Case Study: Volvo Construction Equipment achieves 90% faster prototyping and 92% cost savings with Proto3000

Volvo Construction Equipment Retools the Engine Using 3D Printing

Volvo Construction Equipment (VCE), one of the world’s largest construction-equipment manufacturers, needed a fast, low-cost prototype of a newly simulated water pump housing for its A30G and A25G haulers to validate internal flow and withstand engine heat/pressure. Facing traditional tooling costs of about $10,000 and lead times of 20–28 weeks — and a corporate mandate to shorten development cycles from 36 to 24 months — VCE turned to Proto3000 and its 3D printing services (using a Stratasys® Objet Eden260V™ PolyJet printer and FullCure® 720 material) to produce a functional prototype.

Proto3000 printed the transparent housing, which VCE fitted with threaded inserts and epoxy, mounted to a pump and A30G, and successfully validated under real operating conditions. The 3D-printed prototype cost $770 and was produced in two weeks versus roughly $10,000 and 28 weeks with traditional tooling — a savings of about $9,230 (≈92%) and 18 weeks (≈90% time reduction). Proto3000’s solution enabled faster iteration, reduced risk and cost, and positioned VCE to use additive manufacturing for jigs, fixtures and low-volume parts going forward.

Volvo Construction Equipment

Jeff Hartman

Product Designer