Your Lightweight 3-D Displays: From a Drawing to Reality

Are you getting hammered by shipping costs to get your industrial sized displays to trade shows and back? Is the weight, pun intended, of moving your displays becoming tiresome? CalCo has an alternative solution for you and how you display your products; and it’s easier than you may think…

It all starts with a CAD(computer aided drawing) file of your product. Once we are provided with this file we can scale it down to your liking and produce a light weight 3D model for you to tell the story of your new innovating and/or always reliable product. Models are created out of a very durable ABS plastic using a Fuel Deposition Modeling method, know as FDM.

Shown below are two pump models that we recently created for a client.

All of the individual part files are printed separately and then built into an assembly using very little glue and mostly scale-version fasteners. You can see some of the parts were printed in color to highlight specific components and areas of the pump to describe features to potential users. These two units normally weigh hundreds of pounds each and can now be brought to a show in carry-on luggage!!

To get started, simply email CalCo your 3D files for a quick and helpful quotation or to discuss the opportunities that are possible today.

For more information call CalCo at 847/639-3858.   Click Here for an article with information about other lightweight options or click here for more contact information.

Which cast part weighs 86% less than the other one?

One of these parts weighs 22 pounds and the other weighs just 3 pounds!  Without lifting them up it is almost impossible to tell the copy from the original but believe me when your salesman tries to move them he will appreciate the difference.  The part was copied using a molded resin and has been painted to look identical to the real part. This technique can be used to create full models or partial models and the copied parts can be integrated into a real unit (as we have done below) or stand on their own. Three dimensional models have been extremely expensive in the past but prices are coming down and the technology has improved so the materials are sturdier and more adaptable which opens up a wider range of uses. Whether you need to create a lightweight display or part for a trade show, for sales calls or any other reason CalCo can make it happen.

Which side is real and which is the copy?

If you are trying to create a lightweight model of your product or part and need some help, give CalCo a call at 847/639-3858 or click here for more contact information.

Dave Kasper, CalCo’s Senior Consultant, Has ALL the Answers

CalCo has been in business for almost 60 years. The reason – the people who work here and their dedication to getting a job done right and on time.   Dave Kasper, our Sales Manager, is a key component in our success.  Dave has been with CalCo for 9 years and has become indispensable due to his ability to come up with new and innovative ideas and to work with our customers to make sure they get exactly what they want.  Talking to Dave on the phone can turn a project around completely because he not only quotes, coordinates and communicates with you about your project but he also develops new ways to display them.  Recently he designed a large pedestal with multiple levels of display space which we constructed based on his designs.  He also developed a waterjet cut acrylic fire hydrant for a display which was lightweight and easy to transport.  He has designed many point of purchase layouts and has helped customers develop animation, 3D models, prototypes, displays and cutaways of every type. Although we have an archive with all projects we have completed it is sometimes easier to go and pick Dave’s brain.

Some of Dave’s ideas are shown above and some of his beliefs are explained below.

What is CalCo’s first priority?

Customer satisfaction.

What makes CalCo different from its competitors?

Honestly CalCo is one of those places that is more like a consulting firm for your marketing, sales and training departments. It is difficult to know about so many technologies and possibilities for your displays, and it is nice to be able to speak with someone who can offer suggestions that you may have never thought of otherwise.

What information do you need to know before beginning a project?

The first place we like to start is getting a good understanding of where your displays will be used, and in what context. Is this a training seminar, a trade show exhibit or a sales tool for road warriors, etc. . . Next is what story are you looking to tell with your project; how a product works, what the new upgrades look like and what they mean or even “We are number 1″! Once we get into the finer details and pricing/timing estimates, we will need some drawings or photos with dimensions to get started. From there we will take care of everything else, from asking additional questions, providing examples where needed and nailing down the shipping details in advance of that glorious day!

Whether you have a good idea of the type of display that you want or you need some good ideas, Dave can help.    For a free quote or to discuss your next project contact CalCo at 847/638-3858 or click here for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions about CalCo Cutaways

How much do CalCo’s services cost?

Each project is different and is priced according to man hours involved, materials for bases, shipping containers or electrical parts, and outside services like plating.  We provide quotes based upon our estimates of time and material to do each job.

How long does it take?

A good rule of thumb is to plan ahead. Some projects can be turned around in a week or two, and some can be 90 days, depending upon the project. When production levels are high, lead times are longer, and it is always a good idea to get a no obligation quote in advance.  Our average turnaround time is 4-6 weeks but it is entirely dependent on our schedule at the time that your project arrives.   If necessary and if physically possible, we will adjust our schedule to meet yours and once we commit to a delivery date, you can count on it.

