SINCE 1999
From our wide array of experience we can simplify and reduce costs of production for your particular piece of machinery or product. By specializing in helping companies design, build and manufacture equipment or products that are not directly related to their specialty, we can fill the gap between ideas and reality.
To better explain, take for example a company that specializes in point of purchase advertising. Their main product is plastic displays printed with the work of their graphic designers. They are asked to quote on a job that requires an easily moveable sign post that is relatively cheap and unique. There is someone in the company who suggests bending a solid piece of 1” bar into a triangle for the base and then straight up to form the post.
We would be able to quickly provide an affordable solution by following these 3 steps.
- Prototype Design and Construction
- Refining of Production Models
- Manufacturing Contracting services
Prototype Design and Construction
During this stage a 3 dimensional drawing will usually be created with some shop drawings in addition to testing of any manufacturing techniques and experimentation with materials. Upon acceptance of the design a prototype may or may not be built depending on the complexity of the unit. Prototypes can often take a large amount of time to perfect and may include repeat testing of the unit. We encourage working closely with the clients to ensure that the design is to their satisfaction.
Let us use the same example as before and see where it brings us. In our shop, using one inch hotroll steel bar we would perform some tests to bend the materiel into the desired triangular shape with appropriate radius bends to create an appealing looking stand. To reduce the top heaviness we decide to make the base and the pole separate using a thin wall crew tubing as the post. At this point we could submit a quotation for the production model.
Refining of Production Models
While developing more complicated pieces of equipment it will often require many design changes from working prototype to production model. Taking into consideration such parameters as ergonomics, weight, costs, style, safety, and costs of manufacturing, many small changes can quickly add up to a professionally looking product that is easily reproduced for a reasonable cost.
At this stage of the game most shop drawings, used for requesting quotations for manufacturing, are drafted and the 3D drawing is updated to reflect the changes done to the product. Decisions are also made as to what sort of manufacturing shops will be asked to quote on the particular pieces and parts so that we receive competitive prices.
Back to our example, presuming that quotes are excepted and we have the go ahead for the project. Shopping around to find affordable clips that can attach the sign to the post, we find a common type of clip used in the plumbing industry. To prevent someone from cutting themselves on the top of the post while moving the unit, plastic plugs that easily pop into the metal tube are purchased. Also manufacturing details pertaining to the base are detailed on paper for clarity in the manufacturing.
Manufacturing Contracting Services
Quite often we will be able to reduce the costs of a particular product simply by using the array of suppliers that we have become accustomed to working with. Knowing which supplier to go to for what part of a job is of great importance when looking for a good price. Some of the projects that we have done have involved many different suppliers.
There are a number of shops and suppliers whom we deal with in both Eastern and Western Canada that are excellent in their particular specialties and have provided us with dependable service and deliveries for many years.
For our example all we need to do now is make 1500 sign posts. Finding the right shop to bend the base would be the hardest. Having the steel posts cut can be done for very little, then after shipping everything to a production paint shop the final product is powder coated black and packed ready for shipping to the client.
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