Product Innovation through Lightweighting with Additive Manufacturing

As an active participant in the recent IMR webinar—Product Innovation Through Lightweighting with Additive Manufacturing held on 5 March 2025—we're pleased to share a detailed recap of insights and innovations shaping the future of digital engineering. Esteemed speakers included Anthony O’Riordan of Kaizen PLM, Rodrigo Fraga of Siemens Digital Industries Software, and IMR’s Jay Rossiter.

Why Lightweighting Matters

Lightweighting is a vital strategy across industries—particularly aerospace, automotive, and advanced manufacturing—for reducing component weight without compromising strength or durability. Benefits include improved fuel efficiency, lowered emissions, and cost savings. The webinar emphasized how modern digital engineering workflows—including topology optimisation—enable the creation of high-performance, lighter components.

Additive Manufacturing: A Game Changer

Additive manufacturing (AM), widely known as 3D printing, empowers designers to realize elaborate, organic geometries previously unattainable with traditional techniques.

Broad Industry Applications

The webinar explored applications including:

• Bugatti’s topology-optimised rear spoiler

• Aerospace components like landing gear

These examples underline lightweighting’s potential to drive sustainability and efficiency. Importantly, such innovations are now accessible to SMEs, supported by discounted software bundles and tools.

Integrated Digital Engineering: Full Workflow Approach

A key takeaway was the power of a unified digital workflow—spanning design, simulation, manufacturing, and quality control—to improve data integrity, accelerate innovation, and maintain traceability and certification compliance.

Why Kaizen PLM Matters in This Landscape

At Kaizen PLM, we specialise in delivering the advanced digital engineering tools that underpin lightweighting and AM success:

• Siemens NX for Additive Manufacturing — advanced build preparation and design capabilities

• Integrated PLM Solutions — supporting seamless workflows across design, simulation, and production

• Tailored Training & Consultancy — enabling teams to harness AM and topology optimisation efficiently

We’re proud to support organisations—large or small—in achieving innovation, agility, and efficiency through next-generation engineering technologies.

Ready to revolutionise your design and manufacturing processes?

Get in touch with Kaizen PLM today to

explore how our digital engineering solutions can help you implement lightweighting and additive manufacturing across your operations.