Our Trophy Replication Portfolio

Using 3D scanning and additive manufacturing, Printhoek3D creates detailed replicas of selected hunting trophies. The process captures the original geometry digitally, allowing the trophy to be reproduced at different scales while preserving its defining features.

Trophy Replication Projects

ELEPHANT EURO MOUNT

CAPE BUFFALO

Discuss a Trophy Replication Project

Contact us to discuss the trophy, required scale and available scanning access. We’ll assess whether the geometry and intended display format are suitable for digital replication.

Elephant Trophy Scanning - Ethical Preservation for International Hunters

Client: Rick Casagrande (Australia) & Graham Nicholl
Industry: Trophy Hunting & Wildlife Conservation
Service: 3D Scanning • Digital Modeling • Data Optimization for Replication

Project Overview

With tightening international restrictions on the export of wildlife trophies, Australian hunter Rick Casagrande contacted Printhoek 3D after discovering our 3D-scanning services online.
His goal was to digitally preserve his elephant euro-mount trophy without the delays and costs associated with international export permits, which can take up to two years and incur substantial shipping and documentation fees.

In collaboration with Ingwe Taxidermists in Okahandja, who held the relevant permits, our team conducted an on-site high-resolution 3D scan of both the skull and tusks.
To comply with regulations, the tusks were scanned at the taxidermist’s premises, rather than transported. The resulting data exceeding 1 GB was refined, aligned, and digitally reconstructed so that the tusks fit seamlessly into the skull sockets.

The final dataset was transmitted to the client for 3D printing in Australia, allowing the physical replica to be recreated locally. A second scan was later commissioned for his associate Graham Nicholl, completing two detailed digital trophies.

Highlights

Full 3D scanning of elephant skull and tusks under permit supervision
On-site data capture at Ingwe Taxidermists, Okahandja
Gigabyte-scale model refinement for precise tusk alignment
Cross-border digital export enabling local reproduction in Australia
Preparation for turnkey large-format printing on PH3D’s new 1 m³ system

Impact

This project demonstrates how digital preservation and 3D scanning can offer an ethical, regulation-compliant alternative to international trophy transport.
By digitizing and optimizing natural specimens for reproduction abroad, Printhoek 3D provides a sustainable solution for hunters and conservation clients preserving memories responsibly while reducing environmental and logistical impact.

Corroded Pump Housing - Reverse Engineering for Material Testing

Client: Confidential
Industry: Industrial Manufacturing
Service: Metrology-Grade 3D Scanning • Reverse Engineering • CAD Reconstruction • Additive Manufacturing • Material Testing Support

Project Overview

Printhoek 3D was commissioned to reverse engineer a corroded pump housing used in an industrial environment where repeated exposure to a dilute acidic solution had caused the original component to fail.

The project was not only about recreating the shape of the damaged housing. The more important requirement was understanding why the part was failing and creating a replacement pathway that could support fit testing, performance checks, and future material improvement.

Using metrology-grade 3D scanning, PH3D captured the remaining geometry of the damaged housing and reconstructed the missing and degraded features in CAD. The digital model was then prepared for additive manufacturing, allowing initial replacement units to be produced for fit and functional validation before committing to a more specialised long-term material.

This approach allowed the client to test the component geometry first, reduce uncertainty, and move toward a more chemically resistant solution with better technical confidence.