FROM SUBTRACTIVE TO ADDITIVE: 3D PRINTING APPLE WATCHES
Apple saved more than 400 tonnes of raw titanium in 2025 by 3D printing its Apple Watch Ultra 3 and titanium Apple Watch Series 11 cases. Historically, machining forged parts is subtractive. With this new method, 50 % less material is needed and recycled aerospace-grade titanium powder helps the company to reduce its environmental impact. Kate Bergeron, Apple’ s Vice President of Hardware Engineering, says:“ We had to prove, with continuous prototyping, process optimisation and a tremendous amount of data gathering, that this technology was capable of meeting the high standard of quality we demand.”
Each of Apple’ s 3D printers houses six lasers working simultaneously