Case Study: M-Tek achieves 20% faster packaging throughput, 75% faster probe production and 56% cost savings with Stratasys FDM (Fortus 3D Printer)

Fdm Produces “impossible” Part for Food Packaging Customer

M-Tek, an Illinois-based maker of modified atmosphere packaging systems, faced a “valve-off” problem: their groove-shaped gas probe would draw plastic packaging into the cavity, choking the probe and slowing gas exchange. Conventional CNC machining couldn’t produce the long, thin internal cavity the redesigned probe required, so M-Tek turned to Stratasys and its Fortus® 3D Production System (FDM) — originally purchased for prototyping — to explore an additive alternative.

Using Stratasys FDM to print the probe in polycarbonate, M-Tek produced a single-piece design with an internal void that eliminated valve-off and could be made in-house. The Stratasys-produced probe cut injection time by 20% (increasing throughput by 20%), reduced production time from four days to one (75% faster), and lowered cost from $500 to $220 (56% savings).

M-Tek

Norm Buggele

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer