Case Study: Robert Welch Designs Ltd. achieves rapid, low-cost prototyping and streamlined manufacturing with MakerBot

Faster, Smarter Product Development At Robert Welch Designs Ltd.

Robert Welch Designs Ltd., a UK-based maker of classic-contemporary home goods, faced the challenge of quickly and precisely iterating designs—many in stainless steel, glass, or silver—so they could validate look, feel, and factory-recommended tweaks before costly production. To speed prototyping and keep costs low, they turned to MakerBot and its 3D printing solutions, integrating MakerBot Replicator® Z18 and MakerBot Replicator Desktop printers (alongside a Stratasys Objet30 for production-ready models) into their design workflow.

Using MakerBot 3D printers, the design team rapidly explored dozens of options (prototyping “50 to 100 different spoons”), refined ergonomics, validated factory CAD changes, and eliminated costly errors before tooling—drastically reducing tooling costs and accelerating manufacturing. MakerBot’s low-cost consumables and large-build machines let Robert Welch Designs Ltd. iterate more concepts affordably, produce realistic proofs for review, and move designs to production faster.

Robert Welch Designs Ltd.

Paul deBretton Gordon

Design Director