RPT Rapid Prototyping
Full-service rapid prototyping and low-volume manufacturing provider offering 3D printing (SLS, FDM, SLA), vacuum casting, injection molding, RIM processes, CAD design, classic model making, and metal construction from a single 2,700+ m² facility in Gifhorn, Germany.
- CEO / Founder
- Christoph Fromme, Christian Schumacher
- Team Size
- 51-200
- Stage
- Active
- Total Funding
- Bootstrapped
- Latest Round
- Bootstrapped
Technology & Products
Key Products
SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) 3D printing for functional prototypes and end-use parts; FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) 3D printing for large-format and cost-effective prototypes; SLA (Stereolithography) 3D printing for high-resolution, detail-critical parts; Vacuum casting for low-volume duplication of prototypes in production-grade plastics; Injection molding and RIM (Reaction Injection Molding) for pre-series and small-batch production; CAD design and engineering services; Classic model making and metal construction; Quality control and functional testing of prototype parts
Technological Advantage
CLAIMED: Ability to reduce product development cycles by up to 70% through integrated rapid prototyping services. CLAIMED: Full-spectrum manufacturing capability from digital design to physical part delivery. VERIFIED: 28+ years of operational history (founded 1996) demonstrating sustained market demand. VERIFIED: Multi-process capability spanning additive, subtractive, and casting technologies. The integrated service model creates a switching cost advantage — customers who standardize on RPT's workflow avoid the coordination overhead and quality variance of managing multiple specialized vendors. However, the advantage is REPLICABLE as none of the individual processes are proprietary.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Consolidates the entire prototyping-to-small-series workflow under one roof — from CAD design through SLS/FDM/SLA 3D printing, vacuum casting duplication, injection molding, model making, and metal construction — eliminating multi-vendor coordination costs and reducing product development cycles by up to 70%, enabling engineering teams to iterate faster and validate designs at near-series quality before committing to tooling.
How They Differentiate
Unlike global platform players (Protolabs, Hubs) that operate as automated quoting engines with distributed manufacturing, RPT offers hands-on, engineering-focused project collaboration from a centralized German facility. Compared to domestic competitors like Kühling & Kühling, RPT differentiates by offering a broader process portfolio — combining 3D printing with vacuum casting, injection molding, RIM, model making, and metal construction — providing true end-to-end prototyping-to-small-series capability. The 2,700+ m² facility with ~50 employees enables capacity for industrial-scale small-series runs rather than purely one-off prototypes.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Product development teams and engineers at industrial companies requiring fast-turnaround prototypes, functional test parts, pre-series, and small-batch production runs for validation before mass manufacturing.
Industry Verticals
Automotive; Aerospace; Consumer Products; Industrial Equipment; Medical Devices
Competitors
Kühling & Kühling GmbH & Co. KG (Bremen, Germany — SLS/FDM service bureau and 3D printer manufacturer); Protolabs (Minnesota, USA / Feldkirchen, Germany — global rapid prototyping and low-volume manufacturing service provider); Hubs (Amsterdam, Netherlands — online rapid prototyping platform offering SLS, FDM, SLA, injection molding, and CNC)
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
Over 10,000 projects completed; 30 years of experience in rapid prototyping across various industries
Major Milestones
1996: Company founded in Gifhorn, Germany; Formnext 2025: Exhibited as confirmed AM ecosystem participant; Expanded to 2,700+ m² production facility with ~50 employees
Notable Customers
WOB Racing (Formula Student team — additive manufacturing partner for aerodynamic components)