<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Industrial Design Consultancy / About / News]]></title><description><![CDATA[Articles]]></description><link>http://idc.uk.com/about/news/</link><copyright><![CDATA[Copyright Industrial Design Consultancy / About / News]]></copyright><generator>sNews CMS</generator><item><title><![CDATA[20% Off with Instant Online Viper SLA Quotation Service]]></title><description><![CDATA[  The Viper SLA quotation service, devised by Industrial Design Consultancy Ltd. (IDC), provides users with an immediate costing for a near-perfect rapid prototype, taking away the time-consuming task of sourcing a quote. For the month of November only, IDC is offering users a fantastic   20% discount  .  

  Where traditionally companies have had to send CAD files to a prototyping specialist and wait for a manual response, users can now log on to   IDC Models Instant SLA Quote  , fill in the product’s dimensions and their own email address, and within seconds a formal quote will appear in their inbox.  

  Managing director, Stephen Knowles, explained, “This will provide people with an instant competitive quote for a very high accuracy prototype, without any obligation. As soon as they hit ‘submit’, the quote is issued. The whole process takes a matter of minutes. Once given the go ahead, we can get working on it straightaway, cutting down on turnaround time too. This service combined with the SLA means that potentially we could produce a prototype within a day.”  

  As one of just a handful of UK companies to own a Viper SLA machine, users can access SLA (stereolithography) prototyping, sometimes known as 3D printing. CAD files can be converted into high quality, solid plastic parts in a matter of hours.  

  The Viper SLA system also allows companies to choose between standard resolution mode for the best balance of build speed and part resolution, and high resolution mode for ultra-detailed small parts and features. The resin used is also higher quality than most, creating extremely durable parts that can form the basis for a wide range of solid imaging applications, including casting and moulding.  ]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:48:36 +0000</pubDate><link>http://idc.uk.com/about/news/idc-news/20-off-with-instant-online-viper-sla-quotation-service/</link><guid>http://idc.uk.com/about/news/idc-news/20-off-with-instant-online-viper-sla-quotation-service/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[IDC Scoops iDEA Innovation Awards]]></title><description><![CDATA[  
   Industrial Design Consultancy (IDC), based in Datchet, had cause for celebration this week after scooping several much sought-after design innovation awards.   Judges chose IDC over other major players in the iDEA (Innovation & Design Excellence Awards) for ‘Product Design Innovation’ and ‘Design Collaboration’, as well as awarding highly commended in the ‘Best Design Consultancy’ category.    

  IDC’s managing director, Stephen Knowles, was delighted with the news, “These awards recognise some of the ground breaking products that IDC has designed over the year and the work that has gone in to make the ideas become a reality.”  

  Many such products mean potentially big changes for the better in their specific market. Examples include: insulin pens for diabetes sufferers; an inflatable solar panel for domestic hot water; a water saving high-pressure shower head; and an industrial robot, to name just a few.  Significantly, IDC was also praised for its sustainable design approach, designing products with more consideration for the environment during the manufacturing process and use by consumers saving both energy and money.    

  The iDEAs are organised by Cranfield School of Management, and the industry magazines Eureka and New Electronics.  Now in their fourth year, the awards recognise and reward the key role played by mechanical and electronic design engineers in the creation of new and successful products.  “We look for factors that set companies apart, such as expertise in a particular branch of technology, a willingness to take calculated risks and proof of products that are successful in the market,” said Lou Reade, editor of Eureka and an Awards judge.  
The awards were presented at The Royal Lancaster Hotel, Hyde Park London on Friday 19 September 2008.  ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:46:16 +0000</pubDate><link>http://idc.uk.com/about/news/idc-in-the-press/idc-scoops-idea-innovation-awards/</link><guid>http://idc.uk.com/about/news/idc-in-the-press/idc-scoops-idea-innovation-awards/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[IDC Designed Shower Head Makes Little Splash for Big Savings]]></title><description><![CDATA[    Working for Challis Water Controls, Industrial Design Consultancy (IDC) has been involved in a ground-breaking project to develop a new shower head which saves precious water resources and heating costs.  The new Challis shower head is so effective that it can save up to 30% of hot water while still providing the same flow strength of a full flowing conventional shower head.   

 

  IDC developed a design which incorporated Challis’ patented induction technology, which uses a device to suck in air to volumise the water droplets.  In conventional showerheads, only the outer edge of each water droplet actually gets you wet, and the rest bounces off and goes down the drain.  With Challis’ shower head, the water inside each droplet is replaced with air, so the droplets are lighter and faster – resulting in a high performance shower which uses 30% less water.   

 
  
IDC developed a distinctive design that would appeal to a wide range of users, from end consumers through to commercial organisations such as hotels and gyms; where hot water savings really have a great impact.  IDC introduced a new rose feature to the shower head with three different colour combinations and space for potential branding of trade customers.  

