Cheshire-based Autentica, has set up a new digital marketplace, which will enable car manufacturers to sell 3D printable parts.
The Innovate UK-backed company is based at Sci-Tech Daresbury and believes that its NFT backed blockchain-protected business model allows for cheaper, faster, and more sustainable production of spares.
“The aftermarket in the automotive spare parts supply chain globally is facing several perennial challenges, such as costly warehouse storage of spare parts; high logistics costs due to time-intensive production and shipping; and low-risk resilience due to cross-border transport which can affect delivery times significantly,” explained CEO, Irma Gilbert ahead of the official launch of Autentica Car Parts.
“Digital technologies are catalysts in delivering a radical transformation to global supply chains by leveraging, among others, the power of automation, analytics and intelligence to improve efficiency, visibility, sustainability and resilience.
“Over the last two years, with the backing of Innovate UK and partners including AMRC and Oracle, we have developed a web platform which combines three major digital technologies – additive manufacturing, distributed ledger and artificial intelligence – to help revolutionise the aftermarket and automotive spare parts supply chain.”
The company believes that its “Click-to-print” platform will save 70% of non-production costs and reduce transport emissions by 40%.
Its software will allow OEMs, such as car designers and manufacturers, to sell spare parts designs to authorised dealers, distributors, and repair centres. The first-of-its-kind solution enables Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) backed blockchain-protected and certified design assets to be 3D printed on-demand locally so that buyers know they’re purchasing a genuine OEM replacement part.
With the Innovate UK funding, it has been tested with 500 customers, including OEMs and car dealers, and an international network of 600 3D-printing service providers.
The platform was developed in partnership with the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and cloud technology company Oracle.
“Autentica’s solution offers a streamlined approach, eliminating the need for pre-processing design files and G-code, thereby transferring this responsibility to the OEM, rather than the conventional practice of burdening the 3D printing facility,” said Praveen Praveen of AMRC.
“This shortens manufacturing lead times and fosters global collaboration, enabling independent designers and OEMs to market their designed parts securely. Leveraging artificial intelligence to allocate part manufacturing across various 3D printing facilities worldwide dynamically. It aligns with global initiatives to curb carbon emissions by minimising the transportation required for part delivery.”
Autentica is in talks with several international car manufacturers in the UK to sign up for their services, it has already onboarded Toyota Angola and Fiat Brazil as a delivery partner for its car and spare parts.
The official launch will take place in November.
