Product development is needed both in the manufacturing of a new product and in the further development of existing products. Although you are itching to get going and full of ideas about what kind of a solution the product needs, our advice is the same for everyone:

Contact a plastic industry expert as soon as the need occurs to you.
This will save you money and trouble.

When it comes to plastic products, the best added value is obtained when the know-how of industry experts is used as early as possible. Each plastic product – whether a completely new solution or a further development of an existing solution – requires product development right from the start, consisting of structural properties, environmental requirements, dimensions, and the manufacturing method, among other things.

Plastic industry experts have plenty of experience of such things, and probably even some ready proposals that they have successfully utilised in previous projects. Plastic industry experts may also have a wide selection of new solutions available that your business might have been unaware of.

Finding the right correction for the development of your product early on will save both time and money, because the design process has not had the chance to go astray.

Product development where service comes first

There are clear differences in manufacturing methods, depending on the needs and the problem being solved. This is why it is important to first determine the size of the product, the needed quantity, and the use environment and application of the end product. These will ultimately decide the right manufacturing method for the product.

We will help our customers to move forward with their problem – even in cases where we find that the best manufacturing process can be provided by another enterprise. We will discuss the needs and details of the product with the customer and point them in the correct direction, whether this means development and manufacturing by us or by someone else. This will allow the customer to move down the straightest road.

So, what does product development include?
Here’s how it goes, step by step:

1. We will go through the basics together and sketch some suitable solutions on paper or digitally. We will vary the dimensions, specify size classes, and discuss the production volumes at a basic level.
2. Once we have agreed on the basics, we will choose the manufacturing method. All of our methods have their own strengths and weaknesses that will be considered when deciding.
3. We will specify the characteristics required of the product in the environment where it would be used. For example, should the product be able to withstand mechanical stress, extreme temperatures, oceanic climates, pressure, etc.
4. Next, a 3D sketch drawing will be made of the product, which will be submitted to the customer for review and inspection. At this stage, we will further specify things such as the dimensions and other things that the customer has now defined in more detail for the product.
5. A 3D printed product will then be made on the basis of the 3D drawing, which the customer will ultimately be able to test in their application. This will often generate additional insight into what is required of the component.
6. We will then go back to the drawing board with the development needs emerging during the prototype testing phase. After all the fixing is done, we will make new 3D models and prototypes for further testing by the customer.
7. Once the customer thinks that the prototype works and is final, it will enter production. If we can provide the best method of manufacturing the product, we will take care of it.
8. During production we will further review internal development processes, which may involve for example tuning the production automatisation and manufacturing technique.

Would you like to read more about our manufacturing techniques?

We have explained them in more detail in our blog post A jungle of methods – making container-like pieces. The blog outlines in detail the making of various container-like products and what needs to be considered when choosing the correct manufacturing method. You can find the blog here.