Nov 27, 2017 | By Benedict
Dutch mannequin specialist Hans Boodt is using large-scale FDM 3D printers from fellow Dutch company Tractus3D, enabling it to cut mannequin production time from eight weeks to just two days. The Tractus3D T3500 has a build height of 210 cm, ideal for mannequins.
Mannequins, those faceless yet perfectly proportioned human statues, are used in clothing stores around the world. But have you ever really considered how a mannequin is made, how long the process takes, and how much it costs?
According to Hans Boodt, a Dutch company that makes unique high-end mannequins for clients like Karl Lagerfeld, Hermès, and Emilio Pucci, the process of mannequin production has—until very recently—taken around eight weeks per body.
It seems like a long time, but when you understand the traditional process of mannequin production, it starts to make sense. Most mannequins for high-end customers are sculpted by hand in order to produce anatomical perfection, which makes their creation a lengthy and often expensive process.
It’s not just a case of Hans Boodt coming up with its own new poses and shapes either. Each customer wants its own unique mannequin with a size, pose, and color tailored to its own collection. This means that the mannequin producer must rapidly turn a design brief into a high-quality product with very little time to spare.
Recently, however, Hans Boodt has been able to drastically reduce the time it takes to produce its mannequins. How? By using large-scale 3D printers from Tractus3D, a fellow Dutch company based in the small town of Ammerzoden.
Tractus3D's T3500 FDM 3D printer printing a mannequin
With the Tractus3D T3500, a delta-style FDM 3D printer with a 100 cm printing diameter and 210 cm height, Hans Boodt has been able to 3D print entire mannequins in one piece, eliminating the need for outside suppliers and reducing costs by around 10 per cent.
“3D printing has revolutionized the way we work at Hans Boodt,” said Product Development Manager Coen Viguurs. “At request, our expert artists can create mannequins with an unprecedented level of quality in a matter of days using 3D printing.”
Hans Boodt eventually opted for 3D printing in order to improve its service, but only after considering other modern manufacturing processes like CNC machining. After doing the calculations, however, the company determined that the reduced initial outlay, lesser material costs, and high-quality results made 3D printing by far the more preferable option.
Because use of 3D printing allows Hans Boodt to get new mannequins shipped off faster than ever, the company thinks its new development process will be a huge draw for fashion labels who want to get personalized, branded mannequins onto the shop floor or exhibition space in the shortest possible time.
To produce multiple 3D printed mannequins at once, Hans Boodt has purchased an entire fleet of Tractus3D FDM 3D printers, all of which are able to fabricate entire personalized mannequins that are ready for immediate use.
According to Hans Boodt, a machine like the Tractus3D T3500 represented the ideal middle ground between desktop machines (too small) and typical industrial machines (too expensive). At €39,500 ($47,000), the T3500 is too pricy for personal use, but represented a good investment for an established company like Hans Boodt.
Hans Boodt mannequin designer Marco Ouwerkerk
Posted in 3D Printing Application
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"perfectly proportioned" only if you dont eat, ever!
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