CREATIVE TOOLING PRODUCES COST EFFECTIVE SUN SCREEN APPLICATOR

www.l-omo.com

Sharp Concepts' ability to take a client's specified price point and effectively design tooling and products that match it has enabled the cost effective production of a funky new sunscreen applicator.

Known as L'omoTM for `Lotion in Motion', the new sunscreen applicator has been specifically designed to protect that hard to reach spot in the middle of your back by way of an easy to use 65cm cord fitted with two handgrips and a revolving tube roller. The roller smoothly spreads sunscreen across the users back and is secured into position by two small plastic crimps and plugs.

L'omoTM is being manufactured and assembled by Sharp Concepts on behalf of Auckland-based Stingray NZ Ltd, and is scheduled to be launched this summer by the Cancer Society.

According to Stingray NZ director Scott Tucker, the creative tooling developed by Sharp Concepts is what really made the product viable. He says, "Attaching crimps can be very time consuming and fiddly and we needed to find an easy and cost effective way to do this. By designing an innovative tool that moulded the crimps directly onto the cord Sharp Concepts enabled us to achieve our designated end price point by minimising the product assembly and cycle times."

Scott got the idea for L'omoTM while struggling to apply his sunscreen evenly while working on contract in Florida. On his return to New Zealand he teamed up with Kane Murray of Idea Connect and developed an initial design and prototype which they then took to Sharp Concepts to have transformed into a marketable product.

By putting a lot of effort into the tooling phase Sharp Concepts were able to drop the number of moulds they needed from three to one, and thereby significantly reduce the product's downstream assembly and production costs.

Sharp Concepts managing director, Jeff Sharp says, "Being able to combine our product design and tooling expertise with the plastic moulding and manufacturing capabilities of ES Plastics is a huge advantage for our clients."

Jeff believes it was that indepth understanding of the entire manufacturing process that enabled Sharp Concepts to incorporate a unique design feature in the initial tooling stage that enabled them to achieve their clients' ultimate price point target.

"When it came to developing the L'omoTM we ended achieving what we always seek to do. We took a client's idea and turned it into a workable result by providing a comprehensive package of industrial design and engineering skills and services."

So, if you have a project idea or problem that requires innovation, advanced technical ability, and needs to meet a specific price point - Sharp Concepts can assure you of a sharp result.

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