Prototyping solutions

Our business regularly requires low quantitative production parts. Honda Access has found a competent supplier in Materialise, being a specialist in low investment tooling for small series. Our sector is very demanding and we need partners and suppliers we can rely on. Materialise stands for fast time to market, flexibility and co-operation - an essential combination in car manufacturing.

Olav Verhulst, Chief Purchase, Honda Access Europe

Aluminium or soft steel tooling is in many cases a valid alternative for traditional hardened steel tooling. It is a fast and cost-effective method generating production quality components in much reduced lead times.

Traditional tool making remains one of the slowest and most expensive steps in the injection moulding business. Consequently, only the more conservative ideas could ever make it to the market and the smallest of mistakes can be very costly. Aluminium or soft steel tooling allows a designer to experiment more and to launch innovative and daring products. You have your fully functional mouldings in the real material in no time and moreover, there is no need to worry about needless costs…
Aluminium and soft steel tools are not just restricted to prototypes anymore, as Materialise RapidParts now treat the Injection Mould Tooling process as a real prodcution process, producing pre-production series and even small production series.