Redcat Racing Uses 3D Printer for Profit
SD300 Pro User Profile:
Dan Sloan is a Principal at RedCat Racing. Established in 2005, they’ve become a major source for Gas, Nitro and Electric powered RC vehicles - selling nearly 100,000 vehicles. RedCat offers their customers a full range of 1/5, 1/8, 1/10 & 1/16 scale RC Cars, Buggies and Trucks and a wide selection of parts, tools and accessories.
Why They Bought an SD300 Pro 3D Printer:
Dan explained that the real profit in their business comes from add-on parts and after-market accessories. While there are a number of parts and accessories for these RC vehicles offered by the original manufacturers, the people at RedCat Racing saw an opportunity to add even more value.
About six months ago, Dan reached out to a customer who had growing popularity in the RedCat Racing Forums. In particular, this guy was designing custom parts and tweaking his RC vehicles for amazing performance. And, he was proving his modifications at Rock Crawling competitions. Dan asked him if he would create some custom parts and accessories for RedCat, and the two agreed to work together. The customer is in New York, and RedCat is in Phoenix, Arizona. By using Google SketchUp and a Solido SD300 Pro 3D Printer, Dan has been able to quickly print and install parts created by the customer in New York. Dan then tests the parts out at RedCat’s testing track, providing feedback to the customer/designer on what worked and what didn’t. This process has resulted in a couple of parts that are already becoming hits from a sales perspective. For example, by creating a larger skid plate to accommodate a heavier battery pack, they could add weight and power to a vehicle. They have also designed parts that have more options for attaching tie-rods and suspension. This enables their customers to customize the performance of a rock crawling vehicle for specific challenges, like additional ground clearance or more traction.
Results:
RedCat Racing continues to create new parts and accessories that improve performance and enjoyment for their customers. That has improved sales, but more importantly, it has increased their gross profit.
