Posted to News on 15th Jan 2014, 16:24
Proto Labs service aids product design business
In Falciano, San Marino, Italy, surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, a young entrepreneur by the name of Federico Corbelli has created a small but growing company specialising in the design and production of vending machines for use in hotels, restaurants and caf©s.
Unusually for a manufacturing company of its size, Atena does as much of its production in-house as possible, including mechanical components and the clever electronic systems that control the machines.
Since it was founded in 2005, the company has made a name for itself, not least for the innovative design of its products. Atena ships mainly to other European countries but they also export to the USA and in 2014 they will also begin exporting to Japan and Korea, where potential customers are currently testing their products.
Like many recent converts of rapid injection moulding, Mr Corbelli first became aware of Proto Labs and its services whilst searching the Internet for inspiration; ways and means to reduce new product development time and costs. Also like many other manufacturing companies, Atena's success depends increasingly on its ability to build products for specific applications: custom designs to meet the particular requirements of a customer. To do so, the company has already invested in four 3D printers which, although useful during the conceptual stages of a new design, are not able to produce parts with the desired mechanical characteristics, essential during the testing and pre-production phase.
Mr Corbelli says: "The main problems we have solved by using the Protomold service are the reduced delivery time of the finished parts and their accuracy. Previously, we would use traditional mould makers and then later we would commission injection moulding companies to make the production parts. However, this process could take as long as two to three months.
"The online ProtoQuote allows us to optimise the design of a particular part in order to get the best piece at the best price. With our usual providers, it's just not possible to analyse three or four different solutions in detail, simultaneously. With ProtoQuote, it's easy!"
Each part a customer uploads to the Proto Labs website is analysed by patented software to produce a ProtoQuote which contains suggestions improving the part to make it easier, faster and lower-cost to manufacture. A customer can upload as many parts as he or she likes, free. Only when the design is finalised and delivery options are specified does the customer finally submit the order.
Atena has already made several parts for its machines using the Protomold service. Its latest is the body of a peristaltic pump for the dosing of fluids. Atena loaded the CAD model on the Proto Labs website and after a couple of minor corrections to ease manufacturing, Proto Labs produced and delivered an order of 100 pump bodies, enough for Atena to finish the development of the new system.
Technical input
Occasionally, new Proto Labs customers require additional help and support when trying the company's services for the first time. Stefano Mosca, the company's representative, based in Novara, Piedmont, says: "That's why we have an office here in Italy. Most of our customers are comfortable using the on-line quotation system ProtoQuote with no additional support. Some, however, have particularly complicated parts and need some technical input to get them through the early stages of an order."
Mr Corbelli says: "The on-line quotation system ProtoQuote is simple and extremely effective. Right from the start, the process of loading the 3D CAD model was straightforward. However, having a local contact in Italy who could offer us advice and guidance allowed us to resolve a few important issues and reduce the costs of the parts, before we submitted the order. The collaboration with Stefano Mosca was very pleasant and reassuring. The result: Proto Labs has solved some of our most pressing problems, including reduced delivery times and control of costs. Having a partner in Italy is for us of utmost importance."
Mr Corbelli concludes: "Our projects with Proto Labs have all been very successful. The parts we have received have all been excellent. We have reduced time to market for new machines and we have better control of costs. I'm happy to say, Proto Labs is now our main supplier for injection moulded parts. Their Protomold service really has changed our world!"
To learn more about ProtoQuote and the Protomold service please go to www.protolabs.co.uk.
