Case Study: Balea Streamlines Prototyping with Stratasys F170 3D Printing

Balea cuts prototyping from 3–6 months to 1 day with Stratasys

Balea, a France-based manufacturer of weight control systems for the supply chain industry, faced a costly and time-consuming prototyping process. Relying on third-party injection molding companies for prototypes took several months and cost approximately 20,000 euros per iteration, which severely limited design flexibility. To gain control and reduce lead times, Balea turned to vendor Stratasys for an in-house 3D printing solution.

By implementing the Stratasys F170 3D printer and GrabCAD Print software, Balea brought prototyping entirely in-house. This solution allowed the company to produce functional, production-grade prototypes using ASA thermoplastic within a single day. The results were transformative, slashing prototyping costs and timelines, enabling rapid design iterations, and providing the freedom to create customized solutions for clients.

Balea