What do you need from me to provide a quote for my cutaway project?

The best and most effective way is to send the part with a description of the work you want done.   If your product or part is very large, transportation can be difficult, so typically we like to have a dimensional drawing along with weights and the primary materials of the product (carbon steel, stainless, aluminum, etc.)   A photo of the product is always helpful as well, along with a description of the areas you are looking to feature.  With this information we can provide an accurate estimate, which can be confirmed upon receipt of the actual product.

How do I specify where to cut on my product?

Generally, you will receive the best cutaways if you tell us what features you want to show and leave the specific cutting designs to our skilled technicians. They have the knowledge and experience to show and retain components in such a way as to show what you want in the best and least expensive way. We strive to show as much as possible in one view with as simple a cut as possible.

If I can do all or some of the work in-house, shouldn’t I?

There are three ways of looking at this question:
Financially: Because we specialize in making cutaways and displays, we are pretty darn good (and efficient) at it. Therefore, it generally takes our experts less time to do a cutaway so we are almost always less expensive than full or even incremental in-house costs.

Quality Control: We provide all cutting, clearancing, finishing and final fitting, plus basemounts and shipping containers. All these services must be coordinated, anticipating the needs of the others. At Calco you get a one stop shop that will handle all of these needs for you. We have the tools necessary to do the job right and the expertise and knowledge to make it look great.

Resources: Just because you can do something doesn’t mean that it is the best use of your resources (time and talent). Most companies are continuously assessing what they should and can do well, and then outsourcing the rest.

What else can CalCo do for me besides cutaways?

• Working Models
• Custom Stands and Basemounts
• Lighting
• Custom Fit Cases
• Custom Fit Permanent Shipping Containers
• Animation and Electronic Media
• Professional Photography
• 3-D Printing, Scale Models and Prototypes
• Point of Purchase Displays and Signage
• Custom Sales Awards and Corporate Gifts
• Web Enabled Training and Training Programs
• Metal Plating
• If you don’t see what you need, just ask!

Our Promise:

Highest Quality, Great Value and Guaranteed On-Time Delivery.  We want our customers to be satisfied and we will do everything within our power to meet this goal!

If you have any other questions that you would like CalCo to answer please contact us by email at News@CalcoCutaways.com or by clicking the envelope in the top left corner of this window.  For more information visit our website at www.CalCoCutaways.com or click here for contact information.

Alternatives to Large Trade Show Displays – Animation, Scale Models and Large Scale Printing

Do you have large products to display at your next trade show?  Are the logistics of moving them around getting to you?  CalCo has some options for displaying your large products in a memorable way.  We offer animation, scale models or large scale printing as alternative options for your large products.

Our animation can show your product in action and it can be completely interactive for your customers.   They can choose whether to start or stop the animation and what information will help them or the animation can play continously.  Additional literature can also be accessed to provide more detailed information.  Our unique perspective on the way products work and the cutaway process give us good insight in to what your customer wants to see and how to achieve it.  The beauty of animation is that it can be used in multiple environments – at a trade show, on your website or on sales calls.

Scale models are another option to show your product in complete detail by using a light-weight, full color model.   We can create a cutaway section of the model as well to show the interior components and how they interrelate.  Your model is an exact duplicate of your product but in a small transportable size.  We can create a custom case to make moving it to your next trade show or sales call easy.

With large scale printing you can show your product in full size and detail with out moving it to the trade show.  We offer professional photography shoots of your product at our facility.  The photos can be used for large displays in your trade show booth or they can be utilized for brochures, banners or other internal or external advertising needs.

If the cost and headache of moving your large products are getting to be too much, give CalCo a call to see about the alternatives of animation,  scale models or large scale printing.  We can help you show your product in its best light without carrying it around with you.  Call CalCo at 847/639-3858 to discuss your alternatives or click here for contact information.

CalCo: Your Turn-Key Solution for Product Displays

CalCo likes a challenge! We have been in the business of solving our customers problems for almost 60 years.

CalCo started in 1953 as a cutaway shop taking products and cutting away a portion to show the internal parts since they can be a valuable selling tool.  We have come a long way over the years by adapting to customer needs and changes in product displays.  In that time, we have become a turn-key solution for our customers by adding new services.  Did you know there is a place you can go to get all of your product display needs performed at the same time?

