Hyundai Installs ExOne VX1000 HSS Printers at Namyang R&D Center

What the VX1000 HSS actually does

ExOne's VX1000 HSS uses High Speed Sintering to fuse PA12 powder layer by layer. The build envelope reaches 1000 x 540 x 180 mm, which is large enough for full-size automotive components, not just small brackets or housings.

Hyundai's Namyang R&D Center plans to use the machines for functional prototypes, small-batch production, and parts where conventional tooling would take too long or cost too much. The company specifically called out reductions in assembly effort and tolerance stack-up errors as reasons for the purchase.

Why an automaker would choose polymer SLS

Automotive R&D moves fast, and waiting weeks for a CNC machined prototype or an injection mold iteration slows down development cycles. The VX1000 HSS can produce functional parts directly from digital files, which means engineers can test fit, form, and function without waiting for traditional manufacturing.

PA12 is also chemically resistant and durable enough for under-hood and interior testing, so the prints are not just for visual inspection. Hyundai can run functional tests on 3D-printed parts before committing to steel tooling.

The bigger picture

This is not an experiment. Installing two systems at once signals that Hyundai intends to make additive manufacturing a standard part of its development workflow, not a side project. Large-format polymer printing has matured enough that automakers are treating it as production-ready, not just a prototyping curiosity.