01763 249760  office@prototypeprojects.com

Learning Hub
Quote / Order
  • CNC Machining
    • CNC Turning
    • CNC Milling
    • CNC Low Volume Production
    • CNC Materials
    • CNC Finishing
    • Vapour Honing
    • CNC Machining 3-Day
    • Production Speeds
  • 3D Printing
    • SLS – Selective Laser Sintering
    • SLA – Stereolithography
    • MICRO 3D PRINTING
    • Polyjet 3D Printing
    • DLP – Digital Light Projection
    • Filament 3D Printing
    • SLS Dyeing
    • 3D Printing Materials
    • 3D Printing Finishing
    • Production Speeds
    • Additive Manufacturing
    • Additive Prototyping
    • Matrix
  • Vacuum Casting
  • Model Making
  • Expertise
    • Low Volume Manufacturing
    • Rapid Prototyping
    • Laser Cutting
    • Inspection
  • Downloads
    • Guides and whitepapers
    • Plant list
    • Policies, forms and certificates
    • Process datasheets
    • Prototype materials datasheets
  • About
    • Customers
    • Our Team
    • Our values
    • Payment methods
    • Work with us
    • News & Articles
    • Case Studies
    • Privacy statement
    • Sustainability
  • Contact
  1. Home
  2. Company news
  3. Reflections on 2021 from Justin Pringle

Reflections on 2021 from Justin Pringle

A year like no other

This year has been unusual in so many ways, and that was after an out-of-the-ordinary 2020.

Here at Prototype Projects, we are surrounded by technology, and we are acutely aware that our customers utilise cutting-edge technologies to, frankly, make the world a better place. But sometimes things happen that put everything into perspective. Technology is wonderful but what really matters is people.

Many of you reading this will already know that we lost Gary Turner, our General Manager back in the summer. This was a huge shock for everyone at Prototype Projects and, even more so, his family and friends. Having worked at Prototype Projects since he was 16, Gary was an integral part the company, helping to steer it through tough times and build it into today’s successful business. The messages of condolence we received from customers and suppliers showed how much he was appreciated and will be missed outside the company, as well as within. Those messages have been of great comfort to Gary’s family and his work family at an extremely difficult time. Thank you all.

Gary Turner - Reflections on 2021 from Justin Pringle
Reflections on 2021 from Justin Pringle

New faces, new roles

This year we have welcomed another six people to Prototype Projects. Shane has been recruited to the accounts/office team, Wayne and Ryan have boosted the rapid prototyping department, Oli joined the CNC machining team, Wendy is in the office and Pete is working in the 3D printing suite. Our company now employs 28 people.

We have also made some changes to roles and responsibilities over the last 12 months. Tim Rowell has been promoted to Quality and Operations Manager and is responsible for a team of 20 people. Tim ensures every job is completed to the high standards our customers have come to expect. He is also responsible for much of the operational side of the business, and the ongoing training and development of the rapid prototyping team. Coincidentally, earlier this year Tim celebrated his 20th anniversary of joining Prototype Projects, though in fact he has spent more than 20 years with Prototype Projects because he had worked here previously!

Gemma Zouhar-Lewis has also been promoted and is now our Rapid Prototyping Workshop Team Leader. As well as managing the team, Gemma is still very much hands-on with rapid prototyping and modelmaking.

Hannah Game joined Prototype Projects in 2010 as our Sales Co-ordinator but her role has always been more wide-ranging than her job title suggests. She was promoted to Sales Manager in 2018 and, this year, her responsibilities evolved further. In addition, we are very proud that Hannah has become our first Mental Health Awareness First Aider. As a company that works under constant pressure to meet customers’ needs, it is vital not to overlook mental wellness. After completing her Level 2 training, Hannah implemented a number of strategies to support staff with mental health issues.

Quicker quotes

Hannah has also overseen the introduction of a new system, developed by our IT team, to automate some aspects of the quoting process. This helps Hannah, Adam and Wendy turn around quotations more quickly, and also enables them to analyse trends and adjust their work accordingly. Adam is the current record holder for generating the quickest quote; will he still hold the title next December?!

Our values

We have always had values and, as a family-run company, we firmly believe that the people are our greatest asset. This year we formalised our values, collaboratively, to ensure we are united as one ‘Team PP’. We have shared these values with our customers so they can understand how we work and what they can expect from us, and we recently launched an internal ‘Star of the Month‘ award initiative to celebrate staff who actively demonstrate the values.

Express CNC machining

One unforeseen benefit of the pandemic was that by September 2020 we had recruited additional CNC operators – who we had previously struggled to find. Throughout 2021 we have been operating a split shift system that enables us to ship Express CNC machined parts in just three working days. The Express CNC service has been very popular with customers needing the tighter tolerances and other benefits provided by CNC machining, together with very short lead times.

To support this service, our CNC Manager Ian Reinemann has overseen the training and development of the CNC team. Several of them have completed MasterCAM (programming) training, and Ian and Greg have carried out in-house training on the machines to improve the team’s techniques, setups and efficiency.

