PlayDude is an independent brand run by London-based designer and illustrator Mike McCabe, producing many limited-edition toys, accessories, and clothing, and has a large following online. The company frequently collaborates with popular shoe brands on exhibitions or projects; due to the high demand, they need stable production methods to release products within tight deadlines.
In their collaboration with Vans and London-based skateboarding company Blast Skates, PlayDude aimed to produce 50 limited-edition figurines. They wanted these limited-edition items to have an overall appearance close to industrial manufacturing, so blister packaging was required.
"We considered finding a factory to produce blister packs, but finding one that could produce only 100 pieces was extremely difficult and very expensive!" Mike emphasized. Due to the small production volume, packaging factories did not accept such special projects, and their quotes were also quite high! How could they complete high-quality industrial-grade packaging within a limited budget and delivery time?
Fortunately, they found the desktop FormBox vacuum forming machine , which is perfect for creating standardized packaging for small-batch production of custom figurines.
"The manufacturing process for industrial vacuum cleaners is more difficult than expected. With this vacuum forming machine , we can produce all our projects right here in the workshop, making the process much simpler." Mike emphasized that using FormBox to package products and create molds can significantly shorten delivery time, reduce costs, and decrease the number of molds needed.
They used the Ultimaker 3 3D printer to create the model, and then used FormBox vacuum packaging to quickly test the position and fit of the vacuum packaging with the product itself. This allowed them to check the product prototype very quickly, without waiting for shipping time, and also shortened the product development speed.
From 3D printed models to the final prototype, the company also used the specialized plaster included with FormBox , which was poured into the first-version vacuum mold to obtain a sturdy plaster prototype. Plaster prototypes can be reused multiple times and quickly in the vacuum forming machine , making it the best material for low cost and high efficiency.
PlayDude's FormBox vacuum forming machine is priced at less than 30,000 yuan (with a free vacuum cleaner included, exclusively from Sandima), and the blister pack takes only a few seconds to form, allowing the figurine to be completely placed into a custom-made package. Within a few hours, they can complete 50 limited-edition items that are as exquisite as those made in industrial manufacturing, successfully securing a collaboration with the well-known brand "Vans".
From receiving a high production quote to completing the product using FormBox , the company reduced overall production costs and time by approximately 60%! Do you also have similar small-batch needs? Now you can choose the best helper to reduce costs in the shopping mall and save every penny you spend right now.
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