A statue for Milan Design Week, ready in 48 hours
The Chinese supplier missed the shipping deadline and the client had to attend Milan Design Week. We reproduced the display statue in ABS — one kilo of material, 34 hours of printing — and delivered it on time, in 48 hours.
Anonymized at the customer's request
The problem: a deadline that won't move
In the design world, deadlines don't move. A fair has a date, and that date is law. Our customer, in the design sector, had to attend Milan Design Week with a display statue, the centrepiece of its setup.
The Chinese supplier missed the shipping deadline. A few days before the event, the customer was left without the most important piece and with no margin to fix it through traditional channels. Missing Design Week was not an option.
The solution: reproduce the piece, immediately
We stepped in with additive 3D printing, reproducing the statue in white ABS. A large single piece — about one kilo of material and 34 hours of printing — handled with top priority to fit within the available window. No mold, no casting: from the model straight to the physical object.
Model preparation
We prepared the statue's file for printing, optimizing orientation and supports for a large piece to be made in extremely tight timing.
Top-priority printing
About 34 hours of printing for a one-kilo piece in white ABS, managed with absolute priority to meet the fair's deadline.
Timing: 48 hours, deadline met
The statue was reproduced and delivered on time, in 48 hours, ready for the setup. The customer was able to attend Milan Design Week as planned, despite the original supplier's delay. When time is tight, 3D printing is the fastest path from idea to object.
Customer impact
- Display statue reproduced and delivered in 48 hours.
- Milan Design Week deadline met, despite the supplier's delay.
- Large single piece made without mold or casting.
- Independence from long, unpredictable supply chains.
When time is tight, 3D printing turns an emergency into an on-time delivery, without depending on long, unpredictable supply chains.
Frequently asked questions about this case study
How quickly can you produce an urgent piece?
It depends on size and complexity, but for urgent jobs we handle production at top priority. In this case we delivered a one-kilo piece in 48 hours. Contact us with your deadline and we'll tell you right away if it's feasible.
Can you print large single pieces?
Yes. We also make large single pieces with a high material volume, like this statue of about one kilo of ABS. No molds or casting needed: we print straight from the model.
Can 3D printing replace a delayed supplier?
Often yes, especially on single pieces or small runs. Not depending on molds or long shipping, we can reproduce a component very quickly and save a deadline that would otherwise be at risk.
Got an impossible deadline and a piece to make?
Put us to the test: when time is tight, 3D printing is the fastest path from idea to object. Tell us about your urgency.