RE-cycleo at the Service of Atelier du Maroquinier and Cognitive Engines

Posted By Stephany Vaussanvin on Sep 18, 2024 | 0 comments

Sustainability is crucial for the manufacturing sector, and it’s essential for more and more industries to integrate eco-friendly practices into their processes. At Sculpteo, this commitment has led to initiatives like RE-cycleo, our recycling program.

The fate of an obsolete part shouldn’t be incineration or landfill. The goal of RE-cycleo is to simplify the recycling of 3D-printed parts, which can quickly become outdated for various reasons:

• Rapid prototyping cycles and iterative design processes,
• Seasonal usage,
• Rapidly evolving customer needs, such as morphological changes in patients using prosthetic devices.

This article compares the use of RE-cycleo by two companies operating in different sectors: leather goods and robotics. Despite their vastly different industries, Atelier du Maroquinier and Cognitive Engines share a common concern for the environment. By integrating RE-cycleo into their production processes, they’ve found a way to further contribute to waste reduction and more efficient resource use. By analyzing their approaches, we highlight the benefits of integrating sustainable practices in manufacturing and the broader implications for the sector’s future.

A Shared Commitment to Revalue Produced Parts, Even After Their Initial Use Has Ended

Atelier du Maroquinier is a French company, part of the Tolomei group, specializing in the artisanal production of high-end leather goods. They use SLS and MJF technologies with PA12 to 3D-print rigid structures to create boxes. These structures are then covered in leather. During the production of these boxes, assembly supports, which become obsolete once the order is shipped to the final customer or as the artisans’ projects evolve, are sent for recycling via RE-cycleo.

Source image : tolomei.fr

Cognitive Engines is a French industrial robotics company that designs and manufactures automated systems for various industries (automotive, logistics, manufacturing, etc.). Cognitive Engines uses SLS and MJF technologies for prototyping in their R&D activities and manufacturing support parts mounted on robotic stations in their clients’ factories. When the client’s final product changes, Cognitive Engines collaborates on designing and producing new support. Typically, a robotic station consists of 5 to 6 3D-printed parts. Once finalized, the parts made by Cognitive Engines remain in service for 5 to 10 years on the client’s production lines. However, several iterations are tested before the final part is installed, and if they don’t work, they are returned to Cognitive Engines. These iterations are then recycled through RE-cycleo.

Source image : cogengines.com

Atelier du Maroquinier: RE-cycleo Filled a Recycling Gap for 3D Printing

Atelier du Maroquinier is already actively recycling waste from its production line. The workshop is working toward ISO 14001 certification, an international standard focused on environmental management within organizations. However, traditional recycling channels couldn’t handle their obsolete 3D-printed parts. Their HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment) department sought solutions to recycle these parts. Until now, recycling channels for 3D printing only accepted large volumes. With RE-cycleo, recycling parts from the first unit produced is now possible. Instead of developing an in-house solution, RE-cycleo provided an established recycling channel, avoiding the need to find a bin or service provider to collect the parts. According to Flavien Cormier, Head of the Design Office, “RE-cycleo completes our sorting process by incorporating the 3D printing branch, which had previously been missing. We now have a recycling solution for all the waste in our production chain.”

Source image : sculpteo

Cognitive Engines: Recycling is a Priority for Our Technical Teams

At Cognitive Engines, the demand for recycling came from the technical teams, primarily young engineers who are particularly concerned about environmental issues. The idea of discarding large amounts of PA12 parts worries them. The opportunity to use RE-cycleo excited these environmentally conscious employees. For Sébastien Lissarre, Co-founder and CEO, “Environmental concerns are becoming increasingly important to our employees, and many want to engage in sustainable initiatives at work. Using RE-cycleo benefits us because it makes our production more sustainable and helps keep our teams motivated.” Companies face the challenge of attracting talent, and many candidates favor those committed to environmental sustainability. Solutions like RE-cycleo positively impact employer branding.

Eco-friendly Initiatives Are Key to Employee Retention and Customer Loyalty

Both companies agree that offering a recycling solution is not a primary concern when choosing a 3D printing partner. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) plays a limited role in the initial selection of suppliers. The main criteria remain the quality of the printed parts, adherence to delivery schedules, and price. However, offering a recycling solution is an additional advantage, a loyalty tool. According to Sébastien Lissarre, RE-cycleo has become essential for strengthening business relationships. He notes, “If we had to change our 3D printing supplier today and lose this service, our technical teams would be disappointed. It’s an extra reason to maintain our partnership.”

Final Clients Value Sustainable Supply Chain Strategies

Although both companies interviewed have an internal commitment to use a recycling channel for their 3D-printed parts, it’s crucial not to overlook the growing sensitivity of their final clients to the environmental impact of their purchases. In the luxury sector, where Atelier du Maroquinier operates, this issue is becoming increasingly essential and influences purchasing decisions. Consumers gravitate toward ethical and responsible brands, prompting manufacturers to integrate more sustainability into their supply chains.

In conclusion, it’s clear that eco-friendly initiatives in 3D printing have a positive impact on multiple levels: on the environment, business competitiveness, employer branding, and customer satisfaction. Through RE-cycleo, Sculpteo not only supports its clients in achieving their sustainability goals but also aims to inspire other players in the industry.