NP Plastics | Homepage

Customized Molding Solutions

  • Nederlands
  • English

Search

  • Home
  • About us
  • Horticultural products
    • Plant label display stakes
    • Plant label clips
    • Stake clips
  • Technical Products
    • Industry B2B
  • Services
  • Sustainability and Quality
  • News
  • Contact

New metal replacement project in times of corona

11 November 2020

The replacement of metal components by high-performance plastic parts has been an ongoing trend in the industry for quite some years. In that respect, the past few months have unexpectedly proven a boon for new developments of this kind. 

We took advantage of the time to approach one of NP Plastics’ more dormant customers to ask whether, by any chance, they had a project we could perhaps collaborate on. After all, NP had been producing just one product for this customer for many years and wanted to talk about expanding our cooperation to other projects, as well.

The pandemic has opened up opportunities – for our customers, too, we noticed – for new ideas and for further development of existing products and applications. 

The answer was a nothing if not clear ‘no’. They had other things to worry about during the corona crisis, they said.

The conversation ended with our assuring this customer that should an unexpected setback arise in even a simple run-of-the-mill application, they were more than welcome to give us a call.

I was therefore extremely surprised indeed to receive a call from this customer just a few days later, saying: “I’ve never had anything happen to me before like what just happened. For years, I’ve used a cold-formed stainless steel product that I order in Italy. Now, apparently, the coronavirus has led to a shortage of stainless steel sheets, and my product has suddenly doubled in price.” Could NP Plastics help?

We met the very next day. Our customer had brought the existing product along, together with a 2D drawing, and we went over the other requirements. Two days later, I had a 3D printed prototype in the required dimensions, and a guide price for a steel mold.

With a production volume of around 10,000 pieces a year, some additional calculations were needed. However, when the  payback period turned out to be around one year, the order was immediately placed. The first plastic products were delivered within 4 weeks after that first meeting. 

Original product 3D printed product

The next metal replacement project  – for this customer – is already under way, although this time, in a little less of a rush. For more information, send an email to rob.smit@np-plastics.nl  or give me a call  on +31 6 38501788.

“We’re committed to building durable relationships with our customers, based on expertise and trust”
plant label display stake
Caravan component
plant label display stake
The robot transports the component to the conveyor belt to cool off

Latest news

Two new adiabatic 5,000 m3/hr cooling and ventilation units

NP Plastics new developments: Energy saving/ improving indoor air quality of the production hall

Two new adiabatic 5,000 m3/hr cooling and ventilation units have been … Read more

New metal replacement project in times of corona

The replacement of metal components by high-performance plastic parts has … Read more

We’re committed to our customers

Do you have a new product? Need to re-engineer an existing product? NP Plastics can get the job done! Discover how we can provide your plastic solutions.

Fill in your details below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Company details

NP Plastics B.V.
Luchterweg 10 (industrial park Delfweg)
2211 SZ Noordwijkerhout

Tel: +31-(0)252-37 10 70
Fax: +31-(0)252-37 15 69
E-mail: info@np-plastics.nl

Chamber of Commerce: 28014751 Leiden
VAT: NL0028.79.657.B.01

Copyright © 2021 · Design & realisation: Essie Q design