NOZZAD (UK) LTD

Nozzad (UK) Ltd

Project:	Nozzad (UK) Ltd
Client:	Product Partners
Date:	19 March 2008
Duration:	6 Months
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Nozzad Case Study; Product Partners were contracted by Nozzad (UK) Ltd in the spring of 2008 to provide expertise to design, develop, prototype and manufacture a new nozzle advertising unit (nozzad) to supplement their existing range of specialist garage forecourt equipment used by UK and European petroleum retailers. To ensure a direct and efficient design and development process, from the outset Product Partners recommended; Ogle Models and Prototypes as a prototyping partner because of their; - Existing and proven working relationship with Product Partners. - Stereolithography (SLA), Laser Sintering (SLS) and Vacuum Casting expertise. - Knowledge and experienced feedback during the design process. Design Objective; Old nozzad and competitive products are easily damaged by customers, i.e.; dropping and running over nozzles with their cars! Therefore; nozzle advertising unit component parts are easily broken and become separated from the associated nozzle, a negative for petroleum retailers particularly in Europe where the nozzle advertising concept is still relatively new. The objective was to; design a tough and durable nozzad using appropriate polymers retaining structural integrity when dropped - the detail design was also required to fit a number of different size fuel nozzles without modification. Design and Prototyping Process; In addition to the usual on screen virtual prototyping, Product Partners design and development process enabled early manufacture of sintered nylon SLS prototypes for client assessment and approval. Ogle produced these prototypes which also proved valuable for round table discussions with toolmaker moulder; ENL. Implementing the above prototype feedback a second iteration design followed and further prototypes manufactured. This time the SLA process was used and Ogle were employed to manufacture silicon moulds enabling the production of multiple polyurethane resin cast component parts. Benefiting from infinite colour options and crystal clear polyurethanes, prototypes were produced for extensive garage forecourt testing and sales presentation to various European petroleum retailing companies. User and market feedback was implemented into the design process, CAD data updated to production issue and a definitive SLA produced by Ogle, enabling final sign off and confident release of CAD data. Nozzad was released to the market in the autumn of 2008, a 6 month development programme successfully completed, on time.