The initial situation
Challenging circumstancesWhen a long-standing customer’s phone suddenly rings – and there’s a sense of desperation on the other end – Solidtec is there to help.
At one of our client’s supplier companies Sartorius, a leading medical technology company, a serious fire broke out in the production area. Several injection moulding tools were completely destroyed. As a result, the supply of three medical products was under acute threat – stock levels were only sufficient for a few more weeks.
Our task: to produce 18 new production moulds within the shortest possible time to ensure supply – including full validation and documentation in accordance with the stringent requirements of the medical technology sector.
An additional challenge: the fire occurred right in the middle of the holiday period – at a time when capacity utilisation was already high.
1. Prompt response & a clear start to the project
Immediately after the emergency call was received, a kick-off meeting was held with Sartorius – in person on site – to set priorities and agree on the timetable.
An interdisciplinary team was set up at Solidtec, comprising:
- a tooling manager to coordinate the project
- project managers, design engineers and milling machine operators
- A production team to ensure capacity was available
- A quality team to handle documentation and validation
2. Parallel processes rather than linear workflows
Whilst the tools were being designed and manufactured, the quality team drew up all the validation documentation in parallel.
Initial sampling and testing took place directly at the machines – in collaboration with Sartorius. This meant that measurements could be verified immediately and adjustments implemented straight away.
Results & Conclusion
The result
After just a few weeks , all 18 tools had been manufactured, sampled, validated and approved.
Sartorius was able to continue production without interruption – despite the crisis situation.
The combination of team spirit, flexibility and technical precision made all the difference.
Our conclusion
When it really matters, Solidtec is there.
Even under intense time pressure, at full capacity and in the face of regulatory requirements, it becomes clear just how reliable toolmaking can achieve when it really counts: fast, precise and based on partnership.
Looking for a short-term solution?
Do you need tools that can be supplied at short notice, validated plastic parts or a solution for starting production runs at short notice?
Whether in day-to-day operations or in exceptional circumstances – with Rapid Tooling, we’re here to help.
Put us to the test!
Why rapid tooling made all the difference
The key to success lay in the combination of a dedicated interdisciplinary team, our partnership-based collaboration with Sartorius and our core technical expertise in rapid tooling.
Solidtec uses high-strength aluminium alloys and a modular master mould system that has been specially developed for rapid tool production and high process reliability.
Precise CNC machining produces moulds that are ideally suited to prototypes, pre-series and small-batch production – with short cycle times and high repeatability. At the same time, changes to geometry or gate design can be implemented flexibly and quickly – an enormous advantage for time-critical applications.
Design and approval processes are also geared towards speed: it often takes just a few days from data transfer to the finished mould. Our internal processes are coordinated so that production, quality assurance and documentation can run in parallel.
This combination of structure, experience and technology makes Solidtec the ideal partner for projects where every hour counts.
