Materialise Mindware
We help companies both big and small to carve their competitive advantage using additive manufacturing. Speak with our advisors to find out how we can assist your team.
Unmatched, unbiased, unique expertise
When you’re looking to accelerate your business potential while keeping your investment risk low, you need a guide who is both knowledgeable and impartial. Materialise is home to some of the 3D printing industry’s most experienced veterans, who have worked with countless materials, machines, and technologies since 1990. Mindware brings you in direct contact with our experts and their insights, building a substantial foundation of knowledge to build your strategy upon.
We have spent the past three decades working out how to make AM efficient, reliable, meaningful, and scalable. Now, we’re sharing our know-how and capabilities to assist you. Let’s shape your success with the powerful advantages of 3D printing.
The Triple E Journey
By your side during each step of your AM journey
AM adoption doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a complex journey for businesses to discover how to best harness its capabilities. At Materialise, we’ve been there. We’ve experienced the ins and outs of AM for over 30 years, honing the skills required for success along the way.
And with Mindware, we leverage this expertise to help others navigate their journeys and achieve their AM goals together. Do you identify with the questions asked along the path? No matter what stage you’re at, we’re there to help.
First Milestone
AM awareness achieved
1.1 Understand AM
Educate and inspire internal teams to innovate or cut costs with AM
Understand the possibilities and limitations of AM technologies
1.2 Identify strategic AM drivers
Identify for which business challenges AM is relevant and ready
Define a corporate AM strategy and AM Business case
1.3 Prioritize AM applications
Prioritize applications that can unlock strategic business value with AM
Optimize total cost of ownership (TCO) with AM
Second Milestone
Strategic AM roadmap defined
2.1 Conduct AM feasibility research
Identify the optimal material/technology/finishing for application requirements
Save time and money via expert assessments and smart experiment design
2.2 Design and engineer for AM
Redesign and optimize an application for AM
Get trained in Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM)
2.3 Develop (digital) proof of concepts
Test different designs/versions of the parts via rapid prototyping
Conceptualize end-to-end process with digital demonstrations
Third Milestone
Pilot product and process established
3.1 Optimize AM printing processes
Move from validated prototype to repeat production reliably
Define and optimize build strategies that guarantee quality and efficiency
3.2 Design and automate end-to-end process flow
Design and set up end-to-end digital workflows
Automate workflows with algorithms and digital tools
3.3 Establish a lean serial AM production
Identify and solve process inefficiencies that prevent from scaling
Improve production facility to scale with reliability and traceability
Fourth Milestone
Serial certified AM process finalized
Translate your business challenges into AM opportunities and identify the right AM application(s).
Bring your additive application(s) to life and validate your business case through collaborative research and development with our experts.
Ensure repeatability and efficiency in your operations to unlock business value through serial AM production.
1. Explore
1.1 Understand AM
Can you educate and inspire our internal teams to innovate or cut costs with AM?
Can you help us understand the possibilities and limitations of AM technologies?
1.2 Identify strategic AM drivers
For which of our business challenges is AM relevant and ready?
Can you help us define a corporate AM strategy and AM Business case?
1.3 Prioritize AM applications
Which applications can unlock strategic business value with AM?
How can we optimize our total cost of ownership (TCO) with AM?
2. Experiment
2.1 Conduct AM feasibility research
What is the optimal material/technology/finishing combination for our application requirements?
Can you help us save time and money via expert assessments and smart experiment design?
2.2 Design and engineer for AM
How should we redesign and optimize our application for AM?
Can we get trained in Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM)?
2.3 Develop (digital) proof of concepts
Can you test different designs/versions of the parts via rapid prototyping?
Can you conceptualize our end-to-end process with digital demonstrations?
3. Enable
3.1 Optimize AM printing processes
How do we move from validated prototype to repeat production reliably and consistently?
How do we define and optimize build strategies that guarantee quality and efficiency?
3.2 Design and automate end-to-end process flow
Can you help us design and set up our end-to-end digital workflow?