In addition to cutaways,  CalCo provides :

• Working Models with or without a cutaway
• Product Displays
• Sales and Training Aids
• Lighting
• Custom Basemounts
• Custom Shipping Containers
• Acrylic covers  and Displays
• Point-of-Puchase Displays
• Custom Cases
• Scale Models and Rapid Prototyping
• Three Dimensional Printing
• Animation
• Sales Awards
• Corporate Gifts
• Plating
• Training Programs
• Professional Photography
• Waterjet Cutting

CalCo can solve your trade show or product display problems with just one phone call!  A typical project now involves creating a cutaway, attaching a brushed aluminum base or custom rolling basemount, building a custom shipping container and a shooting a professional photography session before the project is completed and shipped back to the customer ready to go directly to a trade show or presentation.

If you need help with your trade show, sales or training needs, call CalCo at 847/639-3858 or click here for our contact page and let us make your idea a reality!

Looking for 3D Prototyping? Our Experts make it Fast and Easy

Do you need a small part created, or a complete prototype?  CalCo can create your design in a variety of materials so that you can create, manipulate and test your new designs quickly to speed up the development process.

Whether it is a small piece made from SLS Nylon or a large 3-D model in full color,  CalCo can help you get exactly what you need to make your 3D prototyping project exactly the way you want it.   At CalCo, “Your Product is Our Profession” so we spend the extra time to make sure you get what you want the first time so you can quickly make adjustments and move your project to the next step. To contact CalCo click here for information or call 847/638-3858.

2009: The Year in Review

As is typical at the end of the year CalCo is reflecting on the past twelve months. There were some unique and creative product displays, cutaways, 3-D models and POP displays created this year.  A few of them are included below for your enjoyment:

And finally, some believe that 2009 was a year down the toilet, although that was not the case at CalCo we still spent some time with one….

CalCo looks forward to another interesting year!

To contact CalCo call 847/639-3858 or click here for our contact page.

CalCo’s New Brochure is Now Available

Fresh for 2010 Calco has developed a new brochure showing all of the services offered and some examples of the quality craftmanship that is synonymous with the CalCo name.  CalCo has been offering quality tradeshow displays and cutaways for over 50 years, especially to industrial product manufacturers.   Now see some of the other services available such as 3-D models or prototypes, working models, special lighting, custom bases, corporate gifts, POP displays and other tradeshow or marketing products.  You can count on CalCo as a turn-key solution for your sales and marketing needs.

The front and back cover of the new brochure are shown below, and the full PDF can be downloaded here. (right click and choose “Save As”)

To get a look inside our new brochure please send your information (name, company and address) to brochures@calcocutaways.com.  You will receive one in the mail right away so CalCo can help you start the year right with some new ideas to show your product in its best light because “Your Product is Our Profession”

For more ideas visit our website at www.calcocutaways.com ,  click here for contact information or call 847/639-3858.

The Buck Stops Here

Your company uses a variety of vendors for certain products or services every day, making make life easier for everyone. So do we.

Your company probably uses a few providers that actually make life more difficult for you or your coworkers. Same here.

On Monday one of our primary vendors emailed to let us know that our project with them was complete. . .Great.

This was typical and expected. . .

However, the details on getting the order back to us were left out, forcing us to stop what we were doing, contact them about it and make these arrangements ourselves. Done.

Once the items were received, we found quality issues on practically every piece that was delivered. Where was the quality control??

We would have sent the entire order back to be redone from scratch, except that we needed these pieces for a larger project that our client was expecting on time. We had to stop what we were doing (again) and fix every mistake and flaw to bring this project back up to our high standard of quality, (which our client expects).

Everything worked out in the end, our client was thrilled with the final result and his coworkers were equally impressed with the craftsmanship and attention to detail, (and the shipping was arranged without our client’s involvement whatsoever).

So the extra effort on our end resulted in a great experience for our client. We love that.

The vendor’s actions, on the other hand, had to be managed, monitored and corrected.   Is this the case with some of your providers?

Communication and responsibility are the landmarks of a company you can trust for the long term. The reason companies like CalCo have been around for over half a century, is because they are trusted, respected and are the go-to guys when quality and professionalism are important.

Did you know that CalCo can handle your POP displays, your screen printing, your photography, your display storage, your prototyping, your sales cases, your website design, your 3D animation, your metal finishing, your large format printing, your digital image manipulation, and many of the other items you struggle with every day?  It’s true.

Please call 847-639-3858 or email to see if your project can be handled correctly this time by CalCo, let us handle the problems so you can just sleep easy for once.