Low Volume Production
If your looking for a one-off bespoke top-quality part such as a trophy, or you require 1000’s of customised parts such a widgets, we have the solutions to suit your needs.
Malcolm Nicholls Ltd Low Volume Manufacturing and batch production Experts
What is Low Volume Production?
It is an increasingly popular option as it allows for a smaller investment in tooling and materials while providing fast access to market. It also acts to bridge the gap between initial prototypes and mass production.
Historically, manufacturing components in low quantities has always been a costly exercise. With the advent of low volume 3D printing and vacuum casting many constraints previously faced can now be significantly reduced. Technologies such as SLS (Stereolithography) and FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling) can now be used (especially for non-seen parts), to produce components in quantities as low as 1s and 2s and up to thousands, but still with exceptional material properties such as flame retardancy and high-heat requirements. Traditional design constraints, usually associated with injection mould tooling for example, can now be ignored, enabling designers to be more efficient and reduce part count within assemblies.
Looking to Produce Multiple Parts?
We can produce anything from one to thousands
Industries we can support with Low Volume Production
Cars
Motorsport
Small Business
Retail
Why use Low Volume Production?
Low volume – no minimum order value
Low volume production for prototypes
Prototyping and low volume production go hand in hand as they allow companies to trial a small batch of products before committing to a large order. This allows for designs to be refined and modified, and products to be tested in lower quantities before committing to large-scale production.
Low volume plastic production
There are several options for low volume plastic production that achieve commercial quality levels, and the ones commonly used by Malcolm Nicholls include low volume 3D printing, low volume vacuum casting and low volume injection moulding.
There are many benefits to low volume plastic production, but the main one is that there are much lower overheads compared to mass production, which opens up the possibility for start-ups and growing businesses that don’t have the ability to fund large projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Low Volume Production?
Manufacturing components in low quantities has always been a costly exercise. With the advent of 3D printing and low volume vacuum casting many constraints previously faced can now be significantly reduced. Technologies such as SLS (Stereolithography) and FDM can now be used, especially for non-seen parts, to produce components in quantities as low as 1s and 2s to several thousand, but still with fantastic material properties such as flame retardancy and high-heat requirements.
What are the benefits of low Volume Production?
Traditional design constraints usually associated with e.g. injection mould tooling can now be ignored, freeing designers to produce more efficient designs or reducing part count within assemblies.
Without the need for tooling, designs of 3D printed components can now be refined on a more frequent basis, improving part functionality.
Stock levels of components can be reduced as more and more parts can be produced on an as-required basis.
When aesthetics are important, vacuum casting becomes an ideal fit. Over 30 vacuum casting materials are available simulating most common thermoplastics including elastomers, flame-retardant and high heat-resistant materials. Furthermore many can be coloured to precise colour requirements in a multitude of surface finishes.
MNL’s technology consultants can advise on the best AM process for your project requirements.