PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

We recently developed FLYTAG for Flytoget AS. This is a good example of a development project from idea phase to finished product.

Industrial design

In the early design phase, it is important to understand all users of the product;

1. The customer must print his FLYTAG

2. The train staff must bytte tag-roll

3. Service personnel must have access for maintenance

In order for the product to match the rest of the interior, we relied on Flytoget AS's design manual.

BBC, which is a supplier of FLYTAG, also wanted its design profile, which gives the product a clear recognition to their other product family.

We solved all these requirements and early in the process we presented computer generated images where FLYTAG was mounted inside the train sets.

Prototypes

It is important to get prototypes made as quickly as possible to uncover any challenges that are not discovered in the design phase.

The prototype should be as correct as possible, both in terms of materials and colors, to reveal discrepancies between expectations and the actual product.

In the FLYTAG project, we produced a prototype already a few weeks after the start of the project. The prototype was produced in the same materials and painted in the colors of the finished product.

With the prototype, we saw challenges when changing tag rolls, and discovered noises caused by vibrations in the train. We corrected this in the further design process.

From a purely technical point of view, a prototype can be made more easily. However, as there are other decision-makers involved in the process, it is important that a prototype is as similar to the finished product as possible. This keeps the focus on the product and makes decisions faster.

More about prototypes

Industrialization

It is important that the product is also designed for efficient production. NewTracks has broad expertise from various types of production and will help ensure that the product is prepared for serial production right from the start of the project.

We designed the FLYTAG chassis in thin sheet steel to keep costs and weight low. The front panel is the most visible part of the product. Here we used 6 mm aluminum which is machined with rounded edges. This gives the product a friendly design without sharp edges. The front is sandblasted, with gray anodizing, which is a durable surface for easy cleaning.

We also designed a Lexan foil in the panel. The foil can easily be changed when a new design is desired, or when selling to other customers.

The foil is recessed in the front panel, which gives a holistic look, but at the same time it is difficult to detach without tools.

More about industrialization

Read about the FLYTAG project here