needs (preliminary requirements list, brief) based on which we prepare a quotation and a draft contract.

Our product innovation projects can be divided up into the following categories:

• New product development:
  • a novel or new aesthetical and technical solution to an existing problem
• ˘ Product improvement:
  • " the improvement of the aesthetical and technical features and overall appearance of a product already available on the market
• ˘ Industrial design, product design:
  • " for a company with production capacity and/or sales background looking for new approaches, novel, creative solutions to develop a new product
• "Reverse engineering":
  • " for a company requesting a rival product to be examined thoroughly as part of their product innovation process
• ˘ Mold design, technology:
  • " for a company looking for the most suitable technology to produce an existing product or component

Information gathering:

After gathering and sorting the information, the factors that determine the direction of the development and the ones that affect its feasibility can be revealed.

Basic questions, directions:

• - Does a product which meets the requirements exist?
• - extensive knowledge of rival products
• - legal requirements which may affect development
• - an in-depth analysis of legal rules and regulations
• - information about the target group and current trends

Professional literature calls this stage of the innovation process product design - the concept of the new product is created after all the functional, aesthetical, ergonomic and marketing requirements have been taken into consideration.
What it is like in practice:

Concept design? Industrial design, concept detail, ? Concept testing and visualization? OK?

Based on the original idea and the gathered information /preliminary requirements list/ we start the conceptional planning of the operation and appearance of the product. Several operational and aesthetical alternatives are devised and then graded based on the requirements list and technical feasibility. We usually present 2 or 3 detailed concept plans to our clients. The presentation includes hand-made clay models, freehand sketches and 3D photorealistic /render/ images.
Based on the models and operational concepts the client evaluates the design plans and selects the "winning" design plan, which requires further engineering.
After the selection, a requirements list containing all the accurately defined requirements is put down in writing as it is the basis of technical development.

What it is like in practice:

CAD engineering design? Preliminary BOM list? Virtual technical virtual testing? OK?

The product is designed technically in a 3D CAD system. During the designing process the designs and different operational stages can be realistically analysed and presented. (For example, a device can be examined in a switched-off, a switched-on and a disassembled state too.)

Based on the "winning" design plan the final design of the product is now detailed from technical point of view as well. During the designing process a preliminary BOM list is prepared, which enables us to have an accurate estimate of the costs and duration of the development. The material and production technology of the components are selected during this stage of the technical development. The design is approved based on the virtual comparison, assembly and mechanical tests done on the 3D models created during the engineering process.


Prototype design? Prototype making? Prototype testing? OK?
Especially in the case of shaped components with a complex geometry a prototype made with the most suitable prototype manufacturing technology (RP: rapid prototyping) can help us test, already in the technical development stage, all the aesthetical and technical ideas and compliance with the requirements specified in the requirements list.
Based on prototype tests deficiencies can be unveiled and modifications can be made before serial production is launched, which makes it possible for us to avoid the expensive modification of serial production tools (e.g. plastic injection molds).
Production methods and materials are selected depending on the estimated load factor and expected operational environment of components.

Often, a product has to be produced in small quantities (typically 10 - 150 pcs) (RM: rapid manufacturing, vacuum casting, etc.), in such a case, for the sake of cost-effective and rapid manufacturability, it is a good idea to optimize the constructional design of the plastic components to be produced.

Engineering design optimization? Product CAD data finalisation? Small series production and testing? OK? When the prototype is ready we enter a testing phase. During testing we mostly check compliance with the requirements specified in the requirements list and the harmony of ergonomics and the design which is now in a physical form.
It is important for testing to be done not only by engineers actively taking part in the development process but also by those who are responsible for the marketing of the product. It is a fact that most of the problems that occur after serial production has started can be avoided by regular and systematic testing.

Now, we should not give in to the temptation and still stick to perfectionism. We should be aware that not only technical parameters need to be tested but the operation itself as well. However, it is also true that the success of a product on the market is determined by the use of the appropriate marketing mix to at least the same extent as it is determined by technical performance.

We have to analyse test results systematically and objectively, and then make the necessary modifications after their evaluation. It is a fact that the costs of correcting defects and deficiencies after serial production has started or the product has been launched are far greater than the costs of finding and correcting them earlier, during the technical development process.

After testing, based on test results, the chosen materials and production methods we finalize the production documentation and the BOM list.

What it is like in practice:

Mold designing? Mold manufacturing? OK?

Based on the quotations we receive and on the detailed scheduling of mold manufacturing we start designing molds. The expected production quantity, production scheduling, and the complexity, size, material, dimensional accuracy and surface quality of the product are the factors that may have a profound effect on the costs of mold manufacturing. As a result, these factors also have to be taken into account while designing the product itself.
The lead-time of mold manufacturing, depending on its complexity, is 4-10 weeks (injection molding). At the end of the mold manufacturing process a test series is produced with 1-100 components (depending on production technology and component size) for the client for CMM measuring and testing.

The mold is considered to be ready for serial production after the test series components have been approved.

Now, our developer, designer team's primary role is to provide technical support - personally if needed - which also includes the handover of up-to-date production documentation.