design of industrial tools
We develop and design new industrial tools and professional devices that people use in factories or building sites, sometimes in extreme working conditions.
tools are fundamental
The design of industrial tools is fundamental to various sectors, including manufacturing, construction, automotive, and aerospace.
These tools must combine precision, durability, and user-friendliness to optimize productivity and ensure safety in demanding environments. The process involves a multidisciplinary approach that integrates engineering principles, ergonomic considerations, material science, and advanced manufacturing techniques.
understanding the needs
The foundation of effective design of industrial tools is a clear understanding of the needs and requirements of the end-users, the conditions they work in and potential dangers.
Ergonomic assessments help us to analyze how users interact with the tool. This helps in designing handles, grips, and controls that minimize strain and enhance comfort. Secondly we apply human factors engineering principles to optimize the tool’s usability. This includes considering aspects like weight distribution, vibration dampening, and ease of operation.
When we develop complex tools that are used in extreme work environments, we give training and support materials to help users understand and effectively utilize the tool. This enhances safety and productivity in the workplace.
strategy
We start off with research into the use of the product on location, observations of operators, working conditions, technological limits, innovation opportunities, company identity and many other factors that are important for a successful design project.
The research leads to a 60 – 80 pages strategy document with a clear innovation focus, potential risks and visual identity of the new product. This document serves as a strategic guide throughout the total project.
concept development
Through rapid cycles of sketching our industrial designers investigate many potential rough design idea’s and test these with early mock-ups.
We identify and choose the best concept design directions from all the possible ideas and always make choices based on testing, experience and strategy.
During the concept stages of the design of new industrial tools, we hold a ‘look-in-the-kitchen’ session with your team. We present directions in sketch-form, functional and technical solutions, manufacturing solutions and early prototypes.
Together with your team we discuss focus, risk, level of ambition and push the design direction further into a concept.
engineering
The first important milestone during the design of new industrial tools is to bring the concept to a first fully functional prototype. This first prototype we call P1.
In the next step we use powerful 3D CAD software for the design of industrial tools. We design all parts and integrate standard components. After that we select materials, production methods, treatments, possible coatings and colors.
In some cases we use 3D CAD simulations and tests with prototypes to achieve maximum performance in extreme situations.
In addition to a set of 3D CAD files, we create a bill of materials and a first set of 2D drawings to manufacture the P1 prototype.
prototyping
Both during the concept and engineering phases we build prototypes. Early prototypes are mostly more like mockups and could be 3D printed. We use them mainly for testing shapes, ergonomics and engineering solutions.
At the end of the engineering stage we build the first P1 full functional prototype. These prototypes are high quality, often CNC milled, coated, with graphics and fully functional.
When the prototype is ready, we use this P1 for testing, both on functional, ergonomic and performance aspects. We document all the learnings and develop improvements in stability, cost, weight and performance. Mostly this leads to an updated prototype P2.
After one or sometimes more cycles of improvements the product is ready for manufacturing on a larger scale.
solar hybrid inverter
The hybrid inverters from Solplanet bring solar energy to everybody. This powerful, reliable series of inverters delivers higher efficiency using advanced dual-phase shift control technology, an improved charge-discharge process and incredibly fast parallel-to-off-grid switching.
The precise intelligent EMS control continuously tracks and adjusts photovoltaic panel power, battery power, load power, and online power.
With an IP66 certification for indoor or outdoor installations, the performance is assured, no matter the weather conditions.
Mourik m-lance
Charging and discharging reactors is a critical job that demands the highest levels of safety and efficiency. Mourik is one of the few companies in the world that have mastered this task.
The M-lance is an highly complex automatic system for discharging reactors. The system reduces the down-time of the reactor by approximately half. Thanks to the M-lance, work in the reactor is much safer and we only need one quarter of the people compared to manual discharging.
Our design and engineering firm has developed the product from scratch. Starting with several proof of principle setups that were tested in chemical plants in the Netherlands and abroad, we made a first start with a pneumatic motor and controller system.
Later we developed more sophisticated prototypes, with fully in-house developed PLC automation, highly complex drive cassettes and air operated motors.
We manufactured a small series of machines in house and run tests in Qatar, the USA and Germany.
TOFD / PE ultrasonic measuring device
The TOFD / PE (time of flight diffraction and pulse echo) device is a very high quality ultrasonic measuring device, that testing engineers from TÜV Rheinland Sonovation use to check and certify the quality of welds. They use the device in heavy machine building, oil and gas industry and offshore activities.
The device uses ultrasonic sound pulses to create an insight view of welds, thus making it possible to assess the quality of welds in a non-destructive manner. The measuring data is send by means of a pre-amp to an industrial laptop for analyses.
Mourik M-ty
The M-Ty is a handheld device attached to the M-Lance. While the M-Lance is carrying out a run, the operator performs a cross-check of the previous batch of pipes with the M-Ty. This way of working eliminates the tedious and time-consuming manual check that used to be necessary after unloading the reactor. This saves valuable turnaround time and removes potential faults.
The M-Ty measures with a constant airflow whether the tubes are completely emptied. If this is the case, a green marker appears and the operator closes the tube with a green cap. If the tube is not completely emptied, a red marker appears and the operator shields the tube with a red cap.
When finishing unloading, the top tube sheet is covered with green and some red caps. The red spots needs to be reworked, until all of the top sheet is green. This way the M-ty contributes to an efficient and secure unloading process.
We are product designers. Our team is based in Amsterdam and specialized in bicycles, e-bikes, mobility, sports and medical products.
Our products were tested, manufactured, won races, won awards and are used worldwide.
We can support your team from an early idea, through research, strategy, ergonomics, kinematics, component testing, concept design, full detailed engineering, prototyping till production.
We invest in our people and will not hire specific people for a project. Because we want to keep valuable knowledge inside of our own team.
Apart from that we fully finance ourselves. We are not part of a group, we have no bank loans and no investors. All with one reason: to be a stable, independent industrial design partner for you.
This makes that both start-ups as well as multinationals love to work with us.
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