FREDLocal 3D printing: bringing production closer to delivery
Producing closer to customers can shorten a parcel’s journey. FRED is building a network of 3D print farms to progressively bring manufacturing closer to demand. Speed also depends on printing time, workshop availability and the carrier: distance alone is not enough.
In this article
Why distribute production?
A central warehouse ships every product from one location. A distributed manufacturing network can use different workshops depending on the order. The digital file becomes the starting point for production, without building finished-goods inventory in every region in advance.
FRED’s ambition is to extend that proximity to more destinations by bringing farms into the network’s shared framework. The private beta is not a promise of coverage in every city or country.
How does FRED choose a workshop?
FRED first looks for capabilities compatible with the order. Ranking considers estimated dispatch, quality, distance and workload depending on the workflow. A nearby but busy workshop is therefore not necessarily the best choice.
Illustrative example: for the same object, a more distant farm with available capacity may dispatch before a neighbouring farm whose machines are already busy. Check the estimate for your order instead of inferring timing from a map.
What makes up the delivery lead time?
Total lead time includes preparation and approvals, waiting for capacity, printing, any finishing, inspection, packaging and transport. A changed file or configuration may require preparation again.
Before promising a date to customers, check the destination, quantity, configuration and delivery conditions. Use the lead time offered for your actual order.
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