Camera Revolution Limited is a Surrey-based specialist film equipment rental business and emerging manufacturer of proprietary camera support systems, motion control equipment and stabilisation rigs. The company supplies equipment to major film and television productions for globally recognised clients including Netflix, Amazon MGM, Apple and Disney.
Innovation sits at the heart of Camera Revolution's business model. Camera Revolution has invested heavily in developing an in-house engineering capability, creating a dedicated design and development function using SolidWorks and developing innovative products. The company frequently develops bespoke equipment for specific film productions, often with lead times measured in days rather than weeks. Directors and cinematographers regularly require unique solutions for individual scenes or camera movements, creating pressure to design, manufacture and deliver functional equipment within extremely short timescales.
A key challenge for growth has been the company's reliance on external CNC machining suppliers for prototype production, limiting the speed at which new products and bespoke solutions can be developed, tested and refined.
Outsourcing results in leadtimes of between two and four weeks for each design iteration and delays, reducing agility across the product development cycle.
Furthermore, engineers spend valuable time managing supplier relationships, waiting for parts and dealing with external production schedules. This slows innovation and limits the number of projects that can be progressed simultaneously.
The limitation and reliance on external manufacturers has forced the business to decline opportunities or use costly expedited machining services, significantly reducing profitability.
With support from Made Smarter South East, Camera Revolution has been able to invest in a Formlabs Fuse 1+ industrial Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D printing system. This represents a transformational step in the company's manufacturing journey.
The Fuse 1+ enables the production of high-quality nylon components in-house, delivering durable, accurate and functionally tested parts within days rather than weeks. Unlike traditional desktop printing technologies, SLS printing produces industrial-grade components suitable for both rapid prototyping and selected end-use applications.
By bringing this additive manufacturing functionality in-house, Camera Revolution reduce prototype iteration times from between two and four weeks to less than 48 hours. This will allow engineers to test and refine concepts rapidly, significantly shortening product development cycles and accelerating the launch of new products.
Thanks to enabling much faster rounds of product development, and bringing components manufacturing in house, the technology significantly helps accelerate innovation within the business.
By removing reliance on external suppliers for early-stage development work, engineering resources can focus on innovation rather than administration and supplier management. This improves productivity, drives efficiency and supports continued growth of the engineering function.
The film production industry is highly time-sensitive. The ability to design and manufacture bespoke equipment in-house within days gives Camera Revolution a significant competitive advantage, enabling the company to respond more effectively to clients' requirements and secure opportunities that would previously have been unattainable.
The business estimates that the technology could reduce external prototype machining expenditure by at least £40,000 annually while also improving engineering productivity and reducing lost revenue opportunities. Overall annual savings are forecast to be approximately £130,000, with a payback period of around five months.
Rowan Newbitt, Lead Design Engineer at Camera Revolution said "The Made Smarter grant has been a genuine enabler for us. We've spent three years building an engineering department from the ground up, and the Fuse 1+ is the piece of the puzzle that completes our ability to design, prototype and deliver in-house. For an industry where a client can call on a Tuesday needing something on set by Thursday, that capability isn't just useful, it's the difference between winning the job and turning it down."
This investment is about more than introducing a new piece of equipment. It represents the final step in Camera Revolution's evolution into a fully integrated design, manufacturing and rental business.
Camera Revolution continues to develop innovative products for the film industry and intends to launch multiple new proprietary product lines and expand product sales globally. The accelerated development capability provided by the Fuse 1+ will support these ambitions and help Camera Revolution achieve a target of generating 20% of revenue from product sales within three years.
The investment has given the business the agility needed to compete at an international level within the specialist film equipment sector. Faster development cycles, enhanced innovation capabilities and the ability to respond rapidly to customer requirements strengthens the company's position with world-leading production companies, unlock new commercial opportunities and support future export growth.
