In the modern Swiss industrial landscape, companies face a growing challenge: obsolescence of spare parts. Many machines and systems have been in operation for decades, yet manufacturers often discontinue critical components after just a few years. When a central part fails and no original blueprints exist, costly downtimes or even premature replacement of entire systems loom. The solution? Having a machine spare part remanufactured – precisely, quickly and locally using state-of-the-art 3D printing technology.

What is industrial obsolescence and why is it a problem?

Obsolescence refers to the transition of an item from availability to unavailability. In the electronics industry, over 100,000 components are discontinued annually. For the spare parts industry in Switzerland, this means:

  • Technical obsolescence: New innovations render old components incompatible.
  • Regulatory obsolescence: Legislation such as the REACH regulation prohibits certain base materials (e.g. chromium VI), forcing a material change.
  • Economic obsolescence: The cost of a conventional repair exceeds the residual value of the machine.

Digitising components: The reverse engineering approach

When CAD data is no longer available, the first step is to have the component digitised. This is where reverse engineering via 3D scanning comes into play. A physical object – even if damaged – is captured with millimetre precision using high-accuracy scanners.

The process in detail

  1. 3D scan: Laser scanners or structured light scanners capture the geometry and generate a point cloud.
  2. Data processing: The point cloud is converted into a polygon mesh and optimised.
  3. CAD modelling: Based on the scan, experts create a parametric CAD model. During this stage, wear marks on the original can be digitally corrected or weak points specifically reinforced.

This digital model serves as the perfect basis for having a spare part 3D printed – often within days rather than weeks.

Why you should have machine spare parts remanufactured

Additive manufacturing (3D printing) offers decisive advantages for maintenance in Switzerland compared to traditional methods such as milling or injection moulding:

  • No tooling costs: Unlike injection moulding, no expensive moulds are required. Components are produced directly from digital data in batch sizes of one.
  • Material diversity: From robust thermoplastics such as ABS or PA12 to high-strength metals like stainless steel or titanium – almost anything is possible. For special requirements (e.g. in rail transport), flame-retardant materials compliant with the EN 45545-2 standard are available.
  • Decentralised production: Local manufacturing in Switzerland eliminates long supply chains and customs duties, improving the CO₂ footprint.

What comes next? From scan to digital inventory

Once a component has been digitised, further possibilities emerge: the CAD model can be stored in a digital spare parts warehouse and reproduced on demand at any time – without physical storage. Moreover, components can even be improved over the original through topology optimisation or material upgrades.

Read more in our article: Functional spare parts: How 3D printing is revolutionising industrial maintenance

Conclusion: Secure the future of your production

Those who invest in reverse engineering via 3D scanning and additive manufacturing today are making their maintenance resilient against the risks of obsolescence. Whether you need a complex gear part, a housing component or a legacy spare part – the ability to have a spare part 3D printed secures the long-term operation of your valuable machinery.

Want to learn more about how you can digitise your components and remanufacture them profitably? Get expert advice now!

Spare part defective? We’ll remanufacture it.
Request a quote or order online