04/Development support
Prototype & Product Development
Support from first concept to production-ready components: design review, prototype tooling, sample moulding on production machines, validation and a clean hand-over into series tooling.
Overview
Prove the part before you commit to production tooling
Changes are cheapest before series steel is cut.
We help development teams get real moulded parts early. Design engineering, proto tooling, prototype moulding and validation are handled by the same team, so what is learned at each stage carries straight into the production mould.
- Proto tooling for fast design iteration
- Mould-flow analysis before steel is cut
- Sample moulding on 50T–380T production machines
- Series tooling built from the validated design
Development pathway
Six stages from concept to production
Design concept development
Part analysis to establish feasibility, manufacturability and material direction.
- 2D / 3D CAD review
- Tool feasibility analysis
- Reverse engineering of existing parts
- Material selection guidance
Proto tool development
Prototype tools for fast iteration, with parting line and gate strategy validated by simulation.
- Prototype tool design
- Parting line & side-core planning
- Gate location strategy
- Mould-flow analysis
Prototype moulding
Parts moulded on production machines to test fit, function and material behaviour for real.
- Sample moulding runs
- Dimensional checks
- Material behaviour
- Design iteration support
Testing & validation
Samples checked against functional and dimensional requirements, with results recorded for sign-off.
- Fit & function checks
- Critical dimensions
- Cosmetic & surface review
- Sign-off records
Production tooling hand-over
The validated design moves into series tooling with the learnings from the prototype stage.
- Series tool design inputs
- Process parameter transfer
- Production-ready drawings
- Scale-up planning
Production support
Support as the part moves into stable series production on our horizontal, vertical and all-electric machines.
- Pilot batches
- Volume ramp-up
- Design feedback
- Production records
Materials in development
Test the material you will produce in
Prototype parts are moulded in production polymers rather than substitutes, so shrinkage, stiffness and fit are representative. We routinely process PA6, PA66, POM, ABS, PC, PBT and PP.
Prototype parts
Real parts, early in development
Sample parts are moulded on production machines so fit, function and material behaviour can be checked before series tooling is committed.
Related
Continue exploring
Development enquiry
Discuss your development project
Review concept feasibility, proto tooling or prototype production with our engineering team.