--- title: Industrial Prototyping and Short-Run Production for Automotive | Ineo description: High-precision prototype manufacturing and short runs for automotive. Industrial 3D printing, vacuum casting, and CNC machining. date: 2018-11-29 url: https://ineo.es/en/services/sectors/automotive --- # Automotive Prototyping and Short Runs Through Advanced Technologies We accelerate the development of new technical components, jigs, and functional pre-series with maximum precision and zero tooling costs. At **Ineo**, we offer **rapid prototyping and short-run manufacturing solutions for the automotive sector**, combining industrial 3D printing, high-precision CNC machining, and vacuum casting. We help engineering departments and R&D+i centers accelerate the development of new vehicles, optimize tooling costs, and validate complex designs using homologated technical materials, without needing to invest in high-production molds. ### Rapid Prototypes and Functional Validation We manufacture high-precision aesthetic and functional prototypes for the automotive sector, enabling assembly tests, mechanical tolerance validation, and aerodynamic behaviour simulation. Thanks to our industrial 3D printing technologies (SLS, MJF), we process technical materials such as PA12 or TPU, ideal for real-environment testing and fatigue testing. ![image](https://www.ineo.es/media/com_sppagebuilder/placeholder/ineo-services-automotive-sectors-functional-validation-768x768.jpg) ### Short Runs and Homologated Pre-Series Do you need to validate a pre-series prior to launch or manufacture components for special vehicles or limited editions? Through vacuum casting (silicone molds) and CNC machining, we produce short runs with mechanical properties identical to final injection molding. This solution is ideal for internal components, fluid ducts, or button panels without assuming the costs of traditional tooling. ![image](https://www.ineo.es/media/com_sppagebuilder/placeholder/ineo-services-automotive-sectors-low-volume-mjf-768x768.jpg) ### Jigs, Fixtures, and Factory Tooling We optimize assembly lines in automotive plants through the rapid manufacturing of custom jigs, quality control gauges, positioning cradles, and robotic grippers. Additive manufacturing allows us to lighten the weight of operator tools, improving ergonomics and reducing downtime in the supply chain. ![image](https://www.ineo.es/media/com_sppagebuilder/placeholder/ineo-services-automotive-sectors-control-tooling-768x768.jpg) ## Advanced Technologies Applied We apply manufacturing technologies focused exclusively on industrial agility: #### Industrial 3D Printing (SLS, MJF, SLA) For complex prototypes and final parts of limited series. ![Image](https://www.ineo.es/media/com_sppagebuilder/placeholder/ineo-services-automotive-sectors-mjf-768x768.jpg) #### High-Precision CNC Machining For structural components, modified engine blocks, or molds. ![Image](https://www.ineo.es/media/com_sppagebuilder/placeholder/ineo-services-automotive-sectors-cnc-machining-768x768.jpg) #### Vacuum Casting The premier technology to replicate parts with automotive finishes in runs of 10 to 50 units. ![Image](https://www.ineo.es/media/com_sppagebuilder/placeholder/ineo-services-automotive-sectors-vacuum-casting-768x768.jpg) #### Technical Post-Processing Textured paint, metal inserts, and demanding surface finishes. ![Image](https://www.ineo.es/media/com_sppagebuilder/placeholder/ineo-services-automotive-post-processing-sectors-768x768.jpg) ### Certificate ISO 9001:2015 **Registration Number****: 0.04.18119** TÜV Rheinland Ibérica Inspection, Certification & Testing S.A. [![Ineo - Tuv - Rheinland](https://www.ineo.es/images/defaultcontent/ineo_placeholder.png)](https://www.tuv.com/spain/es/) [![Ineo - IAF](https://www.ineo.es/images/defaultcontent/ineo_placeholder.png)](https://iaf.nu/en/home/) ## Customer Benefits **Time-to-Market Acceleration:** Drastically reduces the months of development for new models or restyling. **Tooling Savings:** Validates the market or assembly before making million-dollar investments in steel injection molds. **Design Flexibility:** Modifies and evolves parts between production runs without economic penalties. **Automotive-Grade Materials:** Resins and polymers resistant to high temperatures, impacts, and chemical agents. #### Use Cases / Applications Air ducts, grilles, and HVAC systems. Geometric control gauges for welding or assembly. Mirror housings, dashboards, and aesthetic button panels. Engine brackets, electrical connectors, and under-hood prototypes. Obsolete spare parts through 3D scanning and reverse engineering. ## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Get your technical questions answered about our manufacturing processes. For short-run production (usually between 10 and 200 units), our primary technology is vacuum casting using silicone molds. This process allows us to replicate parts with finishes, textures, and mechanical properties identical to final injection plastics (such as ABS, polycarbonate, or TPU elastomers). When high-precision structural or metal components are required, we complement short runs with 3-axis and 5-axis CNC machining. We process a wide range of advanced industrial polymers using additive manufacturing technologies (SLS, MJF, and FDM). Among the materials most demanded by R&D+i centers are PA12 (Nylon) for its excellent structural strength, glass fiber-filled PA12 (ideal for under-hood parts that withstand high temperatures), and flexible polyurethanes like TPU for gaskets, bellows, or grommets. All of them enable mechanical and fatigue testing in real validation environments. Yes, production line optimization is one of our specialties. We design and manufacture custom jigs, geometric control gauges, positioning fixtures, and robotic grippers (EOAT). Thanks to industrial 3D printing, we can create tooling with optimized geometries and lightened structures. This drastically reduces the weight of the tools handled by operators, improving ergonomics and decreasing costs and delivery times compared to traditional aluminium tooling. By not depending on traditional steel tooling, our delivery times are extremely agile. A 3D-printed functional prototype (SLS or MJF) can be ready and delivered within 3 to 5 working days, depending on the geometric complexity and required finishes. For vacuum casting pre-series that require prior manufacture of the silicone mold, lead times usually range between 1 and 2 weeks, drastically accelerating the Time-to-Market for your new developments. ### Are you developing a new automotive component? Contact the Ineo engineering team. We help you accelerate your project through agile solutions in rapid prototyping, industrial tooling, and short runs with maximum precision. [Request a quote](https://www.ineo.es/en/quote-request)[Call us](https://www.ineo.es/tel:+34937337000)[Send us an email](https://www.ineo.es/mailto:contact@ineo.es?subject=Contact from Site Ineo&body=)[3D Printing Online](https://www.ineo.es/impresion3donline) INEO PROTOTIPOS S.L. C/Avenc del Daví, 6 Pol.Ind.Can Petit Terrassa, Barcelona 08227 Tel. [+34 937 337 000](https://www.ineo.es/tel:+34937337000) Email: [contact@ineo.es](https://www.ineo.es/mailto:contact@ineo.es)  Web: [https://www.ineo.es](https://www.ineo.es) [Follow on LinkedIn 1.2K](https://www.linkedin.com/company/39887766) Found this useful? Share it: © [INEO Prototipos](https://www.ineo.es) | [Legal Notice](https://www.ineo.es/en/legal-notice) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.ineo.es/en/privacy-policy) | [Cookies Policy](https://www.ineo.es/en/cookies-policy) | [Terms and conditions](https://www.ineo.es/en/terms-conditions) | [Contact](https://www.ineo.es/en/contact) | [Sitemap](https://www.ineo.es/en/sitemap) ### JSON Schema