Food & Beverage Prototypes

Bring Your Food & Drink Vision to Life with MNL’s Rapid Prototyping Solutions

Why Choose MNL for Rapid Prototyping in Food & Beverage?

Unmatched Experience

We understand the unique challenges and opportunities of the food and beverage industry.

Breadth of Services 

From 3D printing to traditional model making, we offer a comprehensive solution under one roof.

Exceptional Quality: 

Our prototypes are so realistic, they often pass for finished products, providing invaluable market research insights

Exceptional Quality: 

Our prototypes are so realistic, they often pass for finished products, providing invaluable market research insights

Customisable Solutions: 

We tailor our approach to your specific needs and budget.

Fully Functional Working Prototype

Bring Your Food & Drink Vision to Life with MNL’s Rapid Prototyping Solutions

At Malcolm Nicholls Limited (MNL), we’ve been helping food and beverage brands elevate their products for over 50 years. Remember that beer crate Malcolm, our founder, crafted in his garage? That passion for innovation lives on, now fueled by state-of-the-art technology and the dedication of our skilled team.

From simple chocolate bars to complex dispensing systems, we can create the perfect rapid prototype for you.

SLA 3D Printing Service

Stereolithography (SLA) also often referred to as SLA is the most widely used resin 3D printing technology. it is generally considered to provide the greatest accuracy and best surface finish of any prototyping or 3D printing process.

SLS 3D Printing Service

SLS can build functional parts, casting patterns and tooling inserts from your 3D CAD data. Our HiQ Sinterstation system (SLS 3D Printing machine) represents the future of Instant Manufacturing Technology.

FDM 3D Printing

Manufacturing FDM known as fused deposition modelling is the most widely available form of 3d printing. It is an additive manufacturing technology that selectively deposits molten plastic to build parts layer by layer.

Large Format

Large format 3D printing service, utilising our large format SLA 3D printers with their impressive build platforms of 800 x 800 x 600mm.

Transparent

We can produce large transparent 3D printing without the need for sectioning and fabricating back together, by utilising our large format SLA 3D printers.

Carbon

Carbon has proven itself for its reliability in the toughest of environments, whether your looking to use it in low volume production or rapid prototyping Carbon 3D Printing is a great option.

3D Printing has revolutionised rapid prototyping in the food and beverage industry.

We use advanced 3D printing technologies to create highly detailed and accurate prototypes quickly and affordably. We also offer low-volume manufacturing solutions for limited runs, test batches, or promotional campaigns.

Crafting the Perfect Point of Sale Experience: POS Prototyping at its Finest

For businesses in the retail and hospitality sectors, a well-designed point-of-sale (POS) system is crucial for seamless transactions and customer satisfaction. But before investing in a full-fledged solution, prototyping allows you to visualise, test, and refine your vision.

Enter MNL’s POS prototyping expertise. We leverage cutting-edge technologies and traditional craftsmanship to create realistic, functional prototypes that capture the essence of your POS system. Our approach goes beyond just aesthetics; we consider:

    • Functionality: We build prototypes that mimic the actual functionality of your POS system, allowing you to test user interaction, workflow, and integration with other systems.
    • User Experience: We focus on creating an intuitive and user-friendly experience, ensuring your POS system is efficient and enjoyable for both staff and customers.
    • Visual Appeal: We use a variety of materials and finishing techniques to create prototypes that showcase the desired look and feel of your POS system, aligning with your brand identity.

Visual Appearance Semi-Functional Model

Crafting the Perfect Point of Sale Experience: POS Prototyping at its Finest

3d printed retail display stand for luxury brand. 3D printed by Malcolm Nicholls Ltd

Here’s how MNL can help you achieve your POS vision:

  • 3D Printing: We create highly detailed and accurate prototypes of any of your POS equipment or detail
  • Traditional Model Making: We utilise traditional techniques to create realistic representations of non-printed components, like signage and displays.

The benefits of POS prototyping are numerous:

  • Reduce Development Costs: Identify and address usability issues early on, avoiding costly rework later
  • Improve Customer Satisfaction: Ensure your POS system is user-friendly and efficient, leading to happy customers and increased sales.
  • Gain Stakeholder Buy-In: Present a tangible prototype to secure funding and garner support from stakeholders.
  • Refine Your Design: Test and iterate on your design before committing to production, ensuring a polished final product.

We’re often asked…

What materials are safe for food and beverage prototypes?

We use a variety of food-safe materials for our prototypes, depending on the application. These materials comply with relevant regulations and can be safely used in contact with food and beverages.

How long does it take to create a rapid prototype?

The timeframe depends on the complexity of the design and the chosen technology. We can often deliver simple prototypes within days, while more complex projects may take weeks.

What 3D printers do you use?
We are home to two of the UK’s largest 3D printers – the NEO 800 with an impressive build platform of 800 800 x 600mm. It’s highly precise and produces first-class quality parts. With exceptional part sidewall quality and a scanning resolution of within 1 micron, the NEO 800 significantly reduces finishing time by up to 50%. 

NEO800 has a variable spot-size laser. It goes small for intricate detail on the boundaries of parts and then it goes larger for filling in the rest of the section. This combination of intricacy and super fast build speeds produces excellent quality components in super quick time frames. As we have two of these it has rubber stamped our commitment to turnaround. We can now produce both low volume manufactured parts also known as batch production 1 – 1000’s of parts printed or large parts utilising the build platforms of these impressive printers.

What is the cost of rapid prototyping?

The cost varies depending on the size, complexity, and materials used. We offer competitive pricing and work with you to find a solution that fits your budget.

What areas do you serve?

We are based in Warwickshire and cover the UK and Internationally.

How it works

Upload your files

For unfinished, straight-off-the-printer 3D parts, upload your 3D CAD files and get an instant quote.

For larger projects where quotes for multiple parts are needed, get in touch.

Get your quote

Get your online instant quote for straight off the printer 3D printing, or for more intricate/complex projects our technical team will be on hand to quote you.

Printing starts

From our 3D printing facility near Worcester, we start producing the parts immediately.

Every single item is quality-checked by our engineers before heading out for delivery.

Delivery/ Collection

Our intricate 3D printed parts can be produced in days, even hours for smaller projects and delivered with our secure couriers.

Prefer pickup? Our headquarters are in Bidford-on-Avon, just contact us ahead to arrange a collection time.

Case Studies

See how Malcolm Nicholls
has helped other businesses like yours

Looking for prices?

Ready to start your vacuum casting project? Share your project details and data with our team of experts, and we’ll be happy to assist you at every step.