---
title: Prototype & Bridge Tooling Services | Ineo
description: We have the ability to produce short series of plastic and metal parts and components of new products for any sector or activity, with very competitive prices and delivery times.
date: 2020-03-31
url: https://ineo.es/en/technologies/machining-and-industrial-moulds/rapid-tooling
---

# Rapid Tooling

## We provide Rapid Tooling solutions, ideal for manufacturing on-demand components and short runs using final production materials. Our operational capacity includes the development of internally managed bridge tooling, enabling us to offer an agile response that faithfully meets the demands of your project.

**Rapid Tooling (Prototype Injection Tooling)**

Injection moulding is commonly used for the mass production of series of plastic and metal parts in technical materials; Rapid Tooling (Prototype Tools), enable us to manufacture short series of components as a previous step to large-scale manufacturing.

Our prototype injection tools will help you to minimize design errors and to lower manufacturing costs.

We have the ability to produce small series of plastic and metal parts of new products for any sector or activity at very competitive prices and short delivery times.

Our **technical expertise in Rapid Tooling**solutions facilitates an efficient transition to full-scale manufacturing. At **Ineo**, we manage every stage to provide you with functional parts in final production materials that securely validate **the demands of your project**.

**Do you need to validate your design with final production materials before committing to large-scale tooling investments? Would you like to discover how our Rapid Tooling solutions can accelerate your project’s time-to-market while reducing risks and costs?**

Talk to our technical team

[Quote Request](https://www.ineo.es/en/quote-request)

[Call us](https://www.ineo.es/tel:+34937337000)

[Email us](https://www.ineo.es/mailto:contact@ineo.es?subject=Contact from Site Ineo&body=)

[Send us a message](https://www.ineo.es/en/contact)

### What is Rapid Tooling?

Rapid Tooling allows the production of highly complex geometries that would not be possible with other technologies

![Ineo - Services - Rapid Tooling - Rapid Tools - Moulds](https://www.ineo.es/media/com_sppagebuilder/placeholder/services-rapid-tooling-mould.jpg)

### **RAPID TOOLS**

Prototype Injection Tooling. These are pressure closed tools, in which a molten plastic or metal is injected under pressure into the cavity before it solidifies. The final moulded part is then removed.

![Ineo - Services - Rapid Tooling - Moulded parts](https://www.ineo.es/media/com_sppagebuilder/placeholder/services-rapid-tooling-parts.jpg)

### **MOULDED PARTS**

Parts coming from a Rapid Tool, do not require additional surface finish (unless graphic work is required), as they can be moulded with a specific surface roughness in the colour required and within excellent dimensional tolerances.

![Ineo - Services - Rapid Tooling - Fast Production](https://www.ineo.es/media/com_sppagebuilder/placeholder/services-rapid-tooling-fast-production.jpg)

### **FAST PRODUCTION**

Rapid tooling allows speedy manufacturing of high volumes of parts keeping costs down and ensuring short lead-times.

## When to choose Rapid Tooling?

| Feature | Rapid Tooling (Bridge Tooling) | High-Volume Production Mould |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Best for | Short to medium runs & validation. | Massive scale production. |
| Part Volume | 50 to 20,000 units. | 20,000+ units. |
| Mould Material | Soft technical steels. | Hardened high-durability steels. |
| Lead Time | 3 - 4 weeks. | 6 - 10 weeks or more. |
| Initial Cost | Low / Cost-effective. | High. |
| Final Material | Production-grade material. | Production-grade material. |

Price and lead-time are by far, the main crucial parameters by which customers usually opt for Rapid Tooling instead of standard production tooling mainly because tool and parts manufacturing cost and lead-time not always meet their expectations.

Other reasons why Rapid Tooling is usually chosen:

- When the budget and the lead-time is limited
- When the design process has not been completed and parts can suffer design variations
- When functional parts are desperately needed to validate the design proposal

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

![](https://www.ineo.es/images/2020/04/30/services-rapid-tooling-product-1.jpg)

![](https://www.ineo.es/images/2020/04/30/services-rapid-tooling-product-3.jpg)

![](https://www.ineo.es/images/2020/04/30/services-rapid-tooling-product-4.jpg)

![](https://www.ineo.es/images/2020/04/30/services-rapid-tooling-product-5.jpg)

![](https://www.ineo.es/images/2020/04/30/services-rapid-tooling-product-7.jpg)

![](https://www.ineo.es/images/2020/04/30/services-rapid-tooling-product-8.jpg)

![](https://www.ineo.es/images/2020/04/30/services-rapid-tooling-product-9.jpg)

![](https://www.ineo.es/images/2020/04/30/services-rapid-tooling-product-10.jpg)

