Product Development

We help our clients develop concepts into products. We specialise in proof-of-concept design development, prototyping and low-volume manufacturing. With our cross-sectoral expertise we have:

• Developed and constructed a prototype for the world’s first hydrogen-producing solar cell
• Designed and delivered prototype portable power packs
• Demonstrated the feasibility of the design for the aerostat at the opening ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealth Games

We start by screening the client’s ideas, eliminating those which are unsound and making sure resources are invested in ideas with some validity. The screening process covers (a) Technical feasibility: can the product be engineered to deliver the required performance? (b) Market feasibility: will users benefit from using the product, and what features does it require to be attractive? (c) Commercial feasibility: will the client be able to build a sustainable business around the product?

Filtered ideas proceed to concept development: using 3-D design and simulation software we develop and refine the product’s features and specification. The result is a design for a product that can be manufactured, with a high degree of confidence that it will perform as expected.

Clients often ask us to develop a proof-of-concept prototype: our in-house electronic engineering is augmented by a network of suppliers, in partnership with whom we can deliver prototype products in small volumes.