Tooling inserts in days

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A Mantle customer successfully adopted Mantle technology to automate their toolmaking processes and solve labor challenges. Westec Plastics, an injection molder that serves the medical device market, implemented Mantle’s technology in August of 2023 to increase its toolmaking capacity and simultaneously solve labor challenges.

Within a month of installing its Mantle system, Westec had two revenue-generating projects with new customers. One of the projects was with Gracon Manufacturing.

Gracon was implementing a design change to a medical manufacturing aid already in production. Gracon needed to quickly mold test parts to validate the design change. To accelerate testing, Gracon turned to Westec to print a set of mold inserts rather than buy a traditionally made set that would take weeks.

Westec Plastics used its Mantle metal 3D printer to produce H13 tool steel inserts for Gracon in just five days. Printing with Mantle shaved over two weeks off the typical production timeline. The time savings came from Westec’s ability to produce the inserts with only two hours of toolmaker time and the printer running lights out over the weekend when the toolshop is usually not working.

As showcased in this latest success story, Mantle’s technology continues to see strong adoption among injection molders, toolmakers, and OEMs, enabling reduced lead times and costs while alleviating labor shortages.

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