Royal DSM, a global science-based company in Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Living today announced a collaboration with Briggs Automotive Company (BAC), the British supercar manufacturing company based in Liverpool. Together, the two companies will co-develop innovative 3D printing applications for the new BAC Mono R and showcase the potential of additive manufacturing in the automotive industry thanks to weight reduction and increased customizability.

DSM and BAC will work together to unlock the full potential of additive manufacturing in the automotive industry. Both companies are convinced that integrating 3D printing in car manufacturing allows for the creation of parts that are not only lighter, but also stronger and customizable to meet specific customer needs. In addition, 3D printing enables original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to explore new designs that would be impossible to produce using traditional manufacturing methods.

The new Mono R features a series of new, 3D-printed parts. For instance, BAC and DSM developed 3D-printed grips for the Mono R’s steering wheel that are fully customizable to its driver. The car also features new 3D-printed air inlets that are lighter, more durable, and more cost-effective to produce than traditional inlets. Thanks in part to design, Computer Aided Engineering (CAE), and manufacturing changes to key parts of the Mono via 3D printing, BAC and DSM were able to limit the weight of the new supercar to 560 kilograms – a record low.

Other innovations are still to follow. For instance, DSM and BAC are currently exploring the design and production of 3D-printed parts incorporating new, organic shapes and hollow internal structures – radically reducing weight while maintaining strength. Additive manufacturing also enables OEMs to replace materials now common in car manufacturing with newer, high-performing and recyclable materials.

By using state-of-the-art CAE tools, DSM supports BAC in designing lightweight parts using the full potential of design for additive manufacturing (e.g. allowing design for function, which limits material to places where it is needed to support mechanical loads). Many of DSM’s traditional and high-performing polymers are already commonly used in the automotive sector. By re-engineering these tried and tested materials and optimizing them for 3D printing purposes, DSM Additive Manufacturing is enabling new and innovative designs to surface, as showcased by the record-breaking Mono R.

In time, the weight-reducing and durable properties of additive manufacturing will undoubtedly also be integrated into designs for mainstream vehicles.

Patrick Duis, segment leader Automotive at DSM Additive Manufacturing:
“The BAC Mono is the perfect showcase for the potential of 3D printing to reshape the automotive industry. Additive manufacturing offers unparalleled options for small-series production and customization of cars, and we are excited to work together with BAC to optimize our materials for car manufacturers. This brings us another step closer to Manufacture Tomorrow.”

Ian Briggs, Design Director of BAC:
“We pride ourselves on being the ultimate pioneers at BAC, and joining forces with DSM means we can once again lead the way – this time in terms of additive manufacturing. Keeping the car as light as possible is of paramount importance, and by using 3D printing we not only keep the kilograms down, but also keep sustainability and safety on the up. We’re excited to see how our work on Mono R can translate to the automotive industry as a whole.”

DSM and BAC will continue collaborating closely to explore new technologies, materials and applications for 3D printing in the automotive industry. Both companies will also look for opportunities to improve sustainability in vehicle and other manufacturing processes. In 2018 BAC became the first car manufacturer to go climate positive, which means it removes more carbon dioxide from earth’s atmosphere than it emits.

Adding additive manufacturing to the mix will enable BAC to cut its emissions even further, for example because 3D parts can be printed on site rather than having to be shipped across the globe. The company will also have access to DSM’s line-up of recyclable materials, further aiding its sustainability ambitions.

About DSM

–Bright Science. Brighter Living.™–
Royal DSM is a global purpose-led, science-based company in Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Living. DSM’s purpose is to create brighter lives for all. DSM addresses with its products and solutions some of the world’s biggest challenges whilst creating simultaneously economic-, environmental- and societal value for all its stakeholders; customers, employees, shareholders, and society-at-large. DSM delivers innovative solutions for human nutrition, animal nutrition, personal care and aroma, medical devices, green products and applications, and new mobility and connectivity. DSM and its associated companies deliver annual net sales of about €10 billion with approximately 23,000 employees. The company was founded in 1902 and is listed on Euronext Amsterdam.

About Briggs Automotive Company

Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) LTD is the British manufacturer behind Mono, the world’s only road-legal, single-seater supercar. The Liverpool-based business was founded by brothers Neill and Ian Briggs, who set about providing the world with a road vehicle that offers the most authentic and pure driving experience possible on both the road and track.

Mono implements the very latest racing technology and is regarded as the ultimate piece of sporting equipment for the sport of driving. Mono focuses solely on the person behind the wheel; it’s a race car for the road that can be regarded as an A-to-A vehicle, rather than A-to-B. Upon its unveil, Mono caused shockwaves in the industry with its genius – never before had there been a supercar that combined racing tech and the latest automotive innovations with genuine track pedigree and on-road ability. Mono is the first and remains the only car of its kind.

Designed, engineered and managed by experts with backgrounds in several leading automotive, high-end supercar and motorsport brands, Mono is a luxury product that owners can tailor to their exact specifications. From performance to unique vehicle aesthetics, Mono drivers are offered a truly bespoke buying experience – every single Mono rolled out of the BAC factory is a one-of-one vehicle.

Since its launch in 2011, Mono has gone from strength to strength and enhanced its reputation around the globe. In fact, Mono has now been exported to over 35 territories worldwide, with dealership agreements in USA, Canada, Mexico, Hong Kong, Japan and Sweden.

Briggs Automotive Company Ltd.
Unit 14,
Compass Point Industrial Estate
Spindus Rd
Liverpool, L24 1YA United Kingdom
P: +44 (0)151 486 8787