ICL came to us to produce 20 robot models to give to the company’s staff.

The robot was printed in MJF – printing from a material that comes as a powder. The parts were then cleaned, painted and sent to the client.

Why a printed gift works

A staff gift is usually an off-the-shelf product with a logo on it. A 3D printed part is the opposite: it is made specifically, in exactly the quantity needed, and it can be designed around the company’s own story. In ICL’s case – a minerals company working on sustainability solutions – the robot is an object that stands for the technological side of the organisation.

The technology

20 units is the classic quantity for MJF: too many to make by hand, far too few to justify a mould. All 20 robots were printed in a single build, in nylon 12, and then went through powder removal, sanding and an even coat of paint.

What matters in a product handed to staff

Consistency – all 20 units have to look identical
Durability – this is an object that sits on a desk and gets handled
Finish – a part that looks printed misses the point

A similar project of your own?

Send us a file or a description of the problem and you will get a recommendation on technology, material and timescale – talk to an engineer. See more of our projects.