Case study: Custom Die-Cut Paint Masking Solution

Who did we work with?

Tecman worked with the UK division of a major European injection moulder, who provide composite and moulded plastic solutions.

What was the project?

They came to us after their existing supplier was no longer able to supply a specialist die-cut masking component part for use in paint masking. The customer needed to source a new supplier but did not have the exact part specifications or drawings as these were owned by the previous supplier, so needed a partner with relevant expertise and knowledge to support them.

There was also a pressing time requirement, as the customer needed to fulfil existing orders with no drop in quality or performance, so Tecman needed to integrate into existing processes at speed.

What did we do?

In order to develop a solution that met the customer’s specification, our experienced team reverse engineered the part they already had to understand how it has been constructed and to assess where improvements in performance and efficiency could be made.

We then guided the customer through the material selection process before creating a bespoke solution that met their specification, using fresh drawings to produce laser cut prototypes within a week.

What did we achieve?

The team fully immersed in the project, which enabled them to understand the culture of the business and to deliver against frequent tight deadlines, to help ensure the customer maintained continuous supply of their own components, which was critical.

By supporting on the redesign of the part, we also added value by helping unlock tangible savings for the customer in labour cost through application support and price reductions for their preferred materials, which is the result of our material selection expertise and economies of scale – these outcomes surpassed customer expectations. The drawings Tecman developed have also been shared with the customer to help them better understand the component and improve supply chain resilience.

Why did they choose Tecman?

The customer chose Tecman because of our track record of working with injection moulders and our experience within the automotive sector. Being an end-to-end partner meant we brought an understanding of the whole process to the project, including the supply chain, which enabled us to design a part that created efficiency savings and added value to the customer’s product.

We used our expertise in high volume manufacturing to ensure this was built in as a consideration at every stage of the design journey. This approach meant that the end solution was scalable, and avoided the pitfall that some companies encounter of solutions being impractical to produce at high volumes.

Discuss your project with Tecman

As a trusted end-to-end partner, our expertise in addressing challenges faced by injection molders extends across multiple applications and industries. Contact our experts to discover how our advanced custom solutions can enhance your project by unlocking hidden improvements and efficiencies.

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