Case Study: Minimizer achieves tougher, more realistic fender prototyping with Stratasys ULTEM™ resin

Minimizer makes 90% of its products look production-ready with Stratasys

Minimizer, a manufacturer of durable semi-truck fenders, faced the challenge of entering the market for fuel-efficient super single tires. This required creating entirely new fender and bracket designs, a process that involved significant investment in tooling. To mitigate risk, Minimizer needed to ensure their functional prototypes could withstand rigorous real-world testing before committing to production. They utilized their onsite Stratasys Fortus 3D Production System and ULTEM™ 9085 resin for this prototyping phase.

Stratasys provided the solution with its FDM technology and the recent availability of black ULTEM™ resin. This allowed Minimizer engineers to produce robust, functional prototypes that could be drilled, bolted onto trucks, and tested on dusty gravel roads, verifying fit and form. The black color masked grease and fingerprints, making the prototypes look like final production parts. As a result, Stratasys enabled Minimizer to perfect designs with confidence before tooling, reducing development risk and supporting their ability to quickly innovate and respond to new customer needs.

Minimizer