Can you help us automate our workflow with algorithms and digital tools?
3.3 Establish a lean serial AM production
Can you help us identify and solve process inefficiencies that prevent us from scaling (e.g., scrap rates)?
How can we improve our production facility to scale with reliability and traceability?
The Triple E Journey
By your side during each step of your AM journey
AM adoption doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a complex journey for businesses to discover how to best harness its capabilities. At Materialise, we’ve been there. We’ve experienced the ins and outs of AM for over 30 years, honing the skills required for success along the way.
And with Mindware, we leverage this expertise to help others navigate their journeys and achieve their AM goals together. Do you identify with the questions asked along the path? No matter what stage you’re at, we’re there to help.
1. Explore
1.1 Understand AM
Can you educate and inspire our internal teams to innovate or cut costs with AM?
Can you help us understand the possibilities and limitations of AM technologies?
1.2 Identify strategic AM drivers
For which of our business challenges is AM relevant and ready?
Can you help us define a corporate AM strategy and AM Business case?
1.3 Prioritize AM applications
Which applications can unlock strategic business value with AM?
How can we optimize our total cost of ownership (TCO) with AM?
2. Experiment
2.1 Conduct AM feasibility research
What is the optimal material/technology/finishing combination for our application requirements?
Can you help us save time and money via expert assessments and smart experiment design?
2.2 Design and engineer for AM
How should we redesign and optimize our application for AM?
Can we get trained in Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM)?
2.3 Develop (digital) proof of concepts
Can you test different designs/versions of the parts via rapid prototyping?
Can you conceptualize our end-to-end process with digital demonstrations?
3. Enable
3.1 Optimize AM printing processes
How do we move from validated prototype to repeat production reliably and consistently?
How do we define and optimize build strategies that guarantee quality and efficiency?
3.2 Design and automate end-to-end process flow
Can you help us design and set up our end-to-end digital workflow?
Can you help us automate our workflow with algorithms and digital tools?
3.3 Establish a lean serial AM production
Can you help us identify and solve process inefficiencies that prevent us from scaling (e.g., scrap rates)?
How can we improve our production facility to scale with reliability and traceability?
The Triple E Journey on video
1. Explore
Materialise Mindware consultants worked with Hyundai Lifeboats to explore the value of AM and create their first 3D-printed production tools.
2. Experiment
Partnering with Materialise, QualiCal has innovated their production process, which offers the potential for increased revenue of up to €1,400,000.
3. Enable
Mindware experts used their extensive knowledge of AM to optimize workflows and quadruple machine productivity for phits insole production.
1. Explore
Materialise Mindware consultants worked with Hyundai Lifeboats to explore the value of AM and create their first 3D-printed production tools.
2. Experiment
Partnering with Materialise, QualiCal has innovated their production process, which offers the potential for increased revenue of up to €1,400,000.
3. Enable
Mindware experts used their extensive knowledge of AM to optimize workflows and quadruple machine productivity for phits insole production.
Supercharge your production line with AM
Here’s a not-so-surprising fact:
Additive manufacturing is not just for end products.
The thousands of parts and hand-off points that make up a traditional production line can be made better, cheaper, safer, more accurate, or more flexible using AM, all while reducing supply chain risk and lead times.
Mindware can help you evolve and enhance your production line and see results fast — one part at a time.
"Mindware allows business leaders to tap directly into our 30 years of vast and technology-neutral knowledge, but beyond that, it offers these leaders a direct line of access to the greatest minds in AM."
— Bart van der Schueren, CTO
Meet our experts
“What I enjoy most about Mindware projects is cracking the code to help our clients find the optimal combination of AM technology, material, and finish for their application. I’ve been passionate about studying and comparing AM technologies for years, and I’m happy to contribute to accelerating the feasibility phase for our clients. Every Mindware project is truly enriching!”
— Toon Roels
Director of Process Engineering & Quality
15 years of AM experience
“I often hear clients say that AM won’t be a valid option for their application because the machine can’t print it at the desired quality or speed. What really drives me is overcoming this preconception by applying my process and software knowledge to crack their case and prove that there are other ways to boost efficiency in their process. For instance, by fully optimizing their machine parameters or customizing steps in AM platform preparation.”
