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How 3D Printing Improves Our Film & TV Production Carts

Film & TV Production Carts | Custom Lighting & Film Carts | Hippo Carts
18 March 2026 by
Briony

How 3D Printing Improves Our Film & TV Production Carts

At Hippo Carts, we specialise in designing and building bespoke film carts for the fast-paced world of film and TV production.

Whether you’re a gaffer, grip, lighting technician, or cinematographer, having reliable, adaptable equipment on set is essential. That’s why we use in house 3D printing to design, test, and manufacture high performance film carts, lighting carts, and custom components tailored for real on-set demands.

Innovation

How ideas come to life

Focus

Building connections

a man standing in front of a camera and lighting equipment
a group of people standing around a camera set up

3D

printing

in

house 


Lower Costs for Film & TV Crews

Producing parts in-house allows us to keep costs down without compromising quality.

For productions working within tight budgets, this makes a real difference. Our film production carts are designed to deliver professional grade performance at a competitive price point with savings passed directly on to you.

Bespoke Film Carts Built Your Way

No two sets are the same and neither are the needs of a film crew.

We specialise in creating bespoke, custom film carts, designed specifically for your workflow. Thanks to our in-house 3D printing capability, we can design and produce unique add ons, brackets, and features quickly and efficiently.

Whether you need a tailored lighting cart, a modified production trolley, or custom mounting solutions, we can build it your way.

Perfect for:

  • On-set lighting setups

  • Camera departments

  • Grip equipment transport

  • DIT and video village carts

Test, Refine, Perfect, Faster Than Ever

One of the biggest advantages of our in house 3D printing process is the ability to prototype and test designs before final production.

We initially print parts using lower cost plastic materials, allowing us to:

  • Test fit and functionality on real carts

  • Make quick adjustments based on real-world use

  • Refine designs without unnecessary cost


3D CAD Design

Designed in house


3D tester  print

printed in house 

Once the design is fully tested and approved, we produce the final version using high-quality, durable materials.

This process ensures every custom film cart component is not only well designed but proven to work on set.


Faster Turnaround for On-Set Demands

In the film and TV industry, speed matters.

Because we design, prototype, and manufacture everything in-house, we can move quickly from idea to finished product. This allows us to deliver custom production cart solutions faster than traditional manufacturing methods.

The result:

  • Faster innovation

  • Shorter lead times

  • Smarter, more practical designs

Built Tough for Film Set Environments

Film sets can be demanding, and your equipment needs to keep up.

Our final components are printed using ABS plastic, making them:

  • Impact-resistant

  • Durable under heavy use

  • Reliable for daily on set handling

Whether you’re moving gear across locations or working long shooting days, our film carts and lighting carts are built to last.

Sustainable Solutions for Modern Productions

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in film and TV production.

3D printing is an additive manufacturing process, meaning we only use the material needed to create each part. This reduces waste compared to traditional methods and supports more environmentally conscious production.

Better Control for Consistent Quality

Keeping production in house gives us full control over every stage of the process from concept to final product.

This ensures:

  • Consistent build quality

  • Reliable performance on set

  • Precision engineered components

Every Hippo Cart is built with the needs of film professionals in mind from lighting technicians to grips and cinematographers.

Testing 

Testing new design 

Final print

Where our ideas come to life

The Hippo Carts Advantage for Film & TV Professionals

Our approach combines innovation and practicality to deliver high quality film carts that perform where it matters most on set.

With a focus on:

  • Cost efficiency for production budgets

  • Bespoke, custom-built solutions

  • Rapid prototyping and real-world testing

  • Fast turnaround times

  • Durable, set-ready materials

  • Sustainable manufacturing

  • Reliable, consistent quality

We provide film and TV production carts you can depend on.

Upgrade Your On Set Workflow

If you’re looking for a custom film cart, lighting cart, or bespoke production solution, Hippo Carts can help.

Get in touch today to build a cart designed around your role whether you’re a gaffer, grip, lighting tech, or part of a camera department. 

Contact us 

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