PLASTIC PROTOTYPING
Our plastic prototyping services bring product ideas to life through a versatile range of plastic materials and advanced prototype manufacturing processes. By carefully selecting the most suitable plastics and prototype production techniques for each project, we produce highly accurate, functional plastic prototypes that closely replicate final production parts.
Whether refining form, validating performance, or designing for manufacture, our approach to prototype manufacturing delivers speed, consistency and exceptional attention to detail. From initial concept to final prototype production, we ensure your designs are handled with the precision required for professional prototype services.
PLASTIC PROTOTYPE SERVICES
VACUUM CASTING
Low volume cast plastic moulding.
CNC PROTOTYPING
One-off machined plastic parts.
ADVANCED 3D PRINTING
Complex multi-material overmoulds.
THE ADVANTAGES OF PLASTIC PROTOTYPING
Investing in production injection moulding tooling can be expensive and carries risk if your product's functions are not thoroughly tested and validated. Utilizing accurate plastic prototypes allows you to reduce this risk by validating your design before committing to full production.
Advanced plastic prototyping techniques can closely replicate the strength, colour and form of an injection moulded product. At much more affordable price than production tooling investment. These advanced prototype manufacturing processes are very effective at the custom production of low quantities, typically between 1 and 10 units, in a cost-effective manner. The quality of the resulting prototypes enable extensive user testing which can be used to validate your product or used for small sample runs which can support you in investor pitches.
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PROTOTYPE FAQs
What is prototyping?
Prototyping is a vital step in developing and validating product concepts, functionality, and design. At Duku, we offer a range of prototyping design services to bring ideas to life—enabling us to test, evaluate, and refine models to ensure the highest standards of innovation and usability. Our iterative process helps identify potential issues early, optimise designs, and streamline the path to manufacturing.
Why is prototype development important?
Prototype development is a crucial phase in your product design project at Duku because it allows us to transform concepts into tangible, testable models. By creating product prototypes, we can identify potential design flaws early, ensure the product meets user needs, and test functionality. This iterative process of designing, prototyping, and refining helps save both time and cost by addressing issues before full-scale manufacturing begins.
How do I make a prototype of my idea?
First, we will guide you through new product development stages, including concept development and CAD design. Once the design is ready, we use a range of prototyping techniques—such as 3D printing, vacuum casting, CNC machining, and metalwork—to produce a functional prototype tailored to your project’s needs.
How many prototypes do I need before manufacture?
Prototyping is as important as concept design for exploring and refining ideas for manufacture. While simpler products may be developed within a single prototype development stage, more complex designs often require multiple iterations to achieve the best results. When you request a quote, we’ll provide a bespoke plan outlining the costs and next steps tailored to your project.
How much does it cost to make a prototype?
The cost to create a prototype can vary depending on the complexity, materials and specific requirements of your product. Generally, our prototype design services range from a few hundred pounds for simple 3D-printed models to several thousand pounds for more intricate designs involving advanced manufacturing processes.
What types of prototype projects do Duku handle?
We support a wide range of prototype projects, from early-stage concept models to fully functional pre-production units across multiple industries. You can find exactly what services we have and specific materials on our prototype services page.
Can you support low and high volume prototype production?
Yes, we offer flexible prototype production capabilities, whether you need a single proof of concept or multiple units for testing and stakeholder review. We use different prototype techniques depending on the quantity, material and required prototype level.
How do you choose the right prototype manufacturer for my project?
We are able to handle a wide variety of prototype projects in-house, including 3D printing, electronic prototypes and mechanical prototype building. If needed we use trusted partner prototype manufacturers, depending on what material you product uses.