*Examples of parts manufactured by Rapid Tooling*

## Main differences between Rapid Tooling and Standard Injection Tooling

### Rapid Tooling

- Tool materials used: Hardened Steel or Hard Aluminium offer higher durability*
- Tool life: Tens of thousands of parts per cavity
- Manufacturing time: Tools manufacturing usually takes 2 to 3 times longer than prototype tooling
- Price: Tooling cost is always higher than prototype tooling

### Standard Tooling

- Tool materials used: Hardened Steel or Hard Aluminium offer higher durability*
- Tool life: Tens of thousands of parts per cavity
- Manufacturing time: Tools manufacturing usually takes 2 to 3 times longer than prototype tooling
- Price: Tooling cost is always higher than prototype tooling

**A limited tool life is shorter because the tool materials chosen are softer and the tool concept and configuration is simpler than those used in Standard tooling; this does not mean that parts quality is compromised; moulded parts will always match the standards achieved from standard tooling.*

#### FAQs – Rapid Tooling & Prototype Injection Moulding Insights

- **What is rapid tooling in industrial manufacturing?** Rapid tooling is the fast production of injection moulds or tooling systems used to manufacture plastic or metal parts for prototypes, validation or short series production.
- **How does rapid tooling differ from standard injection tooling?** Rapid tooling prioritises speed and cost efficiency, using simplified or hybrid moulds to reduce lead times, while standard tooling is designed for long-term high-volume production.
- **What is rapid tooling used for?** It is used for prototype validation, bridge production, low-volume manufacturing and testing new product designs before investing in full-scale production tooling.
- **Which materials are used in rapid tooling moulds?** Materials typically include aluminium or softer steels, depending on required durability, complexity and production volume.
- **What are the main advantages of rapid tooling?** It reduces time-to-market, lowers initial investment costs and allows design iterations using real production materials before committing to mass production.
- **Can Ineo ship parts produced with rapid tooling internationally?** Yes, Ineo delivers rapid tooled parts from Barcelona, Spain to clients across Europe and worldwide with full logistics support.

### Let us be your supplier for Rapid Tooling

We have the ability to produce short series of plastic and metal parts and components of new products for any sector or activity at very competitive prices and compressed delivery times.

Our project management team will provide you with the best technical support during the entire developing process of your project.

And of course, we guarantee complete confidentiality of your project.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

![](https://www.ineo.es/images/2020/04/30/services-rapid-tooling-facilities-2.jpg)

![](https://www.ineo.es/images/2020/04/30/services-rapid-tooling-facilities-3.jpg)

![](https://www.ineo.es/images/2020/04/30/services-rapid-tooling-facilities-4.jpg)

![](https://www.ineo.es/images/2020/04/30/services-rapid-tooling-facilities-5.jpg)

![](https://www.ineo.es/images/2020/04/30/services-rapid-tooling-facilities-6.jpg)

![](https://www.ineo.es/images/2020/04/30/services-rapid-tooling-facilities-1.jpg)

[Quote request](https://www.ineo.es/en/quote-request)

[Contact](https://www.ineo.es/en/contact)

[+34 937 337 000](https://www.ineo.es/tel:+34937337000)

[Email](https://www.ineo.es/mailto:contact@ineo.es?subject=Contact from Site Ineo&body=)

### National and International Delivery Times for rapid tooling

##### Need your rapid tooling ASAP?

Ineo provides manufacturing services for professional applications, guaranteeing fast-turnaround deliveries with optimized lead times.

**We advise, design, manufacture, and distribute nationally and internationally from Terrassa (Barcelona, Spain)**.

📦 **No minimum order quantity – Guaranteed delivery times – Technical support**

##### Delivery Times in Spain:

The lead times for rapid tooling can vary depending on part geometry, mold complexity, and the material required.

Other factors affecting delivery time include:

- Part design complexity
- Number of mold cavities
- Type of material
- Batch size
- Finish and quality control requirements
- The need for subsequent modifications

**The estimated time to manufacture the prototype mold is typically 3 to 4 weeks. Once the mold is approved, the production of the first parts can usually be completed within 3 to 7 business days**, depending on the quantity requested.

**We can adapt lead times for urgent projects whenever possible, evaluating each case individually. A detailed review of the design will allow for an accurate delivery time estimate**.

Contact us, and once we have the final design, we can review your project and provide a tailored, precise estimate.

##### Deliveries to Canary Islands, Balearics, Ceuta & Melilla:

Shipments to these regions may require 1-5 additional business days due to logistics and (for Canary Islands) customs processing.

##### International Deliveries:

Orders outside Spain require extended lead times. Additional delivery time varies by destination country and local logistics/customs factors.

For precise international delivery estimates, contact our customer service team.

### Ready to manufacture your parts?

[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=)

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