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.

3-D Animation Shows Your Product in Action Like Nothing Else Can

Sometimes it is impossible to get your product in front of your customer whether due to size, geography or time constraints. Or maybe your product is extremely complex and it is hard for a customer to grasp all of the different parts that are working together.  In these cases your best solution is animation.  A customized animated video of your product  can show the interior through a cutaway or exploded view.  It can breakdown the various functions into understandable pieces and then put them all together to give a complete and understandable view of your product.  With animation a whole product or system can be studied, broken down into functions and put back together quickly.  Depending on the complexity of your product you can add features to stop, pause or advance the video so that different  areas can be explored.  Additional information in the form of white papers, 3-d drawings, graphs or any other data can be added and accessed easily.  Actual video of your product at work can be included and all with a script describing the attributes and competitive advantage of your product.

New animation technology is developing all the time.  With Flash technology you have the ability to have an interactive animation that the user can start and stop to individualize their experience.  With Augmented Reality there is even more user interaction for the customer.  A piece of printed paper is used in conjunction with a laptop camera to show a three dimensional shape that can be manipulated by just moving the paper in front of the camera.  Each user can zoom in on parts they want to see better or move to look at what interests them most.  These technologies increase the individual experience for your customer and show your product in its best light.

If you would like to learn more about how to animate your product give CalCo a call at 847/639-3858 or click here for more contact information.

Ideas for Trade Show Displays from CalCo

Our goal is to make your job of displaying your product easy whether it is at a trade show, at a sales call or in a training center.  We want to provide a customized solution for your product to show it in its best light.  Your satisfaction is our first priority.  With that in mind we have written some in-depth articles with ideas for displaying your product and we are trying to give you new ways to get information.  We have posted some informative articles about engine cutaways, trade show displays, shipping containers/case options and working models.  These articles give an overview of some choices for your displays and what CalCo can help you create.  Click on the links below to read these articles:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Tradeshow-Display-Options-for-Industrial-Manufacturers&id=6031914

http://ezinearticles.com/?Working-Models-Stop-Traffic-at-Trade-Shows&id=6148995

http://ezinearticles.com/?Engine-Cutaways:-How,-Why,-Who&id=5807313

http://ezinearticles.com/?Find-the-Right-Freight-Shipping-Container-or-Case-to-Handle-Your-Trade-Show-Displays&id=6314075

In addition, CalCo has a Facebook Page!! “Like” us on Facebook and get all the latest NEWS from CalCo directly. Browse our photos for ideas, ask questions and let us know what you think. We want to hear from you!

Get more ideas on our website at www.calcocutaways.com or look through our past articles on this site. To contact us call 847/639-3858,  click here for more information or visit us on Facebook.

“Your Product is our Profession!”

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.

A True Custom Engine Display Story

Before and After

With over 130 years of German engineering and expertise, Deutz Corporation consistently presents themselves as leaders in the industry through memorable and well executed branding and marketing efforts.

When Deutz had an opportunity to rework one of their temporary training engine displays into a full fledged tradeshow exhibit, they turned to CalCo and their equally stringent quality commitment and standard.

CalCo was able to match a standard paint scheme set in Germany just by inspecting an existing display and using their vast knowledge base and ability to think on their feet to recreate their winning design. This included a textured paint finish with a satin sheen in both Deutz red and silver, as well as a gold finish plating process that was indentified and duplicated as well or better than the example display.

CalCo’s ability to match existing display schematics or branding specifications allows for the seamless introduction of an alternative to creating displays in house to free up valuable expertise that can concentrate on other hot areas instead.

Deutz also had a brilliant idea on how to accentuate some of their exhaust after-treatment components that install onto a factory engine. The idea . . . to make the engine all but ‘disappear’ to instead feature the additional components while still showing how these innovative parts connect to an engine.

The engine block was recreated using clear acrylic panels mounted to the stand in parallel formation, and the after treatment parts were displayed as if they were bolted right to the phantom engine.

The look was impressive and amazing, and according to Nolan Madden of Deutz Corporation,“Our new EAT display was the star [of the show] , garnering nothing but accolades from customers and colleagues alike.”

When your presentation on the sales floor or in the field needs to be expertly deliberate and reflective of your commitment to excellence, trust the 50+ years of industry experience of having already solved the potential problems everyone else will be having.

Give CalCo a call at 847-639-3858 or contact CalCo to discuss your great ideas and turn them into a dazzling reality!

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.

Motorize and Protect Your Trade Show Display

Do you have a display that could be telling a more compelling story than it already is?  That is what happened here.  Recently, a display was sent to CalCo to be upgraded.  We were asked to add a motor to the unit so it could be seen in action.

Often times, when a cutaway is motorized and in motion, it turns into a hazard to those viewing it. Protective shields are commonly added over the moving parts to protect the unit from being handled and to protect the people around it from being injured.  This particular product was even tilted and elevated to make more of the working components easy to view.

The beauty of a motorized display is that it not only GRABS ATTENTION but it can visually demonstrate your product without a salesman or literature.  Sometimes a good look is worth a thousand words.

Reworking or repurposing an existing display can save your organization money and give your exhibit new life.  Do you have a seasoned display that needs to be updated or even motorized?  Give CalCo a call at 847/639-3858 right now to discuss the options available to make your display capture your customers attention and keep it!

Click here for further contact information.

Cutaway your Product Line and See the Impact

Recently CalCo worked with Kimray to create cutaways that spanned a large majority of their product line. You can see the incredible impact this has in their office building as well as when traveling to tradeshows.

Cutaways are invaluable sales tools whether they are traveling to tradeshows or with salespeople on calls and as a bonus the top photo shows that when your cutaways aren’t being utilized for sales they can make a huge impression on visitors to your office or even your own employees.

Cutaways are interactive.  Prospective buyers can see and touch the features that make your product better than your competitors.  In many cases the unit can be turned or motorized so the buyer has a better understanding of the function and design.  And with a stand out paint job your product begs to be noticed!

If your products could use some help to show themselves in their best light, give CalCo a call at 847/639-3858 or click here for contact information.  At CalCo, “Your Product is Our Profession”.

Product Display Lighting . . . or Alien Encounter?

Have you ever had a crowd of people standing around your products talking about them on the show floor?

Lighting can have a profound effect on your display and there are a myriad of ways to light your product to show it off.  Using LED lights your products can be:

• lit from within
• spot lights can highlight specific areas or make it shine so it can be seen from a distance,
• specialized colored lighting can give it an overall  glow or a
• lighted basemount can highlight your company logo or product name

These are just a few of the ways lighting can be infused into your New or Existing product displays.

For more information click here to contact CalCo or call 847/639-3858  for some other lighting ideas or to explore your ideas.