150 branded keyrings for an event, produced in a run without a mould
A gadget company needed a custom branded run for one of its clients, but it didn't exist on the market. We designed it and produced 150 pieces, quickly and with no dedicated tooling.
Gadget company, anonymized
A custom run that didn't exist on the market
Our client isn't the company running the event: it's a company that produces gadgets for other businesses. One of its own clients had asked for a run of branded keyrings for the merchandising of an event, with a specific shape and logo. The problem was that this keyring, exactly as it was needed, didn't exist on the market. Suppliers' catalogues offer standard models to customise with print or engraving, but not an object designed from scratch.
The classic alternative would have been to commission a dedicated mould. But a mould only makes sense over tens of thousands of pieces: for a run of 150, made for a single event, the tooling cost and lead time made that route unworkable. Our client risked having to say no to theirs, or to deliver a generic object that wasn't what had been requested.
Custom design and a 150-piece run without a mould
We did two things: first we designed the keyring from scratch, starting from the requested shape and logo, then we produced it as a 150-piece run with 3D printing. No mould, no industrial minimums, no tooling: the same machine that makes a prototype makes the whole run, simply by repeating the part many times.
For our client this meant being able to say yes to their end client's request, delivering exactly the object that had been designed rather than a catalogue compromise. And for us it's confirmation that a sizeable run doesn't necessarily need a factory behind it: 150 identical, branded pieces can be produced in a few days, on demand.
Designing the object
We turned the requested shape and logo into a proper 3D model, working on thicknesses and details so the keyring would be sturdy for everyday use and recognisable at a glance.
First-piece check
Before launching the whole run we produced and validated a single piece: colour, logo legibility, ring strength. Only after sign-off did we start the 150 pieces.
Producing the run
We printed the 150 keyrings as a run, all identical, and delivered them ready for distribution at the event. Our client passed them on to theirs as their own product: we stay behind the scenes.
From the request to a finished run
Everything happened in a single order, in October 2025: design, first-piece validation and production of the 150 keyrings were handled in a few days, in time for the end client's event. With no mould to wait for, the bottleneck is no longer the tooling but just the machine time, which for a run of this size is short.
What the client gained
- A 150-piece branded run produced with no mould and no industrial minimums.
- A custom-designed object, exactly as requested, rather than a standard catalogue model.
- Timing compatible with the event date: a finished run in a few days.
- A strong impression on their end client, while we stay white-label behind the scenes.
A run of 150 pieces needs neither a mould nor a factory behind it: we design it, validate the first piece and produce it in a few days.
Frequently asked questions
Aren't 150 pieces too many for 3D printing?
No. With 3D printing the same machine that makes a prototype also makes a run: you just repeat the part. For 150 identical keyrings the timing stays short and no mould or dedicated tooling is needed.
Can I order just a few dozen pieces?
Yes. There are no industrial minimums: we produce the quantity you need, whether it's 20, 150 or more pieces. You pay for what you need, with no minimum order imposed by a mould.
Do you also work with companies reselling the gadget to their own client?
Yes, this is exactly that case. We work white-label: we design and produce, and you deliver the product to your client as your own. We stay behind the scenes.
Have a branded run to produce?
Whether it's keyrings, gadgets or custom promotional objects, we design and produce your run with no mould and no industrial minimums. Tell us what you need and we'll explain how we make it.