Simona replaces milling with 3D printing for infiltration system components at IFAT 2026

Simona, a German plastics processor headquartered in Kirn, unveiled a new additive manufacturing process at IFAT 2026 in Munich (May 4–7) for producing large-format, pressure-resistant formed parts used in its infiltration systems. The process, which builds near-net-shape blanks layer by layer, replaces conventional subtractive machining of solid billets. Marco Stallmann, Vice President Technology & Product Management at Simona, stated that the method reduces material consumption and requires significantly less post-processing compared to milling from solid stock. The company is applying the process specifically to components for its stormwater management product line, moving from a fully subtractive to a hybrid additive-plus-finishing workflow.

This development is significant for the industrial tooling and infrastructure segments, where AM adoption has been slow due to part size, material certification, and cost constraints. Simona's move represents a targeted substitution of conventional machining with polymer-based additive manufacturing for functional, load-bearing parts in a regulated application — stormwater infiltration — where dimensional accuracy and material integrity are critical. The process aligns with the broader trend of AM migrating from prototyping into serial production of specialized industrial components, particularly in the energy and infrastructure verticals. Simona is not a pure-play AM company but a traditional plastics manufacturer integrating AM into its existing production lines, which mirrors the pattern of established industrial firms adopting AM as a complementary process rather than a wholesale replacement.

From an expert standpoint, this is a practical, incremental application of AM where the material savings and reduced tooling costs justify the process change for a specific part family. The key execution risk is whether Simona can maintain consistent mechanical properties and throughput for pressure-rated infiltration components at a cost competitive with machined alternatives. For buyers in the water management sector, this signals that AM-sourced parts are becoming viable for underground infrastructure applications, but qualification data on long-term durability under load and chemical exposure will be necessary before broader adoption.