Biolab invests in 3D printing and reduces costs in 90%

By optimizing its manufacturing processes, the pharmaceutical company has gained agility and reduced delivery times for maintenance parts

3D printing is gaining momentum in the pharmaceutical industry and, at Biolab, the adoption of this technology marks a new phase in the maintenance area and in the development of tailor-made in-house solutions. With the implementation of printers at the Jandira (SP) plant, the pharmaceutical company has started to manufacture small parts and components for its machinery in-house, reducing costs and logistical deadlines.

According to Manuela Marques, Supply Chain and IT director, some items that used to cost up to ten times more to import from specialized suppliers are now printed in-house on demand, when the team needs them, with agility, lower costs and equivalent - or even better - quality.

"We now have the freedom to create parts with designs adapted to our needs, taking advantage of our in-house knowledge of how the machines work. In many cases, the printed prototypes perform better than the original parts supplied by the manufacturers. It's not just a question of replacing parts, but of strengthening a culture of innovation applied to everyday life," she says.

Technology has reduced maintenance response times and brought independence. Instead of depending on external deadlines or large production volumes. "We have other gains from applying the technology. For example, we had a demand for specific tablet support to meet a production stage. Our team, with the support of artificial intelligence, developed a solution that perfectly matched the proposal," says Manuela.

In addition to efficiency, the environmental impact is also positive. 3D printing builds the part layer by layer, using only the necessary amount of material, which means less waste compared to traditional machining processes. The elimination of long logistical journeys to acquire parts also contributes to reducing the carbon footprint.

"For the future, the integration of 3D printing, artificial intelligence and automation promises to make this approach even more strategic. At Biolab, technology is not an end, but a means to empower people, challenge paradigms and find increasingly efficient solutions," adds Biolab's Supply Chain and IT Director.