Industry - Waterworks Manufacturer
Printing Technology - Stereolithography (SLA)
For decades, Clow Valve'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 400 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.
Clow Valve needed a smarter, lighter, and more efficient solution-without sacrificing realism or brand quality.
Clow Valve 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 55 pounds total—a dramatic reduction from over 400 pounds.
Weight Reduction:
From 400 lbs → ~55 lbs
Over 85% 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:
Clow Valve is launching with 30+ 3D printed hydrant units, with plans to expand production as their product line grows.