Case Study: Pontos achieves rapid development and market launch of award‑winning four‑speed sailboat winches with Protolabs

Protolabs helps French company with revolutionary winch designs

Pontos, the Saint‑Malo, France company co‑founded by Michel Chenon and Darryl Spurling, set out to reinvent sailboat winches after a near‑accident revealed existing winches were too physically demanding for many crews. To move quickly from concept to tested product, Pontos relied on Protolabs’ rapid manufacturing services—initial CNC machining for prototypes followed by injection molding for final material prototypes and functional testing.

Protolabs produced more than 20 clutch and winch parts during R&D (and has since supplied Pontos with over 100 parts), using materials like POM, nylon and Nylon 66 and meeting tight development deadlines. With Protolabs’ fast iterations and reliable delivery, Pontos launched its patented four‑speed Trimmer, Grinder and Compact winches—claimed as the biggest advance in a generation—garnering industry awards (Observeur du Design, DAME nomination, SAIL Pittman) and race success, including the 2013 Transat Jacques Vabre win and strong showings in major regattas.

Pontos

Michel Chenon