3D animations have several advantages over traditional videos for manufacturing processes. They allow companies to [1] reduce costs for trade shows and events by eliminating transport, storage, and installation costs, [2] improve customer understanding of technical concepts and processes that are difficult to see, and [3] effectively communicate across language barriers without needing voiceovers or translations. 3D animations can also be used in many digital media channels and look virtually identical to reality with photorealistic quality. Modifications to 3D animations are also much easier than updating traditional videos.
Lower Costs and Better Understanding with 3D Animation in Manufacturing
1. Pros of 3D animation in manufacturing processes.
Lower costs for trade fairs and events.
3D animations or 3D configurators can drastically reduce costs for trade fairs and events. There are
no costs for the transport of machines, storage costs and installation costs due to specialized
technology.
Animations improve customer understanding.
Some technical concepts are difficult to explain to the customer, even if the machine is currently
available. Product flow can be covered by protective devices, some processes in the chemical or
product processing industry are not visible to the naked eye. 3D animations can highlight
everything that can’t be filmed with conventional recording techniques.
With 3D animations, language barriers can be effectively counteracted.
Most 3D animations don’t even require a voice. 3D rendering graphics help customers understand
all the concepts and benefits of the industrial machine without the help of text-informed graphics,
speakers or interpreters.
3D animations can be used in many different media channels.
Today, 3D animations can be used in almost all media. From the website or via social media, you
can use 3D animations to allow your sales team to present their products.
3D animations are much better than traditional video.
Why create 3D animations when you can film machines and production processes with a camera?
This is the classic objection against the use of 3D animation. The following points speak in favour
of using 3D animation:
2. In order to produce good video material, it is necessary to set up shooting sets with lights,
backgrounds and equipment, which in most cases can only be created with great difficulty in
production departments. With 3D animations, this is not necessary. Only a 3D file from the CAD
design data is required.
Some industrial machines reach production speeds of up to a thousand units per minute. The human
eye cannot therefore perceive the movements that contribute to the transformation or packaging of a
product. With 3D animations, you can choose the speed at which you want to visualize the product
flow, from slow motion to actual speed.
In many cases, important aspects of scenes such as electrical and pneumatic cables cannot be
captured during traditional filming. In a video with 3D animations, you can eliminate or semi-
transparent all elements that interfere with the scene, and focus the viewer’s attention on the
important parts only.
Virtually no difference to reality through photo-realistic quality.
The quality and accuracy of the materials used today to produce photorealistic renderings make it
possible to create 3D animations that are so realistic that even the eyes of the most experienced
technicians can be misled. The realistic interplay of materials with light and environment makes the
pictures so realistic that the viewer can hardly believe that this is all just a virtual world.
With 3D animations, machines can be visualized before production begins.
In the area of food and pharmaceutical packaging as well as in other niche industries, it is very
important to visualize the operation of a machine before entering the market. For customers in these
markets (multinational and large companies) it is crucial to understand exactly how their product is
packaged. Slides with graphics, text and photos are not enough to communicate the advantages of
machines. With 3D animations it is possible to secure competitive advantages over the competition,
as the purchase security of customers can be successively improved by a better understanding.
Modifications of 3D animations are much easier.
In order to change an existing video, all the equipment has to be made available for recording. The
cost of modifying classic videos is many times higher than a 3D animation, where only one 3D file
needs to be updated.