Case Study
Lotus Design - Agility and Speed for Turnkey Custom Production
Oct 2, 2023
In the competitive world of design engineering, it takes years of expertise and a unique set of skills to stand out from the competition. Lotus Design, a CNC machine shop located in Cantley, Quebec, does just that. The shop works with brand-name clients such as Taiga Motors, Design 1st, Galvion and Meta Materials-- helping them bring their new ideas to fruition by guiding them through all aspects of the product creation process.
Clean CNC machine shop optimized for rapid turnaround
The company’s portfolio showcases several of its past client projects and highlights prototypes made from various mediums for companies of all sizes. From high-end glassware to ergonomic technologies for fishing rods and sports eyewear, there is no project too unique or out of bounds for the team at Lotus Design.
Every part is made with care and expertise hand-in-hand with the customer
Clients often approach Lotus Design with a mere idea for a new product. They are effectively guided through feasibility studies, market analyses, and user surveys to get both qualitative and quantitative information that best informs the design process. From there, Lotus Design brings various mechanical, industrial, and soft goods design capabilities together in a collaborative process that enables clients to visualize their concepts.
Soon enough, clients are left with working prototypes of their visions and equipped to take their products to market. Ideas that were only conceptualized a few weeks ago are now concrete solutions. Thanks to Lotus Design’s in-house mass production services-- featuring services such as vendor analysis and quality control-- clients can leverage the shop as a comprehensive solution for their entire product design process and focus on new innovative ideas to come.
A partner for every step of the process
Though Lotus Design initially focused on providing design engineering services, the shop team quickly recognized a gap in services offered by traditional CNC machine shops-- a lack of guidance tailored to customers’ long-term goals.
Eager to fill this gap, the company soon strengthened its fabrication abilities to offer a more complete solution for its clients. Today, Lotus Design has built up an impressive reputation for design, fabrication and all the steps in between. The shop is home to a 1,200 square feet machine shop with CNC milling machines, welding capabilities and more.
David Lefebvre, President at Lotus Design, has an extensive background in the realm of fabrication. Having studied to become a technologist in mechanical engineering with further work experience in business development for the aerospace industry, David brings his unique skill set to the table with each new client project the shop takes on.
David Lefebvre a thoughtful entrepreneur and business owner
As a former varsity swimmer, his determination and go-getter attitude make him an ideal guiding light for Lotus Design-- constantly pushing his colleagues to think bigger with each new client request. His multidisciplinary experiences further empower the team to hone a variety of skills on the job and envision each new prototype from a different perspective.
Check out this interview with David to learn more about his mindset
Supplier excellence through tailored solutions
With hundreds of positive reviews from customers and a team dedicated to creating a seamless customer experience, there’s no wonder why Lotus Design has quickly become a supplier that Axya users can trust and return to for all their custom manufacturing needs.
On the Axya platform, buyers upload requests for quotes (RFQs) for various custom manufacturing projects and can connect with local suppliers, such as Lotus Design, that are able to meet their specific project needs.
David can be easily found through our free supplier directory tool to find capable manufacturers (Register here)
Customers have found incredible value in Lotus Design’s ability to support requests ranging from prototyping and low-quantity batches to larger production runs. The shop’s duality in capability--being both a design firm and machine shop-- make it a customer favourite as buyers can receive multifaceted expertise from a one-stop shop.
Buyers on the Axya platform have also found Lotus Design highly proficient at rapidly iterating on prototypes and delivering the final product quickly. Customers credit the shop team’s ability to get their hands dirty with each new ambitious ask, all while they maintain constant communication and support to ensure that the final result is to a customer’s liking.
Many local buyers may seek Lotus Design’s help for a one-time urgent request but quickly find a long-term business partner in the shop. Whether you’re working towards a pressing deadline or prototyping for your long-term product development vision, Lotus Design is the ideal place to start-- and stay for years to come.
To contact Dave you can email him at dave@lotus-design.ca, call him at 819-639-6816 or visit his Axya profile for more information.