HARTING establishes Center of Competence for Additive Manufacturing at Rahden production site

The HARTING Technology Group has officially launched its Center of Competence for Additive Manufacturing at its production facility in Rahden, Germany. Announced on March 30, 2026, the facility serves as a centralized hub for the internal application, testing, and development of various 3D printing technologies. Jörn Held, expert in Industrial Engineering New Technologies, leads the initiative, which focuses on integrating additive processes into prototyping, the production of manufacturing aids, and the creation of specialized internal components to enhance operational efficiency.

This development reflects a broader industrial trend where established connector and automation manufacturers are internalizing additive capabilities to reduce supply chain dependencies and accelerate product development cycles. By shifting from external service bureaus to an in-house competence center, HARTING aims to optimize its workflow for complex geometries and custom tooling that traditional subtractive methods cannot cost-effectively produce. This move aligns with the company's strategy to integrate digital manufacturing into its existing industrial automation and connectivity portfolio, competing with other mid-sized German manufacturers currently scaling their own internal AM departments.

For HARTING, the success of this center depends on the transition from prototyping to functional end-use parts and the standardization of material qualification processes. Users and partners should focus on how this facility influences the speed of HARTING's product iteration cycles rather than its capacity for high-volume production. The focus remains on leveraging AM for internal process optimization and specialized component development within the existing manufacturing ecosystem.