Van Raam produces uniquely special needs bicycles and specializes in tricycles, transport bikes, scooterbikes, wheelchair bikes, tandem bikes, double rider bikes, and low step trough bikes (also known as comfortbikes). Each model is also available as an electric bike (Pedelec).
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Tweewieler visited Van Raam and wrote an article about how Van Raam uses 3D printing in the production of special needs bicycles. Read the article and discover more about innovation at Van Raam.
Tweewieler is an important Dutch magazine and digital platform for the bicycle sector.Jan-Willem Boezel, Technical Director at Van Raam, invited Tweewieler to the bicycle factory of Van Raam in Varsseveld to see how 3D printing is used in the production of special needs bicycles. During this visit, Jan-Willem and Sjoerd (Additive Manufacturing Engineer at Van Raam) were interviewed by Tweewieler. Tweewieler has written about this on their website (create an account to read the article in Dutch). Read more about the interview with Jan-Willem and Sjoerd below.
In 2020, 40.000 bicycle parts were printed at Van Raam with the 3D printer for the production of special needs bicycles. In 2021, this number was even 60.000. The 3D printing of bicycle parts is used for various purposes. Tweewieler writes: “With 3D printing, they produce parts on demand, keep stock in the form of digital files and produce tools that make their production process more efficient.”
Furthermore, the 3D printers at Van Raam are used for:
3D printing provides opportunities.
Jan-Willem BoezelJan-Willem indicated that, in contrast to the car industry, 3D printing technology is still little used in the bicycle sector. Van Raam continuously monitors the developments of 3D printing technology, because they are changing rapidly. They look at how 3D printing can be used even more. Jan-Willem says: “3D printing provides opportunities for producing special needs bicycles.”
An advantage of 3D printing is that we can easily adapt products.
Jan-Willem BoezelNot only bicycle parts are being printed. Van Raam is also looking at the 3D printing of a bicycle frame. Jan-Willem says: “Together with the HAN (Dutch university) and dddrop 3D printers (manufacturer of 3D printers) we want to explore the boundaries of 3D printing.” The advantages that are seen here are:
For example, one of the largest 3D printed tricycles in the world was produced at Van Raam for a graduation project of a student. Read more about this in the article ‘Children’s tricycle Husky from 3D printer at Van Raam’.
Meanwhile, Van Raam also owns a 3D metal printer and is investigating the possibilities of printing specialist bicycle parts. Sjoerd ter Horst says in the interview with Tweewieler that Van Raam does a lot of testing. It is a new technology, so additional knowledge can be gained of high quality. Because of this, many different departments within Van Raam are involved in the design and the engineers have a lot of freedom in designing parts.
The way of thinking and designing is different with metal printers than with 3D printers, it is important that the engineers apply this as well as possible to make the technology successful at new parts.
Source: Tweewieler
Van Raam is more than a bicycle manufacturer.
Sjoerd ter HorstDo you want to know more about 3D printing at Van Raam? In the article ‘Bicycle parts from the 3D printer at Van Raam’ you can find out why Van Raam started using 3D printers, which 3D printers are used, and what is printed with these. Or watch the video about 3D printing techniques at Van Raam below:
Innovation is very important at Van Raam. We continuously look at how processes and products can be improved. That is why we also use a 3D scanner. See the article ‘Three major questions and answers of the Van Raam 3D scanner’ to find out all about the 3D scanner.
Van Raam is a manufacturer of adapted bikes. To produce the bikes, a lot of innovative techniques are used, including the 3D printer. The 3D Print Magazine had written about why Van Raam uses this technique. Read in this article more about the article in the 3D print magazine and innovation at Van Raam.
Van Raam thinks innovation is very important. There is a continuous search for ways to improve or even renew the special needs bicycles and the production processes. One of the innovative techniques used is printing bicycle parts with a 3D printer. Read more about the 3D printing of bicycle parts at Van Raam in this article.
Van Raam has been producing shortened and eccentric cranks with a metal printer since 2023. This has many advantages, including that this innovative way of producing is much more sustainable.
'It is one of the largest tricycles in the world ever printed,' says a proud Jan-Willem Boezel, technical director of Van Raam. The 3d printing of the Husky children's tricycle was the graduation assignment of Industrial Product Design student Sander Feuler. 'I think we're going to be 3d printing more and more in the future,' says Boezel.
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