Product Development Services

Product Design

We have experience in the design of products in many application areas including;

• Test and measurement - precision instrumentation
• Intrinsically safe products for use in explosive atmospheres (ATEX) to EN 60079
• EMC test equipment
• Marine products including propulsion controls and instrumentation
• Alarm and monitoring systems
• Motor drive and control systems
• Gas detectors (portable and fixed systems)
• Exhaust gas analysis
• Radio communications (including Bluetooth, Wi-Wi and custom ISM band)
• Lasers (high voltage and power electronics)

We can take a development from concept through to production, ensuring the product meets market requirements, and is designed for manufacture. 

Electronics Design

• Small signal analogue electronics design and signal processing
• Digital (PCI, USB, Ethernet, PCMCIA, Isolated data transmission)
• Embedded computer design
• ADC, DAC data conversion
• SMPS and Linear PSU design
• Programmable logic (PEEL, GAL, CPLD, Lattice, Altera, Xilinx)
• High voltage (> 10KV) signal generation and switching
• Class D amplifiers
• Transformers (Small signal to High Voltage)
• PCB layout (KiCAD, OrCAD, EasyPC & Pulsonix)
• RF design and use of RF modules
• PLC Systems and programming
• Intrinsically Safe Design (ATEX) to EN 60079
• Safety (SIL rating) to EN61508

Software Design

• Windows software in C++ & C# (Visual Studio)
• C and C++ (Embedded Compilers, GCC, Microsoft)
• Basic (Quick Basic, VB, VBA)
• Xojo (Cross platform app development)
• STM32 projects using TouchGFX and FreeRTOS
• Object Oriented Design
• Wolfram Mathematica
• DSP Systems
• Control Systems (Electronic and Mechanical control)
• Linux, Windows, DSP/BIOS, FreeRTOS
• Targets include STM32, PIC Micro, Renesas R8C/R16C series, Intel 8086, TI TMS320 series (C51 & C6000), Atmel 89C51, H8, Z80 & Motorola 68000.

User interface design

We believe that user interfaces should be both attractive and intuitive. To achieve this we use aesthetic layout, attractive colours, clear icons, and make sure menus flow intuitively. We also aim to include all currently available functions in the active screen and control panel to help guide the user in what they can do.

Mechanical Design

• 3D Design and drafting (Autodesk Fusion & Inventor)
• Checking of Drawings
• Designs involving Castings, Sheet Metal, and injection molded plastics
• Motors and Push-Pull controls
• Marine vessel propulsion controls and instrument panels

Product specifications

We can help define market requirements and produce specifications to ensure the different design disciplines come together and create a great product. We can define market requirements by looking at competitor products or speaking with potential customers, but most importantly, we make sure we understand what the product must do, how it will be used, and how to ensure a great user experience.

Product Compliance

We can help determine the compliance requirements for your intended markets and ensure the design complies with the relevant standards. Some examples include;

• The Low Voltage Directive (LVD) and Safety to EN61010-1
• The EMC directive
• The ATEX Directive (explosive atmospheres) and compliance to EN 60079
• Safety compliance and SIL rating to EN61508
• Marine (Lloyds & BV) certification for EMC and vibration - diagnosis and modifications made at the test house

Project management

We believe that project management is not just about the organisation and work allocation. It is important to have a project manager that understands the work involved to help the team predict accurate timescales and overcome problems. Using experience from previous projects, we can help bring your products to market faster, avoiding unnecessary surprises along the way. 

Organisation and operating procedures

We have produced standard operating procedures to EN ISO 9001 to help ensure the quality of product development. Most importantly, we believe that operating procedures  must enhance the teams performance rather than tick a compliance box.

We leverage IT systems to minimise administration overhead while enhancing team communication and documentation.

Team Building

We can help your development team by ensuring team members have the skills to develop your products.

• Training
• Recruitment
• Mentoring
• Monitoring
• Guidance

We have built entire in-house development teams and help guide them on a part time basis.

Production Engineering

We can work with you or your manufacturer to produce functional test and diagnostic equipment for use in manufacturing and service environments. We can produce the required documentation including;

• Assembly procedures
• Test Procedures
• Service Manuals
• Quality Plans
• Schematic Diagrams
• Bills of Materials
• Mechanical Drawings

Sustaining Engineering

We offer sustaining engineering services where we can modify old, possibly badly documented designs, and find alternatives for obsolete components. Do you have an old product that is worth resurrecting?