Busier than before

Our Express CNC machining team has been flat out this year, and our 3D printing suite (five years old this year!) and modelmaking team have also been very busy. In fact, we are now processing more orders than we were pre-pandemic, which is very good news (and a huge relief for the MD). Thank you to all our customers, old and new, who have supported us through 2021, and thank you also to our amazing Team PP.

And it really is a team effort, right the way through from responding to enquiries, preparing quotations, checking model files, programming, finishing, assembling, packing and dispatching. Those with back office roles are also part of the overall team and just as important to the business, including the HR, IT, finance and marketing functions.

What next?

At the time of writing, we are waiting to see what impact the Covid-19 Omicron variant will have. I am sure I am not alone in hoping the current high level of concern will subside and we can revert to the path back to normality.

Despite everything else that has happened this year, the Prototype Projects management team has continued working on key elements of our ten-year our development plan. This time next year, I look forward to reflecting on some more exciting developments that, for the moment, we are keeping under wraps.

Meanwhile, thank you again to all our customers and suppliers, and to everyone in Team PP: Adam, Alex, Aron, Chris, Edwin, Emily, Gemma, Glenn, Greg, Hannah, Ian, Jakub, Jan, Jordan, Marc, Mark, Martyn, Michal, Nick, Oli, Pete, Ryan, Shane, Tim, Vikki, Wayne and Wendy. As I said at the start, it is people that really matter.

Best wishes,

Justin
Justin Pringle
Managing Director

Recent Popular
The Benefits of Vacuum Casting for Low-Volume Production

The Benefits of Vacuum Casting for Low-Volume ...

6 May 2025 Comments Off on The Benefits of Vacuum Casting for Low-Volume Production
Understanding the Benefits of Vacuum Casting for Short Runs

Understanding the Benefits of Vacuum Casting for ...

2 May 2025 Comments Off on Understanding the Benefits of Vacuum Casting for Short Runs
SLA, Vacuum Casting, and Model Making - Versatile Prototyping Processes

SLA, Vacuum Casting, and Model Making – ...

30 April 2025 Comments Off on SLA, Vacuum Casting, and Model Making – Versatile Prototyping Processes
Overcoming a Tricky Build for Prototype Projects

Mini Door, Maximum Challenges: How Our Team ...

29 April 2025 Comments Off on Mini Door, Maximum Challenges: How Our Team Overcame a Tricky Build
CNC Prototyping to Production

CNC Prototyping to Production: Supporting Every Stage ...

22 April 2025 Comments Off on CNC Prototyping to Production: Supporting Every Stage of the Product Development Journey
James Dyson

Sir James Dyson: the man behind the ...

10 May 2019 0
Applications and design tips for SLS: a guide

Applications and design tips for SLS: a ...

27 November 2019 0
Prototyping medical devices for patient contact

Prototyping medical devices for patient contact

22 September 2021 0
silicone tooling

LUMA-iD develops Buddy with silicone tooling

21 July 2022 0
CNC Machining and CNC Turning

Understanding the Difference Between CNC Milling and ...

15 April 2025 Comments Off on Understanding the Difference Between CNC Milling and CNC Turning for Better Design Choices

Comments are closed

Next Day Dispatch

Delivering Overnight Printing

Email: office@prototypeprojects.com
Tel: 01763 249760

Prototype Projects Ltd
Units 1&2, Greenfield
Royston,
Herts SG8 5HN

If you have questions about any aspect of our service, please contact us.


    UKAS
    Cert no. 11512-QMS-001
    Cert no. 11512-EMS-001
    Made In Britain - Prototype Projects
    EHAAT proud supporter
    Royston Business Awards - Prototype Projects

    Sign up to our Company and Industry newsletter

    Sign up here

    Prototype Projects, established in 1980, is a specialist in the manufacture of prototypes. The company is experienced in 3D Printing, CNC Machining, Rapid Prototyping, Model Making and Additive Manufacturing. The company is located in Royston, Hertfordshire.

    Trustpilot - Prototype Projects

    About | Our team | Our values | Customers | Work with us

    CNC Machining

    CNC Turning
    CNC Milling
    CNC Materials
    CNC Finishing
    CNC Express
    Production Speeds

    3D Printing

    SLS
    SLA
    Micro 3D Printing
    Polyjet
    Digital Light Projection
    3D Printing Materials
    3D Printing Finishing
    Additive Manufacturing
    Additive Prototyping
    Production Speeds
    Matrix

    Expertise

    Low Volume Manufacturing
    Rapid Prototyping
    Laser Cutting
    Inspection

    Contact us

    Prototype Projects Ltd
    Units 1 &2, Greenfield
    Royston
    Herts SG8 5HN

    office@prototypeprojects.com
    T: 01763 249760

    © 2025 - Prototype Projects | Terms | Privacy | Web Design by Indigo Ross

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    However, you may visit Cookie Settingsto provide a controlled consent. Reject All
    ACCEPT ALL
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT