From Religious Medals To Industrial Pieces

São Paulo, Brazil – Quality, flawless execution and increased productivity: These were the reasons that led entrepreneur Adolfo Rodrigues of São Paulo, Brazil to upgrade his production platform from a pantograph to Roland’s high-precision 3D products.

The modernization of Prisma Gravuras’ industrial base was also due to the direct influence of his nephew, Eder Rodrigues. Twenty years younger than Adolfo, Éder encouraged his uncle, who had taught Eder the business, to explore new markets.

Thanks to Éder and other employees with advanced degrees from outstanding institutions such as SENAI – Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial (Brazilian School of Industrial Education) – Prisma purchased Roland’s automated equipment and implemented a new production philosophy. In eight years of partnership, Prisma Gravuras has expanded its portfolio of Roland machines to include a PNC-2300, MDX-650, MDX-500, MDX-540 and a JWX-10, as well as a 3D PICZA scanner.

“With the Roland machines we can provide a number of services including the production of wedges for coining medals, molds for industrial pieces and jewelry, and injection molds for the plastics industry, toys and giveaways. We can also produce technical and artistic engravings on plates, prototypes and molds for shoes, fashion accessories and household appliances, and electrodes for electro-erosion and reverse engineering. In this way we can reach a tremendous number of market segments,” says Adolfo. Adolfo notes that the sector of corporate giveaways, promotional products and gifts such as key rings, pens and watches/clocks sold over $2.6 billion in Brazil in 2008.

“The services we provide from our machining centers grow 10% each year, whereas those performed with Roland solutions for engraving and prototyping are increasing by 30% annually,” explains Éder.

With one of the first machines the company acquired, the MDX-650, Prisma Gravuras fulfills its many orders for objects with a religious theme. For example, the company produced dozens of small medals featuring the Vatican coat of arms which were sent to the seat of the Catholic Church in Rome. The MDX-650 was also used to manufacture a plate for the Monastery of Saint Benedict, one of the most important historic buildings in São Paulo, after Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the site in July 2007.

Combining the best techniques from each generation has resulted in the acquisition of Roland 3D technology. However, the company still values what Adolfo calls “the human art of design.” Adolfo was producing hand-made sculptures at age 14 using a chisel, the sculptor’s cleaver, on plaster and resin. Although this skill has remained with him throughout his years at Prisma, he concludes, “Today if I did not have Roland 3D equipment for machining, engraving and digital design, I would need another 30 employees using pantographs. The difference between a manual and an automated machine is tremendous. Two professionals can operate and manage all of our Roland 3D machines.”