Matric Limited

Company: Matric Limited
Product: Industrial Electrical Controls
Number of Employees: 120
Year Founded: 1972
Location: Seneca, PA

Situation:

Matric Limited had a conceptual design for a custom plastic injection molded remote control station to be used in underground coal mines. The remote control enclosure would replace an existing vacuformed product that could not withstand the mines' severe environmental conditions, or the abuse incurred during use. Matric was on a tight deadline to produce a prototype enclosure for its client. Wayne Johns, a Matric designer, had taken a plastics processing course through Penn State Erie, and knew that the Plastics Technology Deployment Center had various rapid prototyping capabilities.

Project:

Using Pro/ENGINEER CAD/CAM software, PTDC engineer Theresa Warner was able to create the 3D solid models for prototyping within one week. The files were sent to a rapid prototyping service bureau that was able to download the files directly and create a demonstration model within one month.

Result:

Matric Limited estimates it had a prototype available to show its customer five months faster than if the project had been tackled in-house. Rapid prototyping kept the project moving on track; Matric's client was able to start field trials of the new enclosure as scheduled. Sales for this limited market product are expected to reach between 200 and 500 units a year.

Company Comments from Wayne Johns, Designer:

"The PTDC was very responsive to our needs. They allowed me to sit with their engineer so I could tell her what I expected to see – that was great. They were willing to do whatever we needed, whatever worked best for us."