There is one reason above all others why businesses flock to China for their rapid prototyping needs. That reason is cost. As with all forms of manufacturing in China, rapid prototyping is incredibly cheap, offering lower rates than even the most affordable companies located in Europe and North America.
It’s an obvious draw, but the affordability of rapid prototyping in China tends to come with several downsides. For one, the general quality of Chinese manufacturing is lower than its European and North American counterparts. There are outliers of course, but the lower cost of Chinese rapid prototyping reflects the slightly more economical services that can lack quality.
Quality isn’t the only risk, however. Corresponding with a Chinese company can occasionally lead to communication problems, while different intellectual property practices in China mean that trade secrets can be less secure in the hands of a Chinese manufacturer than in, for example, an American one.
Of course, not all Chinese rapid prototyping companies come with these consequences. In fact, one company is doing everything it can to erase the stereotype altogether.
That company is 3ERP, a Guangdong-based prototyping specialist offering CNC machining, additive manufacturing, vacuum casting, and other rapid prototyping services. This manufacturing service provider promises the low cost of Chinese rapid prototyping with all the advantages of Western-style production quality, efficiency, and security.
Can 3ERP meet quality requirements?
Quality is one of the major concerns for companies that are thinking about working with a Chinese manufacturer. That’s hardly a surprise: businesses need to know whether they will be getting a prototype of suitable quality, and also whether the chosen manufacturer will be able to scale up operations through bridge production.
In its mission to challenge stereotypes of Chinese manufacturing, 3ERP strives to eliminate such concerns, priding itself on its expert team, equipment, and unprecedented project success rate.
With top-end equipment like Haas 5-axis vertical machining centers — not to mention a staff that has years of experience under their belts — 3ERP offers professional CNC machining services and other manufacturing services of the highest standard.
How does 3ERP ensure that quality?
The quality of 3ERP products and prototypes is guaranteed by the company’s ISO9001-2015 certification and comprehensive quality control system, which consists of measuring and testing equipment and a multi-stage inspection process for ensuring material and structural quality.
Included in this quality control system at 3ERP is an X-ray material testing machine, which is capable of identifying and differentiating metals within half a minute, eliminating the possibility of improper material usage. This process means customers know exactly what kind of prototype they will have in their hands before they receive it.
3ERP also employs a high-grade on-site inspection system to accurately align tools with the workpiece, in addition to a profile projector that presents highly accurate measurements.
Another important device used in 3ERP’s quality control system is a top-of-the-line coordinate measuring machine (CMM) made by Hexagon AB, a world-famous metrology company based in Sweden. The CMM is used to precisely measure the geometry of a part by sensing points on its surface, allowing 3ERP to determine if a manufactured part matches initial designs.
What kind of service can I expect from 3ERP?
Ultimately, a company’s decision regarding third-party prototyping may actually have little to do with production quality. Location is also important, and many companies are skeptical of outsourcing to China for two important reasons: Chinese manufacturers are not always able to communicate in English, and working with a company in a remote region can result in slower deliveries of the prototype or product.
3ERP deals with each of these problems in an efficient manner. Firstly, 3ERP’s workers are fluent English speakers that have amassed a lot of experience dealing with international customers. They are therefore capable of discussing specific project details with clarity and accuracy.
3ERP also offers very fast turnaround times, even for clients based outside of China. With its CNC machining projects, for example, 3ERP will return quotes within 24 hours and ship parts within seven days.
Will 3ERP protect my IP?
For many businesses, especially those in rapidly growing tech sectors, one serious pitfall associated with rapid prototyping in China is the issue of confidentiality. Contractual loopholes and opaque supply chains can result in the leading of trade secrets, causing significant harm to young companies looking to introduce their new product to the market.
Companies are often warned of the risks of third-party manufacturing in China, with intellectual property generally considered safer when kept within Europe or North America.
3ERP takes confidentiality incredibly seriously. The company encourages and fully complies with legally binding non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), which serve to protect the intellectual property of a customer.
Furthermore, by carrying out its rapid prototyping services in-house, 3ERP ensures that its CNC machining, pressure die casting, sheet metal prototyping, and other manufacturing services are carried out in privacy, ensuring that IP and trade secrets are kept as they should be: secret.
How do I contact 3ERP?
When choosing a rapid prototyping company in China, one can generally expect a certain level of ‘economy’, as competition and labor markets in Asia serve to keep costs low. 3ERP, however, also guarantees ‘excellence’ and ‘efficiency’, in line with the ‘three Es’ that the company is named after.
By choosing 3ERP as a rapid prototyping service provider, customers will engage with a company that is determined to break the stereotype of manufacturing in China, and also deliver the highest quality on the rapid prototyping market.
Contact 3ERP today for a free project quote.
License: The text of "3ERP Breaks the Stereotype of Rapid Prototyping in China" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.