3Dee supplies machines and knowledge in the field of additive manufacturing solutions. But the services don’t stop at 3D printing. We spoke at the
“DroneVation & Defence 2025”
in Vienna with Luca Holzer, AM Concept Engineer, about the possibilities of 3D scanning and printing.
Mr. Holzer, please briefly introduce us to the services you offer with 3Dee.
We see ourselves as a sales and service company in the field of 3D printers and 3D scanners. We advise companies on how they can best integrate these technologies and also offer the option of having designs printed or automated directly by us. Our current focus is on polymer solutions, i.e. plastics that we produce using our own machinery – our print farms. At the same time, we are partners with major international machine manufacturers and can offer these exclusively in Austria in some cases and integrate them directly into companies or organizations.
Does this mean that you not only print yourself, but also provide machines?
Exactly. We have our own machines that we can use for prototypes or small series. At the same time, we offer machines for various processes – from FDM to SLA and SLS. This means we cover a very broad field and can support companies from initial consultation and training through to service and maintenance. The same applies to 3D scanners: we show how parts can be digitized, scanned and further processed. Our customers are very diverse – from architects and car manufacturers to the military and food producers.
Who are your typical customers – and in which areas is 3D printing used the most?
Our customers come from all sectors. For example, we have Porsche as customers in the automotive sector, the
Austrian Armed Forces
in the defense sector or companies in the food trade. The first step is often prototyping, i.e. components that need to be developed and tested quickly. With SLS processes, we can also produce small series – for example in quantities between 100 and 1,000. This is often more cost-efficient than classic injection molding, as there is no need for expensive tool production. Companies can quickly save tens of thousands of euros.
Where is the technology currently heading?
The parts are becoming ever finer, more precise and mechanically more resilient. Today, many prints can hardly be distinguished from injection-molded parts. With polymers in particular, we are already moving in the direction of aluminum in terms of tensile strength. It is also possible to print metals – we don’t currently offer this ourselves, but it has long since become a technical reality. As you can see, the boundary between prototype and end product is becoming increasingly blurred.
What role does 3D printing play for drones in particular?
A very large one. We exhibited several drone bodies here at “DroneVation & Defense” – all created using 3D printing. The advantage: they are light, inexpensive and flexibly customizable. You can produce frames for just a few euros each, with quantities ranging from five to several hundred within a few hours. Electronics are then simply installed. This creates an extremely fast, flexible and cost-effective process for adapting drones to different scenarios – be it climatic conditions or special application requirements.
You mentioned the Austrian Armed Forces as a customer. So are there also military applications for 3D printing?
Absolutely. Today, for example, we are showing 3D-printed add-on parts for
Glock
-pistols. Such solutions are particularly suitable for special units that require specific modifications – without the need for a complete production line. 3D printing enables customized, small quantities that are precisely adapted to requirements. We also see applications in drone technology, spare parts production and the rapid prototyping of new components.
Speaking of spare parts: Can you give examples where 3D printing has solved real problems?
A good example is a customer of a food chain. They had components for checkout systems whose manufacturer no longer exists. We scanned the parts and reconstructed them as a 3D model. Now the customer can print the required spare parts in-house at any time – quickly, cheaply and on demand. This is not only cost-efficient, but also sustainable, because components can even be reinforced to eliminate weak points in the original parts.
What role does the 3D scanner play in this?
A very central one. Many companies do not have a digital version of their components. With modern, mobile scanners, these can be quickly digitized and prepared for 3D printing. This creates a complete spare parts cycle. This opens up enormous opportunities, particularly in the field of reverse engineering – i.e. reproducing and, if necessary, improving parts that are no longer available.
What are the advantages of 3D printing in Germany?
There are at least two points: Firstly, 3D printing keeps production in the country. Files and construction plans stay where they belong and do not migrate abroad. Secondly, 3D printing is a sustainable process – components are only produced when they are needed, which saves resources. Together with the possibilities of scanning and reverse engineering, this opens up completely new avenues for many sectors – from civil to industrial to military.
