3D printing saves Águas e Energia do Porto thousands of euros on technical components

03/11/2025

Águas e Energia do Porto is significantly reducing its operating costs by producing technical components using 3D printing.

The strategy, initiated by the municipal company’s employees, aligns with an approach of efficiency and innovation applied to public infrastructure management, with direct impacts on technical autonomy and operational sustainability.

Since the project’s launch, the in-house 3D printing lab – Watter Fab Lab –has made it possible to replace expensive, and in some cases discontinued components, with internally produced alternatives. A recent example of this are the level sensor supports, fully designed and manufactured by the Águas e Energia do Porto team.

These components are essential for network monitoring: each unit purchased on the market costs around 300 euros, while the internally printed version has a unit cost of just 2.61 euros. So far, 20 components have been produced, 12 of which are already in use.

The technology has also enabled quick solutions for operational challenges, such as reproducing discontinued technical hinges in electrical panels, thus avoiding the complete replacement of equipment. Other examples include helmet-mounted flashlight holders and latches for technical panel locks.

Created in 2019, the Watter Fab Lab has already produced more than 20,000 components and is part of the company’s circular economy strategy, replacing conventional materials with bioplastics. The project earned Águas e Energia do Porto the 2025 Innovation Award, granted by ERSAR.

The initiative stands out as a national case study in the application of accessible technologies to modernise public services and support the transition to more resilient and sustainable operational models. It also demonstrates how the initiative and commitment of technical teams to sustainability can drive innovation with a tangible impact on public management.