Product Design And Development – From Concept To Commercial Product
Posted By Connie on August 31, 2011
Have a great product idea but not sure what to do next? Need to turn a concept, drawing or model into a prototype product for further testing? Want to take a product to the “ready to manufacture” stage?
According to Paul Mather, WelTec Connect is ready to assist with this process. As the Director of Technology Development for the Centre for Smart Product, he has seen many different concepts go from a bright idea to a prototype that can be function tested for effectiveness.
The professionals at WelTec guide a project through every production phase. Clients can take advantage of their expertise to develop a piece ready to be mass produced and put on the market.
Clients reap the benefits of knowledgeable staff members with diverse backgrounds. Talented faculty members lend their expertise and skills in manufacturing to every project and have valuable contacts across New Zealand.
Experienced project managers assist clients with concept evaluation, sustainable design, concept development, researching the market and manufacturing. These individuals are also familiar with the various funding options available for companies to implement an effective research and development programme for future projects.
Senior students at the Centre bring innovative solutions and fresh ideas to the table. With access to the knowledge and experience of faculty and updated technical facilities, eager students are ready to put their training to practical use on real world projects.
Mather stresses the importance of long term relationships between students and clients. Students get hands-one experience in designing and developing new products while the client benefits from new and innovative ideas based on the latest advancements in technology.
Services and Facilities
Project developers are trained to use AutoCAD and Solidworks to transform a design concept into a 3D digital file. Techniques are available that use 3D scanning software to create a three dimensional digital file. This file can be reverse engineered and broken down into its individual components. With these files, any object can be reproduced and improved upon during any phase of the process. The files can be used for prototype production and virtual testing.
The Centre has developed a series of rapid prototyping services designed to get a product to market faster. Tools including vacuum casting, FDM and CNC machining are used to shorten the time between the design process and prototype production.
Additional services available include testing of physical prototypes, 3D virtual products and circuit boards. Thorough testing is necessary to uncover any design flaws.
Clients may also arrange for small product runs to test pilot products and for use in marketing efforts that occur during the pre-production phase.
Working with the Centre for Smart Product also links you into WelTec’s Schools of Engineering, Creative Technologies and IT – opening up a huge resource of staff expertise, student enthusiasm and technologically advanced facilities. Engineering design is a strength of the Centre’s and Creative Technologies are able to offer digital design including the production of supporting material to go with hardware e.g. training manuals, packaging, brochures, software.
The Centre’s services are equally beneficial to individuals and large corporations. Actual clients include the water jetting technology giant Aquamax Devo and electric motorcycle inventor and entrepreneur Iain Jerrett.
According to Mather, the Centre strives to nurture long term relationships with clients but the resources are also available to companies with a one-off project to develop. There are also benefits when implementing research and development programmes.
Company owners are urged to contact Mather to discuss the possibility of participating in the TTV programme for R&D administered by the Ministry of Science and Innovation.
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