Reflections on 2022 from Justin Pringle

A return to normality

After the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021, it has been great to get back to normal in 2022 – though I fully appreciate that, for some of you, things might never be the same again.

I have particularly enjoyed returning to ‘proper’ briefing meetings with customers. Virtual meetings were a godsend during the pandemic, and they remain very useful in some circumstances, but they can never compare with having face-to-face meetings.
Talking about a project before ordering prototypes invariably leads to a better end result. Consequently, don’t be surprised if you receive a phone call or email from us after completing our online quotation request form.

Customers tell us how valuable they find it to have physical prototypes for project meetings. And visual models or functioning prototypes are far more compelling than images or videos at exhibitions. During the pandemic, when virtual meetings took the place of in-person meetings, project teams often resorted to sharing CAD models and renderings. Now that teams are once again sitting around the table, they appreciate how insightful it is to handle something physical, pass it around, and see and feel it.

Scores of customers have taken up the offer of a guided tour of our prototyping bureau this year, and dozens more joined the tours during our pre-Christmas Open Week. If you would like a personal guided tour, just ask.

What’s new?

We spend a lot of time talking to customers, and not just discussing specific projects. It is important to take the time to understand our customers’ businesses, learn what our customers’ customers want, and what the future holds. All of this helps us to ensure we have the technologies and skills customers need from us.

One result of all this has been that in 2022 we invested in Projection Micro Stereolithography (PµSL for short, pronounced ‘puzzle’). PµSL builds parts from liquid resin and is therefore related to SLA and DLP, but it builds parts with far higher resolution and an exceptionally smooth surface finish. If this technology is new to you, take a look at our introduction to PµSL and find out how this amazing technology could help with your projects.

Earlier this year we also enhanced our inspection capability by installing a Trimos 20-V3-400 V3 digital height gauge. This is a very stable machine, suitable for use in challenging workshop inspection environments. We also bought a selection of different probes so we can use the Trimos to measure parts with unusual geometries, as well as setting tooling for our CNC machine tools. Accurate to 0.007mm, the Trimos has a measurement repeatability of 0.002mm.

In addition to these investments in capital equipment, we also spent time assessing a new material for use with our DLP 3D printer. Tough Clear, as its name suggests, is a tough, clear material; it is production-grade and engineered to provide long-term resistance to environmental UV, humidity and various chemicals. It also offers short-term resistance to elevated temperatures. Since we started using it, customers have been specifying Tough Clear for both prototype and low-volume production parts.

Over the next 12 months, we will be expanding our capabilities still further in line with our ten-year plan, I can’t quite believe we are coming to year 3 already! We will let you know about those exciting developments as soon as we can.

Team PP

Investing in new technology is pointless unless you have the right people to make the most of it. It is almost Christmas, so I am going to indulge myself with one cliché: our people are our biggest asset. Team Prototype Projects now comprises 30 people and, at the time of writing, we are recruiting for another five as part of our 10-year plan.

This year we have continued to provide training and development, both in-house and with external specialists when appropriate. Two individuals I would like to name-check here are Shane Lee, who this year qualified as our second Mental Health First Aider, and Hannah Game, who has completed her Level 3 Mental Health First Aider training.

In 2021 we introduced a Star of the Month scheme. Anyone at Prototype Projects can be nominated for exemplifying one or more of our values. All of the winners are listed on our Star of the Month page and, as you will see, they represent all facets of the business. The names may not be well known to customers and suppliers, but our stars have all played key roles in enabling us to achieve the quality and service for which we strive. Congratulations to all of them!

In memory of Gary Turner, we also have Turner’s Prize of Excellence. This is an annual award to recognise individuals who meet and surpass the company values. This year we are delighted to present Turner’s Prize of Excellence to Alex Barnett for embracing change, nurturing and demonstrating outstanding teamwork. Our Runner Up is Glenn Watts. And four of our team were highly commended: Michal Mikolajczyk, Wendy Webb, Shane Lee and Gemma Zouhar-Lewis.

Fun in the sun

Tuesday 19th July 2022 will go down in history for two reasons. First, it was the hottest day on record in the UK. Second, it was Prototype Projects’ first ever Away Day. Yes, we managed to pick the hottest day to get outside, do some back-breaking potato picking, dodge (unsuccessfully) the wasps and build fires. We were hosted by Church Farm, a community interest not-for-profit social enterprise. Despite the heat, we had a hugely successful day of bushcraft, team building and fun. If anyone has a crystal ball and can give us an accurate weather forecast for July 2023, please get in touch!

Earlier in the summer, I was in London for New Blades, the annual model makers’ recruitment fair. After a pandemic-related break of two years, New Blades 2022 was the 28th fair and I am very proud that Prototype Projects was one of the main sponsors. It is vital that our industry encourages new talent and the standard of work on show this year was incredibly high. Congratulations to all of the 69 graduates who exhibited.

Wrapping up in time for Christmas

Thank you to all of our customers. This year we have served a wide range of regular customers, we have also enjoyed getting to know new customers, and it has been great to welcome back customers we have not seen for a while. I know it is stating the obvious but, without our customers, we would not be here. Thank you all!

I would also like to thank our suppliers. I know some of them have had a tough time due to supply chain issues this year, but they have stepped up and supported us, for which we are most grateful.

I have already mentioned Team PP and I would like to wrap up by thanking everyone for their effort and commitment throughout the year. It has been good to get back to normal this year and we are all looking forward to making further progress in 2023.

We will be taking a break over Christmas and the New Year. We will be closed from midday on Friday 23rd December, and will reopen again on Tuesday 3rd January 2023. Meanwhile, Happy Holidays!

Best wishes,
Justin