Equipping startups with the tools to take on Goliaths
Chicago Additive was founded in 2024, drawing on the expertise of a diverse team from the additive manufacturing sector. Our mission is to provide comprehensive hardware solutions, small batch production services, and consulting expertise tailored to meet the needs of small businesses, industrial clients, and governmental organizations.
Our consulting offerings include specialized services such as Additive Implementation and Hardware Design. In 2021, a valued member of our team, Joe, began a consulting engagement with a filament manufacturer transitioning into the hardware market. At the outset, this organization had already designed and sourced components for their inaugural commercial hardware release. Upon Joe's involvement, he focused on establishing a streamlined assembly line for rapid production. Within a month, we achieved a significant reduction in production time, decreasing the unit turnaround from weeks to mere days by implementing the appropriate equipment and assembly processes. Over the subsequent two months, Joe's expertise extended to refining design elements to align with “design for manufacturing” standards, thus enhancing overall production efficiency.
Following the completion of the initial project, Joe was invited to continue collaborating with the client, transitioning his role from production and design consulting to hardware design and implementation. The client had secured a contract to develop specific hardware solutions tailored to their own clients' needs. Joe leveraged his collaborative skills, working closely with the client's mechanical and electrical engineering teams to conceptualize a distinctive hardware platform, successfully completing the design in two months and the production in three weeks.
One of Joe's contributions was the design of a pioneering XY/Hybrid Motion System capable of accommodating up to three tool heads, enabling a versatile combination of standard filament and pellet extrusion. Following the hardware production phase, Joe shifted his focus to implementation, traveling to the client's location to oversee installation, setup, and staff training. Over the course of the next month, Joe played a crucial role in integrating the new hardware into the client's existing workflows.
Currently, Joe leads the Chicago Additive Consulting Team. Should you have any inquiries or require assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Our team is eager to support you in harnessing the power of additive manufacturing to enhance your production capabilities.
