Walkinshaw Andretti United Taps Into 3D Printing to Prep for 2021 Supercar Event

Walkinshaw Andretti United (WAU), together with TCL Hofmann and Stratasys Ltd., jointly announced a partnership agreement to bring the latest 3D printing solution into the WAU racing team for the 2021 Supercar Championship Season. 

The WAU team will leverage Stratasys FDM Printers to produce prototypes of customized parts on the Supercars, as well as tooling and fixtures for production within the Walkinshaw Group who are a global leader in the design, engineering, development and marketing of performance vehicles, and has significant motor sport interests in Australia and the UK. The systems are installed at the Walkinshaw Group facility at Clayton, Victoria. Stratasys and TCL Hofmann also support the team with regular training and technical support services.

“To be partnering with TCL Hofmann and Stratasys to advance our manufacturing process is an extremely exciting opportunity for Walkinshaw Andretti United,” says Walkinshaw Andretti United Team Principal Bruce Stewart.

“3D printing technology is essential in the way we build and manufacture development parts for both our Supercars, so to have the opportunity to do it with undoubtedly the best available puts us in a fantastic position for the 2021 Supercars Championship," Stewart adds. “Supercars is a highly competitive industry where precision matters, we are chasing milliseconds over the course of a race weekend, so our entire team is excited to have the right tools at hand to be able to chase the ultimate glory."

TCL Hofmann joined the Stratasys channel network in 2019 and has supplied technologies to manufacturing companies and organizations, helping them upscale businesses and optimize results. With teams in Melbourne and Sydney, and sister company TCL Hunt in New Zealand’s major cities, TCL Hofmann’s success has developed from the broad supply of quality products to a range of industry through to the highest levels of service and advisory, pre and post-sale support and servicing. 

“The best for the best, we are excited for this partnership and look forward to seeing the WAU team reap the benefits of 3D printing to push more limits,” says Joseph Hancock, TCL Hofmann managing director. “And of course, we are a phone call away as time is of essence especially in the racing industry.”

“We understand the fierce competition and that every second counts in auto racing,” says Ben Darling, Stratasys senior territory manager of Australia and New Zealand Region. “And that is why Stratasys invested in over 1,000 hours testing key build attributes of the printer, so that our customers can get it right first time and every time.”

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.