Mannheim, 10th November 2026 – From problem part to series-ready component, with no in-house design team required: at Formnext 2026 (Hall 12.1, Stand B121), Replique is showcasing its end-to-end service for industrial part sourcing. The German manufacturing services provider guides customers through every stage, from design and the choice of material and technology to qualification, production and delivery – all in one place. Its engineering team has deep expertise in industrial 3D printing and is just as well versed in conventional manufacturing methods.
Engineering as part of the full service
Many customers come to Replique not with a clearly defined part but with a wider problem: a spare part that has been discontinued, a component that needs redesigning, or a requirement that no off-the-shelf solution can meet. Replique handles the technical groundwork and assesses which process makes the most sense for each part, both technically and commercially – be it 3D printing or a conventional method such as CNC machining, casting or forging.
Companies of all sizes stand to benefit. Small and mid-sized firms gain access to engineering and materials know-how without having to build it in-house. Large corporations ease the load on their internal teams and work with one central contact rather than a host of individual suppliers. Replique backs this up with its own engineering team, specialist external partners and a global network of more than 450 suppliers.
Replique’s engineering services also cover Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM). Redesigning a part specifically for 3D printing makes it possible to integrate functions, save weight and eliminate assembly steps – as shown by a gripper that Replique developed digitally.
Proven in practice across industries
Projects across a range of industries show how this works in practice. At pharmaceutical company Takeda, a decanter installed in an isolator needed to be optimised. The original manufacturer offered no support for improving the process, so the part was redesigned and produced additively together with Replique. Even with just two parts, this delivered double-digit cost savings, and lead time dropped by 90 percent.
In another project with a Basel-based pharmaceutical major, during the rollout of an ophthalmic therapy, clinicians faced an ergonomic challenge: drawing an exact micro-dose of a refrigerated, viscous solution requires maintaining a precise vial tilt while operating the syringe. The company therefore worked with Replique to develop a vial holder that clamps onto the edge of a table and holds two vials at a fixed angle. Replique produced the part using SAF (Selective Absorption Fusion) in polyamide 11, a material that, according to the material manufacturer, is non-irritating, non-sensitising and non-cytotoxic. Thousands of units have since been produced, and the holder is now in use in 20 countries.
At rail technology company Alstom, an impeller failed in the cooling unit of a metro train in Asia. The original manufacturer would only replace the entire cooling unit. Drawing on its extensive supplier network, Replique was able to source a replacement for just the faulty impeller – metal 3D printed, then balanced, precision-milled and given an anti-corrosion coating, all handled via Replique. The train was soon back in service.
Dutch repair and refurbishment specialist MT Unirepair also draws on Replique’s expertise. For the past three years, Replique has been helping the company identify the best combination of material and technology for reproducing parts in small batches. This has included key components for numerous refurbishment projects, produced by 3D printing, CNC machining and injection moulding.
“Replique always takes the time and has the patience to steer us towards the right material for each application, and that is what makes our projects successful,” says Adrian Reyes, former Chief Supply Chain & Sustainability Officer at MT Unirepair.
Free engineering consultations at Formnext
For Formnext, Replique is offering ten free 30-minute engineering consultations, giving companies the chance to discuss a specific part or technical challenge with Replique’s engineering team. Use cases can be submitted via this landing page: https://replique.io/kostenlose-engineering-beratung-auf-der-formnext-2026/
About Replique GmbH
Germany-based Replique GmbH operates a secure digital platform for industrial part sourcing. Companies use it to procure prototypes, spare parts and series components on demand – manufactured using all common industrial technologies by a global network of qualified production partners. Replique covers the entire value chain, from engineering and material and process selection through to quality assurance and delivery. Its customers include Alstom, MAN and Takeda. Founded by former BASF experts in materials science and digitalisation, Replique is certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 27001.
