For many years, industrial 3D printing has focused on one primary objective: producing strong, functional parts that solve engineering challenges. Mechanical performance has rightly been the priority, with materials selected for their strength, stiffness, temperature resistance or chemical compatibility.
However, as additive manufacturing becomes more deeply integrated into everyday production environments, manufacturers are beginning to look beyond material properties alone. Increasingly, colour is becoming another important engineering consideration.
Far from being a cosmetic feature, coloured engineering materials can help improve organisation, support lean manufacturing initiatives and make production processes more efficient.
Supporting Lean Manufacturing and 5S
Visual management is a fundamental principle of lean manufacturing. Whether through shadow boards, floor markings or colour-coded equipment, clear visual cues help reduce wasted time and minimise errors.
The same approach can be applied to additive manufacturing.
By printing fixtures, tooling and production aids in different colours, manufacturers can quickly identify where components belong, which production line they support or what process they are associated with. Operators spend less time searching for equipment and are less likely to use the wrong tool for the job.
These small improvements can have a meaningful impact when multiplied across a busy manufacturing environment.
Improving Workflow and Organisation
Many manufacturers already use colour to organise day-to-day operations.
For example:
- Blue components may be used in food manufacturing environments where clear visual identification is important.
- Red tooling may distinguish aerospace fixtures or quality-critical equipment.
- Yellow or orange production aids can improve visibility and support workplace safety.
- Green fixtures might identify maintenance tooling or approved production equipment.
- White components can be useful in inspection or clean manufacturing environments.
Every organisation develops its own visual management standards, but additive manufacturing now provides the flexibility to produce tooling that aligns with those existing systems.
Rather than applying coloured labels or paint after manufacture, the component itself becomes part of the visual management process.
Reducing Errors Before They Happen
Manufacturing mistakes are often caused by simple human error.
Using the wrong fixture.
Returning equipment to the wrong location.
Selecting tooling intended for another production line.
Colour coding provides an additional visual check that helps operators identify the correct equipment immediately.
This is particularly valuable where multiple product variants are produced on the same line or where frequent changeovers occur.
See It in Action: Colour-Coded Production Tooling
One manufacturer already putting these principles into practice is PakTech, which uses Markforged Onyx GF to produce colour-coded production tooling.
By assigning different colours to fixtures and production aids, operators can identify the correct tooling at a glance, helping reduce assembly errors, simplify changeovers and maintain a more organised production environment.
The result isn’t simply a more colourful factory, it is a practical example of how engineering-grade coloured materials can support lean manufacturing and improve day-to-day operational efficiency.
Engineering Performance Still Comes First
Of course, colour alone has little value if it comes at the expense of performance.
Engineering applications still demand materials that are durable, dimensionally stable and capable of withstanding the rigours of production environments.
That’s why modern coloured engineering materials are designed to deliver the same functional performance manufacturers expect while providing additional operational benefits through improved visual identification and workflow management.
Introducing Onyx GF
The introduction of Markforged Onyx GF reflects this shift in manufacturing priorities.
Available in Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, Grey and White, Onyx GF combines the trusted strength, stiffness and printability of the Onyx family with the flexibility to integrate colour into engineering workflows.
Whether producing production fixtures, inspection tooling, assembly aids or manufacturing accessories, organisations can now align their additive manufacturing strategy with their existing lean manufacturing and visual management practices – exactly as demonstrated in the PakTech production environment.
Colour Is Becoming Part of Good Engineering
As additive manufacturing continues to move from the prototype lab onto the factory floor, the way parts are designed and manufactured is evolving.
Today’s engineering teams are looking beyond individual components and considering how those parts contribute to safer, more organised and more efficient production environments.
Coloured engineering materials represent another step in that evolution, helping manufacturers create tooling that not only performs well but also fits seamlessly into modern manufacturing operations.
The result is a factory where additive manufacturing is no longer a standalone technology, but an integrated part of everyday production.
Thinking about introducing colour-coded tooling?
If you’re considering how coloured engineering materials could support your manufacturing processes, our team can help you identify the right applications and materials for your environment. Get in touch to discuss how Onyx GF could fit into your existing additive manufacturing workflow.
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