Procurement This is How Companies Grow Through Innovative Procurement

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Xometry Europe GmbH

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How can digital procurement optimize processes and reduce costs? The following examples demonstrate how Xometry's platform solution can provide faster prototypes and customized components—a testament to strategic efficiency in modern manufacturing.

Where the "Feldfreund" works, gardeners no longer need to bend their backs: this agricultural robot independently identifies weeds in vegetable beds—and drills them out immediately. With the help of cameras and artificial intelligence, the autonomous device not only replaces tedious physical labor. The invention by the Münsterland company Zauberzeug also enables sustainable and efficient farming with reduced pesticide use.

Even during the development phase of the robot, Managing Director Rodja Trappe focused on speed and efficiency. That’s why his company sources custom-made components through the manufacturing platform Xometry. This approach allows Trappe to achieve shorter innovation cycles and greater cost efficiency. "We can now take the next step in our company’s development," the entrepreneur says, expressing his satisfaction with the collaboration with the platform.

Digital Procurement Increases Efficiency

In traditional procurement, delays occur regularly. When Zauberzeug still relied on conventional requests to suppliers, the company faced long production times and high minimum order quantities. This hindered the iterative development approach of the young company, which almost constantly needs a new component or another prototype. Additionally, the classic ordering process involves a lot of administration: requesting quotes, evaluating them, ordering parts—and waiting for them.

Today, Zauberzeug developers upload a CAD file of their component to Xometry and receive an instant quote. If they change materials or design, an updated calculation is provided within seconds. Frequent design changes are particularly common in the early development phase. Company head Trappe is thrilled: "We now save an enormous amount of time and can test our designs faster. Sometimes we even use the platform for small experiments to find out how much a specific manufacturing method would cost. This flexibility helps us optimize the products more effectively."

Simplified Ordering Process

The production platform works similarly to Amazon or Uber: it mediates orders using algorithms and artificial intelligence. The intelligent Instant Quoting Engine automatically filters the appropriate manufacturer from a network of 2,000 certified suppliers. Orders can range from individual parts to small series. Procurement specialists on the platform can choose from hundreds of materials and technologies—from injection molding to state-of-the-art 3D printing.

For the agricultural robot Feldfreund, key components were created with the help of Xometry. For instance, the custom-made chain drive, optimized for use on uneven terrain. Standard sprockets didn’t fit the rubber tracks used, so Zauberzeug developed its own design. This was precisely sourced via Xometry according to the required specifications. A new frame system was created in a similar way: originally, the frames were welded from steel in their own workshop. However, this was time-consuming and tied up resources. Zauberzeug switched to milled aluminum frames and ordered them pre-anodized on Xometry. This significantly reduced the robot's production time while also improving quality and appearance.

How the use of a production platform accelerates innovation is also demonstrated by the example of the bicycle manufacturer Vista Pro Cycling from the French Auvergne. Founder Aurélien Dartevel developed an unconventional crankset for racing bikes. It is designed to increase power and speed while reducing the rider's muscle fatigue. This is achieved through smoother pedaling.

For its modern design, Dartevel requires more than 20 precisely machined aluminum parts and ten sealed bearings. With the help of Xometry's instant pricing engine, the developer quickly obtained high-precision prototypes through CNC machining and 3D printing. This allowed him to reach product maturity significantly faster after the concept phase.

Ole Marx is Regional Sales Director at Xometry Europe.

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