During the recent World Car Awards (WCA) ceremony, seven 3D printed trophies were awarded to the category winners.
Created by the design and engineering company, CALLUM – a company that already used 3D printing to meet the demand for customization from luxury automotive and lifestyle brands, the seven seven trophies were produced via Replique, an encrypted 3D printing platform that offers OEMs a secure means of producing parts on demand, anytime, anywhere.
The two companies were selected and commissioned by the WCA organisers, with a creative brief to design and manufacture a new, unique and visually impactful trophy that would befit the prestigious awards and its winners.
The trophies were produced in PA12 material partners and SLS technology through Replique’s network of print. Once 3D printed, the trophies underwent a post-processing stage. Among the procedures applied was the vapor smoothing technique which provided an ideal seamless surface for the application of vibrant gold automotive-grade coatings, further enhancing their aesthetic appeal, one learns.
“When you design something, you need to consider factors like the angles, the construction method and if it will need assembly of different parts – all of which is very complicated and time-consuming. This project demonstrates perfectly how 3D printing completely removes that headache, by granting you the means to create virtually any form from a digitalized design,” Ian Callum – founder of CALLUM- explains.
According to Callum, the concept behind the new trophy reimagines the theme of the WCA logo and the original award, with a road encircling the globe in a modern yet emotive style depicting movement. As the automotive industry rapidly adopts additive manufacturing because of its unique advantages, including reducing costs, enhancing product performance and increasing supply chain resilience, WCA has chosen to embrace this technology for the first time in the creation of the new trophy. By leveraging 3D printing, the construction of the new trophy also represents the many technological advances made in vehicle design and manufacturing, a press release states.
“On behalf of Replique, I’d like to extend our warmest congratulations to all esteemed winners of the 2023 World Car Awards. It was a thrilling moment to see the winners’ faces light up with joy at the sight of their cutting-edge, 3D-printed trophies, which also capture the essence of the occasion so perfectly. We look forward to contributing to many more such moments,” Henrike Wonneberger Co-founder and COO of Replique, concludes.
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