Reducing Trade Show Burden with 3D Printed Hydrant Assemblies

Industry - Waterworks Manufacturer
Printing Technology - Stereolithography (SLA)

THE CHALLENGE

For decades, the company's sales team relied on full-size production fire hydrants for trade shows, customer demonstrations, and sales activities. While authentic and visually impactful, these hydrants came with a major drawback:

•    Each unit weighed up to 1,000 pounds
•    Required specialized freight handling and shipping
•    Created significant labor challenges for setup and teardown
•    Increased transportation and logistics costs
•    Limited flexibility for events and customer visits

Transporting cast-iron hydrants across the country was costly, time-consuming, and physically demanding for the sales team.

The organization needed a smarter, lighter, and more efficient solution—without sacrificing realism or brand quality.

THE SOLUTION

The company partnered with RP America’s 3D Parts Service team to develop high-quality, lightweight 3D printed hydrant assemblies.

Using advanced additive manufacturing technology, RP America:

•    Produced full-scale, highly detailed replicas
•    Ensured accurate geometry and brand fidelity
•    Engineered assemblies for durability and repeated event use

The result: a full hydrant display unit weighing approximately 70 pounds total—a dramatic reduction from over 1,000 pounds.

THE RESULTS

Weight Reduction:
From 1,000+ lbs → ~70 lbs
Over 90% reduction in weight

Operational Benefits:
•    Simplified shipping and handling
•    Reduced freight costs
•    Faster trade show setup and teardown
•    Increased flexibility for customer demos
•    Less physical strain on sales personnel

Scalable Production:
The company is launching with 30+ 3D printed hydrant units, with plans to expand production as their product line grows.