BMW Group Elevates 3D Printing With New Campus Head — 1.6M Components and Counting

The BMW Group has appointed Timo Göbel as the new head of its Additive Manufacturing Campus (AMC), marking a new chapter in the company’s three-decade journey with 3D printing technology.

Göbel brings extensive experience from materials engineering and application development, including previous work at Rolls-Royce where he advocated for additive manufacturing processes. His appointment signals BMW’s commitment to pushing 3D printing further into series production.

1.6 Million Components and Growing

Since the AMC began operations in 2020, BMW has manufactured over 1.6 million components at the facility. Additionally, vehicle plants worldwide produce approximately 100,000 components annually using additive manufacturing.

The technology is deployed across all phases of vehicle development — from prototypes to series production and aftermarket parts — supporting all BMW Group brands including MINI, BMW, Rolls-Royce, and BMW Motorrad.

WAAM Series Production Starts 2027

BMW is scaling operations through automated, digitally networked process chains and open-material systems that integrate with existing production infrastructure. In the metals segment, the company is introducing a new generation of metal 3D printers.

Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) is already established in prototype development, with vehicle testing underway since 2025. Series production of initial WAAM components is planned from 2027.

Three Decades of Additive Manufacturing

BMW’s additive manufacturing timeline began in 1990-1991 with its first equipment development and prototype parts production. Key milestones include:

• 2012: First series production of polymer components with the Rolls-Royce Phantom
• 2017: First series production of metal components with the BMW i8 Roadster
• 2020: Dedicated AMC facility opened in Oberschleißheim, consolidating production, research, and training

Under Göbel’s leadership, BMW aims to elevate additive manufacturing to “the next industrial level” as the technology becomes increasingly integral to automotive production.