Ford Car Seat

Problem/Challenge Bridge Production
The 2002 North American Autoshow is an annual premier event, showcasing the Automotive industries introduction of their new product lines. With less than 30 days to go, Ford found themselves needing 40 injection molded seat components to introduce a new seating concept for the Ford Navigator.

Solutions/Results Rapid Tooling
Ford immediately called General Pattern. Drawing on the most advanced Rapid Tooling Technology, Laser Sintering (LS), General Pattern was successful in producing 40 injection molds in less than 30 days.

Benefit/Impact Injection Moulding
Within 5 days after tool completion, Ford was assembling seats in the Navigator using production ABS parts with molded in colored and texture. After a highly successful autoshow introduction, General Pattern was asked to continue producing parts. Our tools went on to produce 10,000 additional sets of parts, supporting Ford’s production of Navigators until their volume tooling came on line.

Commercial
Tool Price $240,000 (50% less than P-20 CNC tools)
Unit Price 28 days (60% less than P-20 CNC tools)