Additive manufacturing of sand cores has been understood in its basic functionality since the 1990s, and it allows for a considerable increase in the complexity and functional integration of castings. Market development has shown that additive - or 3D printing - processes offer significant advantages as a future technology for the foundry industry. The ability to adapt to flexible and specific requirements, reduce production complexity, and eliminate tool management and wear, make AM technology particularly attractive for foundries. And for buyers of castings, 3DP also opens possibilities for innovative geometries that cannot be realized with traditional methods.
It was these factors that motivated Laempe engineers to rethink 3D printing from the ground up and develop it independently of existing industry solutions. For over six decades, Laempe has specialized in coremaking technology for foundries, and supplying core-shooters to produce sand cores for metalcasting. It also develops and supplies sand mixers and process automation, and 3D printers.
Laempe introduced its additive manufacturing technology in late 2024 with an installation at BMW Group in Landshut, Germany, and it has been adopted by other manufacturers for printing sand molds and cores.
Whereas mold and core production with additive manufacturing processes has, until now, been relatively slow and expensive compared to the conventional technologies, the new LAEMPE L3D-200 sand printing system offers significantly increased build rates and fully automated options for core post-processing up to ready-to-cast cores.
