In this series of blogs, we will discuss how modern manufacturing processes can benefit traditionally hand crafted products. For many projects, new technology is superior in many ways to traditional methods of manufacture; it tends to be more detailed, much faster and easy to replicate existing items. This post details how modern technology is helping us design and manufacture exemplary works of art for clients around the world.
When working with artists and galleries to create or replicate works of art, we often have to push the boundaries of what can be achieved to create the next sculpture or model; utilising our advanced manufacturing skills, we are regularly on the cutting edge of how we use technological advances to create works of art for our clients.
Changes in the Industry
As the art world constantly changes to differing styles and manufacturing processes, we at JH May have utilised our skills with fabricating and manufacturing different materials to create projects for artists worldwide. We use similar manufacturing methods to those utilised when creating display models and corporate displays to manufacture whatever the artist requires, ranging from bespoke machined acrylic items to fibreglass and metal fabrication.
We have mass produced thousands of small but striking art projects for when designers want to cover their design in items, as well as creating larger one off sculptures and art pieces for galleries and private collections. The largest of these would have to be the fabrication of a model plane, with a wingspan of over 6.5 metres, for British artist Charming Baker; you can read about that project here.
While projects like these may have previously been manufactured by hand, mechanised manufacturing paired with clever designing has allowed us to make items like these using a combination of CNC machining, vacuum forming, fibre glassing and 3D printing. These manufacturing techniques allow us to create detailed models affordably in a range of sizes; coupled with our expert painting facilities, we’ve been able to manufacture a wide range of centerpieces and products for designers and artists.
In the past, sculptors and artists would have had to design projects by hand, which would then be passed on to a manufacturer with the relevant skills to interpret the design and create the final product.This would inevitably lead to variations between the artist’s original concept and the finished product. However with modern CAD software, when an artist wants us to manufacture an item for them, all they have to do is send us the CAD file and we can ensure any product is manufactured to the design specified by the artist. It also allows artists to push the boundaries on what can be created; by designing and creating a 3D CAD model of what they would like to achieve, the artist then leaves the manufacture up to our team engineers, who are used to pushing boundaries and using their experience to overcome any difficulties that may be encountered.
Through advantages in communication technology, we are also able to keep any client constantly updated with how a project is progressing;this is especially useful when dealing with international clients. We can send pictures and videos of their model being constructed, listen to any comments or changes they may have, and be honest about a final delivery date.
We take our client’s confidentiality very seriously at JH May, and will only discuss manufacturing jobs that we have been specifically instructed to. If you would like a confidential preliminary conversation about how we can use modern technology to aid your next project, get in touch with us at [email protected] or phone us on 01277 365500.