Development and fully functional prototypes for a new product
Client – GIR – an innovative consumer goods company
Expertise Applied
- Product Design & Development
- Feasibility Analysis
- Material Analysis
- Mechanical Design
- Mechanism Engineering
- Design For Manufacture
- User Interface Design
- Firmware Development
- Software Development
- Rapid Iterative Development Cycles: Build-Test-Learn
- Prototype Development
- Manufacturing Handoff
Problem
GIR had a vision for a battery powered, portable IoT coffee grinder, but had not yet developed a design for the system.
Solution
SGW Designworks took the product from concept through development, and eventually to manufacturing handoff. This included mechanical design, electronics development, firmware engineering, and iOS app prototyping.
Results / Outcomes
- Multiple prototype and testing cycles led to the optimal design and feature set
- SGW Designworks prototypes were used for a successful Kickstarter campaign prior to commercilization
- GIR hired SGW Designworks as their product design firm on other projects, including the innovative GIR Tongs
Overview
GIR has a history of innovation. They have introduced a number of kitchen utensils that set the standard for quality and functionality. In addition to their existing product line, they identified an opportunity to develop and market a portable, web-connected coffee grinder for connoisseurs. GIR recognized from the beginning that they would need to work with an outside product development company to develop this new product.
SGW Designworks was engaged by “GIR: Get It Right” to develop and prototype a mobile smart grinder for coffee enthusiasts. The project involved the development of a small, efficient drive train to manage the high torque required for grinding, as well as the development of an intuitive user interface with a rotary encoder.
This project required a lot of iteration and testing from our mechanical team as well as our IoT Development and embedded systems group. The addition of cloud connectivity and freshness detection in the late stages of development made this a classic IoT device development effort. Fully functional prototypes were built by SGW Designworks and provided to GIR for sales presentations and the development of a Kickstarter and Indiegogo campaign.
In August of 2016, the Voltaire successfully reached the Kickstarter funding threshold, allowing the ramp-up of a final design for manufacture and design optimization.
| Hardware Developed | Technologies Leveraged |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain capable of high torque | Solidworks 3D CAD |
| User interface with rotary encoder | Solidworks FEA |
| PCBA’s and Firmware | SLA 3D Printing |
| Plastic enclosures | CNC Machining |