Marshall,
I think you will be surprised just how small the model/pattern making
industry is. A source of information may be the APMM (Association
Professional Model Makers).I'm certain they have a web site.
My company has been in the model making industry 30 plus years and
above average in size. I would believe the majority of shops average
less than 10 people. If you assume $100K revenue per modelmaker per
year that gives you average annual sales +/- $1M. There are very few
50-60 person shops in the U.S. There are several over 100. Of those
you would learn many are diversified. Their actual model/pattern
sales are a smaller percent of their business. Those that are large
are captued within the auto industry. Aircraft was a big user, that's
deminished. Consumer products are by and large the largest user of
traditionl model making skills today. The majority of traditional
model shops have seen basic geometric forms go by way of RP. My
company seen all forms of engineering models go to RP beginning in
1993. Presently we are seeing a reverse trend where the customer
requires engineering grade plastic (actual production materials)
prototypes without tooling. This leaves traditional machining
practices.
Large in-house model shops are all but gone with the exception of
toys, gift and collectibles. Basically industries that require
sculptural or carved shapes that are not practical to design in a CAD
system will maintain in-house capabilities. Some companies will keep
a few modelmakers to service sales, marketing and conceptual R&D
products.
I would find it enlightening to learn there are billions of sales $
buried in those hills. Please share your findings with our industry.
I hope you do not include Asia in your analysis. The RP industry by
and large will not see that work. It's hard to compete with 25% our
costs. They do a huge amount of the world's models for consumer
products manufactured in Asia. In fact some US companies will have
their models produced there even though the product will be tooled and
manufactured elsewhere in the world just to save money.
Kindest regards,
Jim Williams, President and CEO
Paramount Industries, Inc.
215.757.9611
215.757.9784 fax
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Model-making market
Author: Marshall Burns <marshall@ennex.com> at INTERNET
Date: 7/20/98 8:46 AM
Good morning!
Does anyone have any data on the size of the professional model
making market? I'm not talking about rapid prototyping here, but about
all kinds of professionally made models and prototypes, including:
-- Product models for engineering and marketing
-- Automotive clay models
-- Architectural models
-- Industrial design models
-- Scientific, medical, and biochemical models
-- Hollywood set design models
-- Working prototypes of mechanical products
This would include both in-house work at large companies and work
done by independent model-making companies for their customers.
My guess is we have to be talking about multiple billions here,
easily. Maybe that much just in Detroit.
I would appreciate any information provided, and will report a
summary of nonconfidential responses back to the list.
Thank you.
Best regards,
Marshall Burns
Marshall@Ennex.com
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