 

  The shower head is also produced in a medical variant, the AG+, which is made with silver impregnated anti-bacterial plastic which kills all mould, bacteria and fungi, including MRSA, Sudamona and E. coli.  The new Challis shower head is being launched in October – further details are available at   www.alchallis.com     ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:41:48 +0000</pubDate><link>http://idc.uk.com/about/news/sustainable-design/idc-designed-shower-head-makes-little-splash-for-big-savings/</link><guid>http://idc.uk.com/about/news/sustainable-design/idc-designed-shower-head-makes-little-splash-for-big-savings/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mobility Solutions for Robot Inspection Arm]]></title><description><![CDATA[      Press Release, June 2008  

  Award winning product designer, Industrial Design Consultancy (IDC) has achieved a new level of machine mobility and casing design; bringing multi-axis manoeuvrability to a robot CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machine).  This latest industrial project required the development of mobility casing solutions for the Metris Robot CMM Arm (RCA); an innovative new measurement system designed for 3D laser scanning inspections on the production line.   

 

  Metrology company Metris wanted a design which would enhance their Robot CMM Arm, whilst maintaining maximum manoeuvrability with small housings for difficult measurement locations.  In achieving this, IDC was challenged to pack nearly 3500 parts into a housing with a system that provided 7 degrees of freedom.  With so many parts moving in different directions, IDC’s engineers had to work closely with the Metris design engineers to develop mechanical and casing solutions which were of minimal size.  The main difficulty to overcome when reducing the size and weight was in providing sufficient clearance for all the moving parts, while avoiding friction problems.  Metris also introduced new safety features that had to be incorporated in the design.  

 

  IDC’s MD Stephen Knowles explains, “The RCA is a highly technical piece of equipment.  To develop a fully functional cover system within the short timescale available required us to work hand-in-hand with the Metris engineers.  The result was that our integrated design and engineering team became an extension of Metris’ project group creating a machine with visual appeal and allowing the development to proceed much faster with fewer design iterations.”  

 

  IDC successfully achieved the size and manoeuvrability that Metris was looking for and the resulting RCA is now capable of accessing inner cavity locations of products, such as vehicle body shells.  Such unlimited accessibility is a major leap forward compared to traditional CMMs that have difficulty reaching enclosed part surfaces.  

 

  The RCA system itself combines a highly accurate internal 7‑axis articulated arm with an external skeleton driven by electric motors.  This unique process creates a measuring robot that drives a Metris MMD laser scanner along the programmed motion path.  With Metris’ premium encoder technology and stiff carbon fibre axes, RCA intrinsically provides absolute measurement accuracy within an inspection volume of 4.2 metre diameter.  ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:06:00 +0000</pubDate><link>http://idc.uk.com/about/news/industrial-manufacturing/mobility-solutions-for-robot-inspection-arm/</link><guid>http://idc.uk.com/about/news/industrial-manufacturing/mobility-solutions-for-robot-inspection-arm/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[IDC Develops Eco-friendly Inflatable Solar Panel]]></title><description><![CDATA[    As a leading sustainable product designer, Industrial Design Consultancy (IDC) is delighted to announce its latest product development; an inflatable solar collector called   SolarStore  . The   SolarStore   harnesses the sun’s natural energy to warm domestic water and can heat up to three full tanks of water per day at temperatures close to 80°C.  

  For consumers in the UK, the   SolarStore   could provide a cheap source of domestic hot water; with an initial cost of under £100 per product, trial data has shown that the system will pay for itself in only 6 months. This compares extremely favourably to conventional domestic solar hot water systems, which cost in the region of £2000-3000 and have payback times of around 10-20 years. It is anticipated that the product will also be extremely beneficial in developing countries, where a reliable electricity supply can be a problem. Other applications for the SolarStore include hot water for camping and caravanning holidays or for hot water in remote locations.  

  The simplicity of the device is remarkable. When deflated, it is small enough to fit into a rucksack, yet   SolarStore   inflates to nearly 2m  2   for maximum solar absorption.   SolarStore   works by allowing sunlight to pass through a clear outer layer to a black inner layer which holds the water. By a process of heat transfer, the water is then heated up. The surrounding air between the clear and black layers then acts as insulation to help keep the heat in.  

  Although the   SolarStore   is inflatable, the structure of the system is strong and robust and it is anchored down by the weight of 30 litres of water. It is manufactured from a heavy-duty polymer that is designed to protect against dirt and rain.   SolarStore   is an eco-friendly solution, which saves nearly 0.2 tonnes of CO  2   emissions each year.  

  With patents secured and manufacturing facilities in place, IDC is now seeking potential distributors in the UK and rest of the world.    SolarStore   will be available to consumers Spring 2009. Please email:   contact@idc.uk.com   for further information.  
    You can find more information on the SolarStore by clicking here  
    ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 10 Apr 2008 20:26:00 +0000</pubDate><link>http://idc.uk.com/about/news/sustainable-design/idc-develops-ecofriendly-inflatable-solar-panel/</link><guid>http://idc.uk.com/about/news/sustainable-design/idc-develops-ecofriendly-inflatable-solar-panel/</guid></item></channel></rss>