Senop, a specialist in optronic solutions for the security and defense industry, has used 3D printing both to create prototypes and to manufacture end products.
The original text published on September 28, 2021
The benefits collaboration has brought to Senop:
✔️ Agility in the product development process – 3D-printed prototypes simplify testing and visualization for the end customer.
✔️ Cost efficiency as a result of a smoother process.
✔️ The ability to optimize the strength and weight of parts in end products.
Senop is a Finnish security and defense company and a leading developer of optical solutions in the Nordic countries. The company offers high-performance night vision devices, optronics, and secure communication solutions designed for demanding operating environments, as well as sophisticated system integration services for defense and security operators and critical infrastructure organizations. Senop is part of the Millog and Patria groups.
Senop’s high-quality optronics solutions are designed, manufactured, and assembled in Finland, drawing on over 80 years of experience and expertise. In addition to domestic production, important cornerstones of Senop’s operations are technological leadership, continuous product development, and responsibility in all operations.
The cooperation with 3D Formtech, which began years ago and continues today, has accelerated Senop’s product development process and brought significant cost savings. The cooperation also allows the end customer’s needs to be better taken into account as early as the development stage.
“We have been collaborating for as long as 3D Formtech has existed,” recalls Erkki Tarvainen, product development project manager at Senop.
Over the years, 3D printing has become an important part of Senop’s production process, from design to the final product.
3D printing makes the end product tangible and speeds up the process
At Senop, product prototypes are often 3D printed at a very early stage. This allows potential errors to be detected more quickly, which saves a significant amount of time and speeds up product development.
Developing ergonomics is also easier because it is possible to test products before they are actually produced.
“It’s important that hand-held devices, for example, can be tangibly tested to make sure they are truly good in hand. Also, the prints for devices that are integrated into vehicles can be tested where a device will be used, in the vehicles, meaning there will be no surprises regarding existing structures, for instance. 3D printing saves a lot of time and money,” says Tarvainen.
The benefits of 3D printing also extend to Senop’s end customers.
“In the past, the product had to be designed much further in advance before it ended up with the end customer for testing. However, the designer’s ideas and the customer’s experiences with the product could be very different. Thanks to 3D printing, we can take customers’ needs and wishes into account better at the very beginning of the designing process,” says Tarvainen.
With 3D printing, the product can be modeled for the customer using a concrete prototype.
“We can make products that are more suitable for the customer. The customer can immediately see what the product looks like and what possibly needs to be changed. The functionality and ergonomics of the product can also be tested already at the product development stage.”
This way, no time or money is wasted during product development.
Smooth cooperation in 3D printing of both prototypes and end products
Tarvainen praises 3D Formtech’s fast and flexible collaboration. Collaboration is further facilitated by the fact that both 3D Formtech and Senop are located in Central Finland.
“Collaboration has, indeed, worked well. The service has been flexible. If we’ve been in a hurry, we’ve been able to pick up the prints directly from 3D Formtech’s door.”
Collaboration has changed Tarvainen’s understanding of 3D printing and introduced him to all the things that can be done with it.
“In the past, you may not have dared to use 3D printing in the final product. On the other hand, the materials weren’t the kind you would think would be possible to use in the final product.”
During the long collaboration, 3D printing has evolved, and new possibilities have been boldly explored and utilized.
“New materials and techniques have come into the market, meaning we use 3D printing extensively today – not only for prototypes, but also for end products.”
Although 3D printing is already being used extensively at Senop, especially in product development, Tarvainen sees new possible solutions for end products in the future as well.
“The weight of a product is a major factor for us. When it comes to optimising the strength and weight of a component, some structures can be made more easily with 3D printing than with machining.”
Close cooperation will continue in the future, as well.
“I think we have an order to send them today, actually,” Tarvainen laughs.