This Midest show in Paris made me discover a company that organized itself to be the “Amazon” of subcontracting: proto labs. I.e. everything has been set up to allow customers to order quickly and efficiently on-line and everything has also been organized to make production follow at high pace. Offered services are CNC prototype machining (from 1 to 10 parts) and prototype injection molding (10 to 10’000 parts).
Proto labs factory in the UK: A huge production capacity!
One production plant equipped with outstanding computing and machining capabilities has been organized on each continent. When a customer feed the system to have a quotation, the part is fully computed and when he receives the quotation (normally a few hours later), everything has already been analyzed and prepared. I.e. if the customer orders the parts, production can starts directly, there is no loss of time, no question, no trouble. Everything is already prepared.
A transparent system If the part cannot exactly be produced according specifications, the system shows the customer where troubles are and what could be suggested as changes to have the part machined or injected. Mr. Faure, technical sales manager in France says: “If we cannot do the parts, it is instantly clear for our customers, we don’t do any promises that we can’t keep. Nevertheless, what we cannot do today will maybe made available in the future. We analyze all the demands we receive and we make our capacities evolve accordingly”.
Real parts, really fast You load your 3d files in the system and half of the job is already done! You can order your parts exactly like on Amazon, simply and directly but if you prefer to have a human contact, proto labs also have specialists at your disposal to answer your questions or help you to enter this new way to subcontract. Once accustomed to the speed and quality of the service, it’s very difficult to work another way.
Two services available First cut – CNC machining, see Protomold – Injection molding, see
They said the other day at Midest 40th anniversary that subcontracting needs innovation to survive… proto labs presents a true innovation to the service of the industry… will you try them?
For more information Proto labs Bernard Faure Savoie-Technolac 18 Allée du Lac St. André 73382 Le Bourget du Lac Cédex France Phone +33 (0) 479 65 46 50 Fax +33 (0) 479 65 46 51
Specialized in the overhaul of Escomatic machines, Ventura Mecanics SA currently employs eighteen people and exports nearly 80% of its services or products worldwide. Thanks in particular to a good balance between the different markets it serves, the Bôle company expects a very good year 2019. Talyrond for checking the raceways Whether it is a revision operation (restoration in its original configuration) or retrofit (restoration and addition of options), a machine passing through the (…)
The generation of the thirty-somethings entering the industry today no longer wants traditional technical information. She wants fast, easily accessible information that she is now used to find on Internet, through videos or tutorials. Technical documentation is being hit hard by this new trend. Yvon Cosandier, director of RédaTech, a company specializing for 28 years in technical communication for end-users of all types of products, takes stock of the situation: "This phenomenon is (…)
In order to better serve its customers, Tornos will soon be moving its after-sales service to a new site in Moutier, Switzerland. To find out more, we met with Mathias Damman (left), the new head of the Service department (Tornos Service), and Simon Aebi (right), the head of the spare parts and machine servicing department. Eurotec: Mr Damman, you’re the new Customer Services manager at Tornos. What are you hoping to achieve? Matthias Damman: Tornos Service already performs very well; we (…)
The project DESIGN-MTS – Defining Social responsibility Interventions for a Grounded Networking in Machine Tools Sector was launched in July 2013 and has brought together partners from industry, academia and the research world to develop a multi-stakeholder platform in the field of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability. The project has enabled partners to enhance communication on relevant practices in the sector, to encourage the exchange of best practices and to promote (…)
The Katadyn Products Inc. company whose headquarters is located in Kemptthal near Zurich specialises in the supply of water filters, desalinators, systems dedicated to outdoor activities (gas burners), and other products devoted to trekking. In order to simplify and accelerate its supply chain and its logistics, the company that delivers all over the world from Switzerland undertook a process of repatriation of certain activities from Taiwan to Eastern Europe. At the same time, it has built (…)
If L. Klein SA is a supplier of high-grade steel and material that innovates continuously and offers creative solutions to help its customers, it is also a company for whom the relationship with its users and its suppliers is of paramount importance. L. Klein SA has grown with the watchmaking sector and the regional delivery plan served by its trucks has been the same for 60 years! Meeting with the two directors, Olivier and Philippe Schiess. Similarly, L. Klein SA has been working with (…)
The theme of the 17th international day of watch marketing (JIMH) was about service and the importance for the company to manage it globally. To talk about it and to see how it can be applied in the world of microtechnology, we met with Mr. Kalust Zorik, founder and president of the JIMH as well as of the institute for watch marketing and CEO of InterTech, a company specialized in consulting, coaching and training to develop businesses. As a start M. Zorik says: "When speaking about (…)
With a completely recreated online shop the leading electronics distributor Distrelec is presenting a refreshing new design, optimised ease of use on all end-user devices, and new features for a clearer product search. Following the motto "We love electronics", the leading electronics distributor Distrelec presents an online shop in a responsive design. Thanks to a modern, spacious design and a sophisticated search facility the over 250,000 products are presented in a clear and yet (…)
In the communication budgets of most companies, participation in trade fairs constitutes a sizeable cost position. For many machine manufacturers, these easily exceed 50% of the total of their marketing costs. Nevertheless, the world is changing and strategies of communication also. How does this affect tradeshows? We spoke on this subject with Mr. Paul E. Schall, the biggest private organiser of technical fairs in Germany and we will publish the full interview in our next issue. Extracts: (…)
© 2026 EUROTEC - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
