In this episode, Fabian Alefeld sits down with Ante Lausic, Lead Process Engineer at General Motors' Additive Industrialization Center (AIC), to explore what it takes to successfully scale additive manufacturing (AM) in the automotive industry. Ante explains why automotive manufacturing demands more than innovative technology - it requires AM-native designs, cost-effective production, automotive-qualified materials, and repeatable processes capable of supporting high-volume manufacturing. He also shares how GM has evolved from using AM primarily for rapid prototyping to establishing the Additive Industrialization Center in 2020 to evaluate new technologies, validate production readiness, and strengthen collaboration across the supply chain.
The conversation highlights real-world production applications, including the Cadillac Celestiq, which incorporates more than 130 AM components, such as a safety-critical binder-jetted stainless steel seatbelt guide and aluminum steering wheel trim. Ante also discusses the rapid growth of additive manufacturing for tooling, including die-casting inserts, plant fixtures, and end-of-arm tooling, and offers his perspective on where the technology is delivering the greatest value for automotive manufacturers today.
01:56 Scaling AM in Automotive
05:10 Value and Cost Reality
07:27 GM Additive Center Origins
11:02 Educating Engineers and Suppliers
14:34 Celestiq AM Success Stories
19:44 Supplier Freedom and Standards
23:00 Tooling Inserts Big Wins
27:50 End of Arm Tooling Growth
29:36 Motorsports and F1 Links
32:10 Aftermarket Digital Warehousing
33:39 Materials and PPAP Hurdles
36:14 PPAP Explained Simply
38:43 Rethinking Qualification Costs
41:07 Scaling to Corvette Volumes
