A collaborative program where engineers and K-Tube experts co-develop new tubing designs or improve existing ones—turning complex ideas into production-ready solutions.
Your Fast Track to Custom Tubing Solutions
Whether you’re launching a new device or improving one already in the field, tubing performance matters. K-Tube Discover connects you directly with our engineers to develop prototypes, select the right materials, and get to a production-ready design faster.
Two Ways to Use K-Tube Discover
New Product Development
You have an idea but need help bringing it to life. Whether you’re designing a new medical device or an industrial product, we’ll help you choose the right alloy, refine the specs, and prototype quickly — so you can move forward with confidence.
Product Improvement
Already have a design, but it’s not performing as expected? Whether you’re dealing with kinking, durability, or strength issues, we’ll work with you to make improvements that extend product performance and lifespan.
Who Uses Discover
Discover is built for engineers, innovators, and R&D teams who need more than off-the-shelf tubing. If your design calls for unique specs, performance in extreme conditions, or entirely new functionality, we can help.
We support customers in medical, aerospace, industrial, and defense sectors—where tubing must deliver strength, precision, and durability.
Inside the Discover Center
This is where ideas become working prototypes. At the Discover Center, you’ll collaborate directly with K-Tube engineers and metallurgists to explore materials, test designs, and fine-tune performance.
Our team draws on decades of experience with stainless steel, titanium, nickel-based alloys, and superalloys. Whether your tubing needs to be biocompatible, corrosion-resistant, or heat-tolerant, we help you design around performance, not just specifications.
Bring us the tubing problem no one else wants. The tougher, the better. If it’s never been done, we’re already interested.
Why Engineers Choose K-Tube Discover
Fast
Development
When timelines are tight, we help you move quickly from idea to prototype. Dedicated machines and technicians are reserved for rapid development projects, allowing you to test, validate, and refine designs quickly.
Performance-Driven
Design
Our process isn’t trial and error, it’s guided by science. With expertise in temper control, alloy optimization, and precision drawing, we ensure that every prototype aligns with your performance targets, whether that means strength, flexibility, or heat resistance.
Material Science
Expertise
Every alloy has a purpose. From 316L stainless steel to Inconel®, Hastelloy®, Elgiloy®, and titanium, our metallurgists help identify which materials best support your application, and fine-tune mechanical properties through heat treatment and drawing methods.
Quality You
Can Trust
K-Tube’s in-house quality lab verifies every prototype against the same standards we use for our traditional production processes. We specialize in highly regulated markets where precision and compliance matter, so you can move from testing to production with confidence.
How the Process Works
1. Initial Consultation
Meet with a K-Tube engineer to discuss your concept, application, and performance needs.
2. Project Proposal
We’ll develop a plan outlining materials, design approach, and prototyping recommendations.
3. Purchase Order
Once approved, our team begins work — securing raw materials and assigning dedicated engineers.
4. Prototype Development
Your prototype is developed through collaborative design iterations, alloy testing, and validation runs.
5. Evaluation
You’ll receive prototypes to evaluate. Once your performance targets are met, we assign a custom K-Tube part number.
6. Transfer to Production
Your design moves into full-scale manufacturing using the same validated process.
When to Use Discover
Choose Discover when your project involves:
- Non-standard tubing sizes or materials
- Tight dimensional or surface finish requirements
- Biocompatibility or corrosion resistance
- High-strength or heat-resistant applications
- Early-stage design validation
Frequently Asked Questions
K-Tube Discover is a collaborative design and prototyping program that helps engineers develop custom tubing solutions. You’ll work directly with K-Tube engineers to refine your concept, select the right alloy, and create a working prototype ready for validation or production.
Discover is ideal for engineers or product developers who need tubing that doesn’t exist in K-Tube’s standard catalog or are looking to push the limits and improve upon an existing tubing design. Whether you are designing for medical, aerospace, or industrial use, our team helps you test ideas and find the best manufacturing path forward. Not sure? Start with a consultation.
Yes. Discover isn’t just for new ideas, it’s also for improving what’s already in the field. If your current tubing is underperforming, failing in harsh environments, or creating cost or quality issues, we’ll help you refine the design and materials for better performance.
No problem. We love a challenge. We can help optimize specific areas–whether it’s wall thickness, alloy selection, surface finish, or kink resistance. You don’t need a full redesign to benefit from Discover.
Timelines vary by project complexity, but our dedicated Discover resources allow most prototypes to be produced in a matter of weeks, not months. You will receive a clear development plan and timeline during your initial consultation.
Discover gives you access to K-Tube’s full range of alloys, including stainless steels, superalloys, and titanium, as well as advanced manufacturing methods like laser welding, tight-tolerance drawing, and specialized surface finishing. Got a material in mind that seems impossible? Bring it. We love a challenge.
Once your design meets performance goals, we assign it a custom K-Tube part number and smoothly transition it to production. This ensures consistent quality and repeatability for your next manufacturing run.
Start Your Project with K-Tube Discover
Whether you’re building from scratch or dialing in an existing design, Discover helps you solve the hard problems and move faster from prototype to production.
Engineering Smarter Starts Here
Get the data, specs, and insights you need to design with precision. Download our guides for material selection, alloy performance, and real-world application tips—created for engineers who need more than the basics.
