Press Release
Breakthrough...A New Tail Lamp Lens Design Calls For Fast Prototypes
Prototype shop keeps production timeline on schedule even with last minute component modifications and tooling changes
It was just about three years ago, in 2003, when the stylists for Cadillac began in earnest to materialize their design ideas for the new-look 2007 Escalade luxury SUV...taking their concepts from the design studio, drawing boards and computer generated graphics to solid model renderings and the start of the styling evaluation and approval process. It was then that North American Lighting, Inc., (NAL) was contacted by the Cadillac team and introduced to the proposed design changes for the rear tail lamp assemblies. NAL prepared manufacturability studies and cost estimates. And, to the point, began providing prototype parts conforming to the new design criteria.
For NAL, headquartered in Illinois, advanced lighting components and systems are their specialty. Since 1983, the organization has been designing, developing and manufacturing vehicle lights and systems for the majority of automakers, worldwide. Today, the company is a premier Tier One supplier of front end lighting components, including Adaptive Forward System, High Intensity Discharge and standard headlamps, clearance and turn signal lights, as well as fog lights, plus, license, backup and Center High Mounted Stop Lights for the rear of vehicles in addition to tail lamp assemblies.
And, it was with this background that Scott Turner, NAL Prototype Manager at the firm's Technology Center in Farmington Hills, MI, contacted rapid prototype shop Urgent Plastic Services (UPS) for assistance in preparing the Escalade prototypes. UPS specializes in prototyping plastic injection molded components for all types of applications. And even more targeted, for over five years the company has been working with automakers and suppliers such as NAL to provide prototype lighting components for new models and concept vehicles to create light lenses with production-quality reflex characteristics. The rapid designation means that, through the use of advanced manufacturing technologies and materials, prototype parts are completed 50 to 70% faster than traditional technologies and prototype-manufacturing methods would allow.
"Our customers want parts they can hold in their hands, attach to mock-ups and sculpted models, to visually evaluate," notes Mr. Turner. "But today, we at NAL also need to verify the manufacturability of the parts—can the component or assembly be produced within cost guidelines, in sufficient, timely quantities and to the quality standards set by NAL and our customer. We also have to confirm that the lighting component will satisfy any and all federal government safety criteria. In this case, the customer also wanted prototypes made to ECE guidelines for use in vehicles destined for the European markets."
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