Call five moulders for a 2,000-part run: three never call back, one quotes a minimum order, the last a price that kills the project. Large workshops dislike small series, which is exactly why we made them our core business.
Small series: how many parts are we talking about
In practice, from a few hundred to a few tens of thousands of parts per year. Below that, prototyping (3D printing, silicone casting) is often more relevant; above, you enter medium series and the economics change.
Why big moulders turn them down
A workshop built around 1,000-tonne presses loses money on your 3,000-part run: the mould change immobilises an oversized machine and heavy overheads must spread over every order. Our setup is the opposite: three presses of 50, 100 and 250 tonnes in Ath, a light structure, fast changeovers. Small series are not a loss leader here; they are what the workshop is built for.
The real subject: amortising the mould
On a small run, the mould outweighs material and press time combined. Three levers cut the bill: simplify the design (the free DfM analysis by our partner LGR Design Studio exists for that), match the tooling to the real volume (aluminium mould, or silicone tooling for very small runs), and our co-investment: on projects with a volume commitment we finance up to 50% of the mould and earn on production. None of the competitors you will consult offers that.
Real cases
A pill box moulded in small series, DIN 18-22 caps, an ABS overmoulding: our project pages document exactly this format, with real materials and constraints.
Lead times and getting started
Typical circuit: free DfM analysis of your 3D file by LGR (feedback within 48h), detailed quote, mould manufacturing coordinated with our partners, trials, production. For first moulded parts, allow roughly seven weeks depending on mould complexity, the exact lead time being confirmed at quotation. French and European manufacturers welcome: our prices generally sit 20 to 30% below equivalent French quotes, details here.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum order?
We handle series from a few hundred parts, depending on geometry and material. No arbitrary minimum: we check whether the project holds economically and tell you frankly.
What if my series grows?
Our favourite scenario. The mould remains yours, and when volume exceeds our workshop, production moves to our ISO 9001 certified Polish partner without changing your point of contact.
Send your 3D file (STEP, IGES): detailed quote within 48h, no commitment.