3D Printing Meets the Toy Industry
Project: Licensed Disney figurine, for Jada Toys
Service utilized: SLA
Need to produce an item on a tight deadline, but sacrificing quality for speed is simply not an option? That’s the situation Jada Toys faced just days before the entry deadline for exhibitors at the 2014 Toy Industry Association Fall Toy Preview. The opportunity to debut their latest offering at the nation’s largest toy fair couldn’t be missed, but the fact was, the toy wasn’t ready.
With buyers from high-volume retailers like Amazon, Toys R Us and Target expected at the toy fair, the exposure possibilities were huge. However, if the quality of the sample seemed poor, or the details of the toy weren’t showcased to their best, then they’d never make it past the application process. A fast production schedule had to be balanced with the company’s high standards.
The item in question was a licensed figurine from the newest Disney Junior show, slated to air in 2015. The fine details characterizing the title character and his skateboard, were a key focus for the production team. The choice of material and finishing options were scrutinized by Dinsmore, Inc. to ensure a product that would precisely replicate the animated Disney version. Utilizing the uber-individualized SLA process, the surfaces of the prototype were able to achieve an extremely smooth finish, while the high resolution innate with SLA captured every detail to perfection — from the shirt the character was wearing to the artwork on his skateboard.
Of course, this story wouldn’t be here if it didn’t have a happy ending. The toy samples were finished on time, and cost-effectively. The toy was apparently a hit with the Fall Toy Preview selection committee, because they approved it for inclusion at the big event. With the exposure they’ll receive at the toy fair, Jada Toys expects the toy to be one of their biggest sellers of 2015.
STAY TUNED FOR THE OFFICIAL RELEASE AND CHARACTER DETAILS/ PHOTOS
“We will definitely do business with them again and recommend others in our industry to Dinsmore and their services.”
–Maggie Bermudez, Director of Product Development: Girls Toys, Jada Toys