Case Study: Sørlandets Aluminiumprodukter (SAP) cuts design time and shifts to rapid production with Proto3000

70 Percent of FDM Parts are Used in Production

Sørlandets Aluminiumprodukter (SAP) in Kristiansand, Norway, designs and manufactures products for demanding marine and offshore environments and was struggling with tight deadlines while needing to speed design without compromising fit and functionality. To accelerate development and validate parts beyond aesthetics, SAP partnered with Proto3000 and brought a Fortus 3D Printer in‑house for rapid prototyping and low‑volume production.

Proto3000’s Fortus solution let SAP move from iterative prototyping to direct digital manufacturing: designers produced a dozen table‑column models in two weeks, the team manufactured 25 components for a drill‑operator chair, and SAP now produces hundreds of production parts—about 70% of FDM parts are used in production—many ready the next day. The outcome was a compressed design cycle, faster time‑to‑market, lower costs, and durable, production‑ready parts that met offshore service requirements.

Sørlandets Aluminiumprodukter (SAP)

Andy Smith

SAP