Case Study: Trek accelerates design cycles and produces 4x more prototypes with Stratasys' Objet500 Connex 3D Printer

Trek Accelerates Design Cycles With Objet 3D Printer

Trek, the award‑winning bicycle manufacturer, was struggling with slow, costly prototyping—annual service‑bureau costs reached about $275,000 and CNC/SLA turnarounds took days to weeks—so the company sought an in‑house rapid prototyping solution. After evaluating options, Trek selected Stratasys’ Objet500 Connex 3D Printer (Objet Connex) for its office‑friendly operation and unique multi‑material, high‑finish capabilities.

Stratasys’ Objet500 Connex let Trek produce SLA‑quality, multi‑material parts and assemblies in‑house, cutting lead times to usually less than a day and enabling rapid iteration for projects like the Speed Concept bike. The result: Trek now makes four times as many prototypes, reduced outsourcing and tooling mistakes, accelerated time‑to‑market, and runs the Objet Connex nearly continuously—backed by responsive Stratasys service.

Trek

Mike Zeigle

Manager