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Where craftsmanship meets high-tech: from traditional models to digital prototypes

Thanks to state-of-the-art technology, halcö Alfred Hörtnagl creates impressive prototypes of complete design families for fittings. The company is a traditional Tyrolean business that has stood for high-quality fittings and precise craftsmanship for generations. With state-of-the-art technology and a keen sense of design, halcö Alfred Hörtnagl GmbH combines classic metalworking with innovative methods. This results in durable products with the highest standards of quality and aesthetics – as demonstrated by the latest project with WESTCAM, in which traditional clay models were turned into digital designs and prototypes in a very short space of time.

The challenge

From clay model to digital design model in the shortest possible time

It all started with a hand-molded clay model, the shape of which had already been perfected. For halcö Alfred Hörtnagl GmbH, a traditional company with many years of experience in high-quality fittings, it was crucial to transfer this design efficiently into the digital world.

WESTCAM tackled the project together with halcö Alfred Hörtnagl GmbH under the motto “tradition meets high-tech”. State-of-the-art 3D scanning technology was used to create a detailed digital template. Based on this, designs for different fittings were developed and elaborated into a complete product family.

Fast prototypes through 3D printing

The decisive advantage became apparent in the next step: all of the designed models could be realized 1:1 using 3D printing. Thanks to WESTCAM ‘s expertise, the first physical samples could be created within a very short time – without expensive tools or long waiting times. This enabled Halcö to make design decisions at an early stage on the basis of real models.

Advantages at a glance

Speed: As soon as the first draft is ready, the first prototypes can be produced within just a few hours

Cost efficiency: Low prototype costs also make several iterations economical

Tangible decisions: Full-size models convey a realistic sense of form, ergonomics and aesthetics

“Working with WESTCAM enabled us to quickly implement our models digitally and test prototypes directly. This allowed us to make design decisions quickly and prepare for production efficiently.”

Georg Hörtnagl

Halcö

The solution

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Daniel
Daniel Hebenstreit
3D printing & engineering