— Tom Craeghs
Research Manager
15 years of AM experience
“There is much more to additive manufacturing than simply printing a part. It is, above all, a fully digital technology! Over decades, my team has designed and automated end-to-end supply chains for some of the most successful mass personalization applications. I’m excited to help our Mindware clients create their own seamless customer experiences and added value from scan to print.”
— Tom Cluckers
Software Research Director
19 years of AM experience
“We often see customers give up on additive manufacturing too soon. They struggle to determine which applications are suitable for AM and incorrectly conclude that the technology isn’t a fit. Via Mindware projects, my team works side-by-side with these companies to identify the right opportunities together. We (digitally) explore their production or stock area and pinpoint AM’s business and technical added value by asking the right questions and leveraging our expertise. That’s when we experience the eye-opening magic of spotting the perfect application.”
— Dries Vandecruys
Design and Engineering Manager
10 years of AM experience
“It remains a privilege, even after 9 years, to be able to leverage the power of AM to cater to the needs of patients and clinicians. Daily, our team listens to new concerns and desires from the medical field and translates them into meaningful, personalized, high-quality solutions. We love to help our clients find the sweet spot between their needs, endless technological possibilities, and stringent regulations to develop applications that truly make a difference.”
— Inge Famaey
Medical Device Development Manager
9 years of AM experience
“Hardware and software only cover half of the story in AM innovation. After designing AM products in various industries for almost a decade now, I can confidently say that the other half lies in the design process. It allows you to navigate the strengths and challenges of the technology. For instance, overcoming material or process restrictions which, at first, might seem insurmountable. I’m truly passionate about teaching our customers how to adopt this new design language and helping them bring new, meaningful 3D-printed products to life.”
— Roman Plaghki
AM Product Development Specialist
9 years of AM experience
“Certain companies still doubt if additive is ready to be a certified end-part manufacturing technique. The best proof? Our personalized, FDA-approved medical devices for which quality, reliability, consistency, and speed are not just an option, but a matter of life and death. Thanks to rigorous process planning, engineering, and quality management, we can ship implants to hospitals in a matter of days. Via our Mindware team, we apply this know-how and experience to accelerate the scaling of customers’ complex AM processes.”
— Gert Vervecken
Director Global Medical Operations
8 years of AM experience
Get to know our impact
The Materialise Mindware experts made it clear how valuable redesigning for AM is. By designing just one part specifically with AM in mind, we saved thousands of euros compared to conventional technologies. The whole trajectory with Mindware was an eye-opener for Signify and helped us make 3D printing a natural component of our manufacturing toolkit.”
- Danny van der Jonckheyd
Factory Engineering Designer, Philips
After collaborating with and being trained by Mindware experts for some weeks, our entire organization recognized Materialise’s extensive know-how, understanding of our needs, and ability to challenge us to meet our potential.”
- Thibaud Feneuil
Global Engineering Services Manager, CNHi
The dynamic Materialise Mindware team was instrumental for us in assessing 3DP-based manufacturing options.”
- Guido Stroehlein
Global Director Technology and Development, JSR LifeSciences
The Materialise Mindware experts were an enormous help to us at Shin Young while exploring AM from a business perspective. They accelerated the process of selecting parts for AM and guided us in analyzing the economic value and technical feasibility of the parts to construct a solid business case.”
- Donghoon Lee
Manager of Production, Engineering Division, Shin Young
News and inspiration
Exploring Additive Manufacturing Opportunities: Optimizing Production with Hyundai Lifeboats
4x More Efficient: How Mindware Experts Helped Scale 3D-Printed phits Orthotics
3DP Experimentation: Quick Development of a Lighter, More Accurate Automotive Inspection Jig
We help companies both big and small to carve their competitive advantage using additive manufacturing. Speak with our advisors to find out how we can assist your team.