SEMA Garage Partners With BigRep to Bring Large-Format 3D Printing to Automotive Aftermarket

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has announced a strategic partnership that could reshape how the automotive aftermarket designs and manufactures custom parts. SEMA Garage, the associations product development and technology center, has teamed up with BigRep America to provide large-format 3D printing services to SEMA members across North America.

Bridging the Gap Between Concept and Custom Part

Operating from the SEMA Garage facility in Diamond Bar, California, the collaboration enables companies within the organizations network to produce parts ranging from early-stage prototypes to functional components using BigReps catalog of validated 3D printing filaments.

The Diamond Bar center supports companies working in the automotive specialty equipment sector by providing engineering and product development resources. Services available include vehicle testing, 3D scanning, access to OEM data, and manufacturing support used during product development and compliance processes.

Adding large-format additive manufacturing expands these capabilities by allowing member companies to produce larger parts and components directly through the facilitys manufacturing services.

BigRep STUDIO System Powers Automotive Innovation

The Diamond Bar facility will house the BigRep STUDIO system, a large-format 3D printer designed for professional environments requiring large-scale part production. The STUDIO platform can print full-scale components using a range of materials, from standard prototyping filaments to engineering-grade thermoplastics suited for functional applications.

Access to this system allows SEMA members to produce large prototypes, tooling, and functional parts through the organizations product development services.

We couldnt be more excited about this partnership with SEMA Garage, said Jeff Olson, President of BigRep America. Its a meaningful step forward in how we bring large-format additive manufacturing to the automotive industry in North America. The automotive sector has always been at the heart of what we do, and by working directly with SEMA Garage, were making it easier than ever for their members to tap into that technology for real large-scale applications.

Major Implications for Automotive Aftermarket

The Specialty Equipment Market Association represents more than 7,000 companies involved in designing, manufacturing, distributing, and retailing automotive aftermarket components. The organization hosts the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas and provides product development resources, market research, networking, and legislative advocacy.

According to SEMA, this industry generates approximately $337 billion in economic impact in the United States, supports around 1.3 million jobs, and produces nearly $53 billion in annual parts sales.

SEMA Garage is thrilled to partner with BigRep to bring large-format rapid prototyping into our Product Development service lineup, said Jim Moore, Vice President of OEM and Product Development at SEMA. This capability gives our members the tools to stretch the limits of innovation and improve the speed and efficiency of their development process.

Large-Format AM in Motorsports

Large-format additive manufacturing systems have already proven valuable in motorsport engineering environments where rapid iteration and tight development schedules shape vehicle design. NASCAR Cup Series team LEGACY MOTOR CLUB installed two BigRep STUDIO printers to produce prototypes, tooling, and selected functional components inside its race shop after outsourcing delays slowed development cycles.

Engineers reported printing between 10 and 20 parts per week, demonstrating the potential for significant time and cost savings in high-performance automotive development.