BENSELER subsidiary 3D Laser BW takes over machining of car parts for Retro-Design 3D

Kirchheim/Teck, September 18, 2024 

Classic cars are a matter of the heart and often a financial investment. If the engine breaks down, the driving pleasure is gone and so is the financial value. Retro-Design 3D GmbH specializes in the design, manufacture and reproduction of spare parts for historic vehicles and classic cars. An important partner is the BENSELER subsidiary 3D Laser BW: The specialists from Kirchheim unter Teck finish the surfaces of original components such as cylinder heads, crankshaft housings and oil pumps using CNC post-processing.

The special thing about historic and classic cars is both a blessing and a curse: their age. What makes them fascinating becomes a problem when key components fail and need to be replaced: In most cases, they no longer exist. If engine parts are also affected, the car stays in the garage - sports cars costing millions are practically worthless. When a new engine is installed, it should look like the original. Retro-Design 3D GmbH takes care of that. The company specializes in spare parts for historic vehicles and classic cars that are rare or no longer available, including spare parts for Porsche brand vehicles such as the Porsche 356 Carrera or Porsche 550 Spyder, as well as the Porsche 718 or Porsche 904. The raw parts designed and manufactured by Retro-Design 3D, such as cylinder heads, crankshaft housings or oil pumps, are sent to the production facility of 3D Laser BW in Kirchheim unter Teck, a subsidiary of the BENSELER Group. There, the raw parts are machined into usable components or milled from solid material.
 
High-precision roughing and milling from solid stock
Rough machining is the process of machining the part after the initial production process (casting) to smooth the surface, correct dimensions, or add features. Machining is used to achieve the desired properties of the part and improve the final quality. Milling from solid is the process of milling a part from a solid block. This is done in a series of steps in which the cutter gradually removes material to achieve the desired shape. This process is often used to quickly produce complex and precise parts.

3D Laser BW is able to produce raw parts on its AM machines and then machine them on a 5-axis milling machine up to a size of 850 x 750 x 550 mm. Upstream and downstream processes are also part of the daily business. Retro Design 3D then delivers the finished engine parts to its customers, who install them in their valuable classic cars. "We support our customers in the development of their components, whether it is a cast part from the customer or a 3D printed part from our company. This enables us to ensure that downstream processes such as 5-axis machining, hardening and coating achieve optimum results and run smoothly," explains Oliver Wagner, Managing Director of 3D Laser BW. 

About BENSELER
BENSELER is a competent service provider and partner for technically sophisticated solutions in the fields of coating, surface finishing, deburring and electrochemical metalworking of series parts. The BENSELER Group, based in Markgröningen near Stuttgart, consists of two divisions: Coatings and Deburring. In 2018, the company also entered into additive manufacturing in the metal sector.

The company is constantly developing its core processes, supplementing them with upstream and downstream processes and maintaining system partnerships with its customers. BENSELER therefore understands the needs of the market and can offer solutions with added value. Several locations in Germany, the new subsidiary in Poland and holdings in Switzerland and the Czech Republic ensure proximity to the customer.

The BENSELER Group achieved a turnover of around 151 million euros in the 2023 financial year. It currently employs around 1,000 people, including 30 trainees. In addition to technical expertise, sustainability and social commitment characterize the actions of the family business, which has been in existence for more than 60 years.

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