Unlocking the next generation of Manufacturing: Photocentric JENI and the Power of Digital 3D Printing Production
At Photocentric, innovation has always been central to our culture. From our origins in polymer stamp-making to pioneering LCD 3D printing, we’ve focused on pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Now, we’re taking the next step – JENI, our groundbreaking autonomous digital manufacturing process.
JENI represents a new paradigm in manufacturing, one that eliminates the barriers to cost-effective production in traditional manufacturing. With funding support from the Smart Manufacturing Data Hub (SMDH) initiative, we’ve worked on a revolutionary ‘Plastic Parts On Demand’ (PPOD) project, to make digital parts manufacturing more accessible to businesses (especially SMEs) – providing them with a cost-effective alternative to traditional production methods such as injection moulding.
Reshoring manufacturing and supporting the return to localised production
One of the biggest challenges facing many businesses is the high cost and long lead times that are associated with manufacturing new parts. Traditional injection moulding approaches require expensive upfront tooling and large capital investments, often pushing businesses to outsource overseas.
This outsourcing, whilst it provides an immediate short-term solution to production challenges, contains a range of externalities, including supply chain vulnerabilities, potential regulatory and compliance risks, increased carbon footprint, longer lead times and potential increased costs over time.
JENI can change this by enabling access to a localised, on-demand and very cost-effective production solution – lowering the bar for entry, helping companies to produce without any capital outlay, and providing a competitive alternative to more conventional manufacturing methods. As a result, businesses can now produce high-quality parts locally, fostering resilience and boosting the domestic economy.
Through this project, we’ve developed an intuitive ordering web portal where businesses can easily upload their CAD files, receive real-time pricing (through a new cost calculator that we developed), and place orders for production. Once an order has been submitted, we’re able to evaluate, validate and optimise the designs and enter the parts into our production queue on JENI.
Carbon footprint tracking – supporting sustainability goals
For the first time ever, we’re integrating a carbon footprint estimation into our cost calculator, giving businesses more transparency into the environmental impact of their production. By reducing dependency on upfront tooling, minimising waste, and cutting transportation and potential use of less green foreign energy emissions, we’re directly supporting companies to both measure and reduce their production footprint, approach supply chain ESG targets proactively, and contribute towards supporting broader governmental net-zero targets.
Ensuring scalability from the get-go
JENI isn’t a static system – it’s been expertly engineered to adapt and grow as needs and demands evolve. We’ve optimised every aspect of the process, from print height and resolution, through to post-processing capabilities. As such, SMEs can manufacture exactly what they need, when they need it. Businesses can access fully autonomous digital manufacturing platform for the first time, streamlining their production workflows and increasing their overall competitiveness.
A new era of Manufacturing is here
The UK and Europe is facing a manufacturing productivity challenge, and the solution lies in digital transformation. With JENI, we’re not just offering a new way to make parts – we’re redefining manufacturing itself. SMEs can now go to market faster, iterate more efficiently, and produce at scale without the traditional barriers of cost and complexity.
This is ‘Industry 4.0’ in action, and we’re proud to be leading the charge. The first JENI system is located at Photocentric in the UK, but in-time we envision a future where these autonomous manufacturing hubs exist near major production centres and industrial parks – further accelerating delivery, reducing costs and lead times.
For businesses looking to embrace digital manufacturing, the opportunity has never been greater. JENI is here to unlock a new era of affordability, efficiency, and sustainability, empowering businesses to be competitive on a global scale.