introduced the world to 3D printing. We see the unparalleled potential of combining 3D Systems’ expertise and know-how with that of TMG to create technologies and define new additive manufacturing innovations in the automotive industry.”

Through this collaboration, TMG and 3D Systems will demonstrate how their first-to-market additive manufacturing solutions drive success in motorsport – recognized as one of the most demanding and competitive industries in the world.

“TMG’s facility will become a showcase for world-class advanced digital manufacturing,” said Schambach. “Our team of experts will complement that of 3D Systems’, to develop advanced laser sintering technologies, and a portfolio of materials with improved properties to meet the rigorous demands of motorsport. We intend to use these new technologies to more quickly and efficiently create light-weight, high quality production parts for our motorsport projects, leading to competitive advantage.”

As part of this partnership, TMG named 3D Systems “Additive Manufacturing Machine Provider of Choice.” 3D Systems says it provides complete solutions that include 3D printers, materials, and software. The company says its solutions are deployed globally for track cars and road cars. TMG plans to incorporate 3D Systems’ Figure 4 Standalone, ProX 800, sPro 60, sPro 230, and Geomagic Design X software into its manufacturing workflow.

“I’m inspired by the potential of our collaboration with TOYOTA Motorsport,” said Herbert Koeck, EVP, global go to market, 3D Systems. “TMG is a known leader in their industry as 3D Systems is in ours. Bringing together our collective expertise, curiosity, and desire to bring solutions to new applications challenges will yield first-to-market technologies that have the power to redefine an industry. I look forward to the innovation we’ll bring to fruition over the course of this partnership.”

TMG and 3D Systems will first appear together at the FIA World Endurance Championship, August 30-September 1 at Silverstone (UK). 3D Systems’ logo will be on the two TOYOTA GAZOO Racing cars – #7 driven by Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José María López and #8 driven by Sébastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley. Buemi and Nakajima won the drivers’ World Endurance Championship last season, as well as the 2018 and 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans.