From technology to industrial supply: How innoMold is professionalising 3D sand core production

The foundry industry is undergoing a profound transformation. Increasing component complexity, shorter development cycles, mounting cost pressures and a growing shortage of skilled workers are shaping day-to-day production. At the same time, digitalisation and additive manufacturing are opening up new possibilities – particularly in core production using 3D sand printing.

Whilst the technology itself has been established for years, the real challenge today lies in its industrial implementation. This is precisely where innoMold GmbH positions itself as a specialised production partner for foundries.

3D sand printing – from prototype to series production

Additive manufacturing has been used in foundry applications for more than two decades. The innoMold team has more than 20 years’ practical experience with additive technologies for foundry applications – from the very first printed models right through to today’s industrial binder jetting systems.

innoMold has actively supported the development and industrialisation of binder jetting technology. Today, this expertise is being applied with a clear objective: the stable, reproducible and cost-optimised series production of sand cores.

This technological expertise is further strengthened by international partnerships, including collaboration with Humtown, one of North America’s leading specialists in industrial sand jetting.

Focus on production rather than machine sales

Machine manufacturers often also offer printed sand cores as a service. However, their core business remains the sale of machinery.

At innoMold, production itself is the core business.

This fundamental difference shapes the entire organisation. innoMold is neither a demonstration centre nor a machinery showroom, but operates as a dedicated production partner with clearly defined industrial processes.

Key priorities are:

• reproducible quality
• reliable series supply
• defined and validated production processes
• continuous cost optimisation

By deliberately refraining from selling machinery, innoMold acts as a neutral partner free from conflicts of interest. The company’s success is directly linked to the success of its customers.

Reducing technological risks for foundries

Operating industrial 3D printing systems requires:

• significant investment
• specialist staff
• additional space in the production area
• maintenance costs
• in-depth process and material expertise

innoMold takes on this complexity entirely.

Customers benefit from:

• production capacity available immediately
• guaranteed quality and delivery reliability
• reduced technological risk
• no capital tied up

This allows foundries to concentrate on their core competence: casting.

Measurable benefits in production

Compared to conventional core production, 3D-printed sand cores offer clear industrial advantages:

• tool-free production – no core boxes required
• high design freedom, even with undercuts and complex internal geometries
• component consolidation – multiple cores in a single core assembly
• printing of complete, casting-ready moulds
• partial integration of cores into mould halves
• higher dimensional accuracy
• reduced assembly effort
• lower scrap rates
• reduced cleaning and post-processing effort

range of applications

innoMold supports foundries that:

• do not operate their own 3D printers
• use innoMold as backup capacity alongside their own printing systems
• require rapid prototyping
• need to cope with production peaks
• produce short- and medium-volume production runs
• produce highly complex geometries
• are experiencing bottlenecks in their own core production

Strategic location

innoMold is based in Langenfeld (Germany) – strategically situated between Cologne and Düsseldorf, in one of Europe’s most important industrial regions. This enables short logistics routes, fast response times and close customer support throughout Central Europe.

3D sand printing is now a technology suitable for series production. However, the decisive factor for success is not the printer, but the industrial implementation of the process.

innoMold does not sell machines.

We deliver production results.