Toyota Boosts Efficiency and Safety with Stratasys 3D Printing

Toyota has collaborated with Stratasys to enhance production efficiency and worker safety through the use of 3D printing technology. The partnership allows Toyota to rapidly produce customized tools and prototypes, reducing reliance on external suppliers and lead times. This has enabled Toyota's engineering teams to iterate rapidly and adapt to production demands in real time, aligning with Toyota's commitment to innovating their manufacturing workflows.

Toyota has entered into a strategic collaboration with Stratasys to enhance production efficiency and worker safety through the integration of 3D printing technology. The partnership allows Toyota to rapidly produce customized tools and prototypes, reducing reliance on external suppliers and lead times. This has enabled Toyota's engineering teams to iterate rapidly and adapt to production demands in real time, aligning with Toyota's commitment to innovating their manufacturing workflows.

The collaboration, which spans over a decade, has equipped Toyota with industrial-grade 3D printers and advanced materials designed to withstand tough factory conditions. These high-performance polymers, provided by Stratasys, have significantly reduced Toyota's dependence on external suppliers and long lead times. This shift has empowered frontline engineering teams to iterate rapidly and adapt to shifting production needs in real time.

Toyota is currently utilizing a range of Stratasys printers, including the F3300, F900, Origin One, F770, Neo800, H350, F370, J850, and Fortus 450mc, to produce robust factory tooling, end-use parts, and functional prototypes throughout its North American facilities. The Toyota Add Lab, an in-house additive manufacturing center opened in January 2023, plays a pivotal role in accelerating R&D and factory innovation.

According to Dallas Martin, Additive Manufacturing Engineer at Toyota North America, the speed of 3D printing allows the team to move quickly, implement safer solutions, and continuously iterate to improve processes. Lisa Bednar, Group Manager, Production Engineering at Toyota North America, echoed this sentiment, stating that additive manufacturing has transformed how teams collaborate and innovate, allowing them to build and refine parts the same day, and get them into production faster.

Stratasys' Chief Industrial Business Officer, Rich Garrity, highlighted Toyota's success in leveraging additive manufacturing to deliver meaningful operational impact. "Toyota is a standout example of how leading manufacturers are leveraging additive manufacturing to deliver meaningful operational impact," said Garrity. "Their teams are using our technology to move faster, adapt on the fly, and build safer, more efficient production environments."

The Toyota Add Lab has enabled the company to redesign tools such as door assembly fixtures and window alignment jigs, resulting in lighter, more ergonomic tools and improved safety and efficiency. For example, a custom window alignment jig developed by Toyota engineers turned a multi-person job into a one-person task, boosting both safety and efficiency.

By integrating Stratasys industrial 3D printing solutions across its North American operations, Toyota has demonstrated how leading manufacturers can leverage additive manufacturing to drive innovation, improve worker safety, and enhance operational efficiency.

References:
[1] https://investors.stratasys.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/952/toyota-accelerates-production-innovation-with-stratasys
[2] https://www.morningstar.com/news/business-wire/20250807567460/toyota-accelerates-production-innovation-with-stratasys-drives-efficiency-and-improves-lead-times-with-additive-manufacturing