Industry - Waterworks Manufacturer
Printing Technology - Stereolithography (SLA)
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 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.
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.