Earplug dispenser solves engineering challenge
A
Hothouse Product Development Partners product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Jul 25, 2003
Hothouse Product Development Partners has designed new equipment for dispensing earplugs that is both highly functional and aesthetically stunning.
Hothouse Product Development Partners has designed new equipment for dispensing earplugs that is both highly functional and aesthetically stunning.
Earplugs are a legal requirement for many shop floor environments, but dispensing them to staff and visitors poses problems.
Though the design of the plugs themselves may seem basic, because of the soft, pliable material of earplugs, they tend to "stick" together which makes them prone to jamming dispensing mechanisms.
Given that millions are dispensed each year, the problem was a pressing one.
"Ear plugs are a bit like people", explained Richard Thom, Chief Designer at Hothouse.
"They don't like to be forced, but they can be gently coaxed.
They also quite like forming queues and archways", he continued.
Without an effective dispensing system, obtaining a pair of earplugs can lead to excessive scrap packaging or users simply grabbing several plugs at once, creating waste.
Hothouse has overcome this problem by combining sound mechanical engineering with creative design.
The entire development process involved both the design and empirical testing of a range of practical experimentations leading to an elegant final product.
To this end, Hothouse studied numerous configurations before arriving at the final product, which needed to be effective, efficient, reliable and stylish.
Even taking such a meticulous and practical approach, the overall design and development time from concept to launch was just ten months.
The device has now been installed in a number of factories including major car manufacturers such as Ferrari, Audi and Nissan.
Efficient mechanisms means that four kinds of earplugs can be dispensed from the same device, which is striking in appearance and easy to use - even by heavy-handed engineers.
The awarding of this contract followed on the heels of other successful dispensing projects Hothouse had undertaken for the likes of blue chip manufacturers such as Kimberley-Clark for whom Hothouse designed an award-winning paper towel dispenser.
"Our challenging work on dispensing systems shows that the best approach to industrial design still involves a high degree of practical and pragmatic testing", concludes Richard Thom.
Not what you're looking for? Search the site.
Google Ads
Contact Hothouse Product Development Partners
Related Stories
- Lambert fits Schmitt AEMS into Bryant grinder
- Fraser-Nash completes ventilation system redesign
- Idac supplies support services for FPSO project
- Idac safety-checks temporary access platform
- Idac undertakes torque investigation
Articles by product category
- Consultancy and Services (903)
- Machine Building (4,517)
-
Engineering Design Software (6,179)
- Engineering Design Software (12)
- 2D CAD software (200)
- 3D CAD software (1,157)
- FEA and structural analysis software (369)
- Fluid, thermal, noise, vibration software (334)
- Simulation, modelling, validation software (914)
- Rendering, visualisation, styling software (196)
- Materials design and moulding design software (151)
- Process, instrumentation, automation software (258)
- Electrical design software (164)
- Publishing and documentation software (229)
- Maths, charting, statistics, QA software (317)
- Data, document management software (310)
- CAM, CNC, production management software (568)
- File conversion software, data capture (351)
- PLM and collaboration software (649)
-
Drives, Motors and Controls (3,361)
- Drives, Motors and Controls (1)
- Precision Motors and Gears (411)
- Industrial Drives/Controls (1,276)
- Linear Drives and Motors (114)
- Industrial Motors (497)
- Stepper and Servo Drives, Motors, Controls (1,060)
- Small Mechanical Components, Joining, Tools (1,975)
-
Control and Instrumentation (5,028)
- Plantwide control (1,324)
- Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications (1,174)
- Smaller-Sized PLCs (387)
- CNC and Motion Controllers (184)
- Mid-range and Large PLCs (201)
- Power Supplies, Uninterruptible Power (562)
- HMIs/Operator Interfaces (294)
- Logic Controllers, Timers and Relays (96)
- Cabling, Conduit, Signal Conditioning (806)
-
Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (5,459)
- Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (1)
- Data acquisition Software and Communications (494)
- Data Acquisition Hardware and PC I/O Boards (472)
- Electrical and Electronic Testing, PAT Equipment (630)
- Form/co-ordinate, optical, vision instruments (703)
- Gauges, Indicators and Instruments (440)
- Data loggers (422)
- Materials testing equipment (421)
- Telecomms/network test equipment, software etc (154)
- Testing and Calibration Services and Information (500)
- Testing, analysing and monitoring equipment (1,222)
-
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (4,160)
- Batteries, chargers and circuit protection (555)
- Connectors, Terminals, Busbars, Slip Rings (679)
- Enclosures and Equipment Cooling Fans (709)
- Knobs, Handles and Enclosure Hardware (420)
- PCs and Embedded Systems (798)
- Electrical and Electronic Subassemblies (369)
- Electrical and Electronic Components (630)
-
Materials and Processing (2,963)
- Materials and Processing (5)
- Materials and components (2,215)
- Rapid Prototyping (458)
- Materials processing and testing (285)
-
Engineering Industry News, Resources (6,093)
- Engineering Industry News, Resources (4)
- Engineering Business News, Views (388)
- Engineering Exhibitions, Events (562)
- Engineering Conferences (425)
- Engineering Seminars (400)
- Engineering Industry Developments, Awards (633)
- Engineering Guides, Newsletters (349)
- Engineering Recruitment, Employment (219)
- Engineering Training Courses (433)
- Engineering Education, Resources, Standards (838)
- Engineering Industry Reports, Surveys (597)
- Electronic Resources for Engineers (278)
- Health and Safety Legislation (402)
- Health and Safety Strategy, Risk Assessment (113)
- Health and Safety Consultancy, Software (175)
- Health and Safety Events, Training, News (277)
-
Powertrain Design (3,598)
- Powertrain Design (2)
- Bearings (939)
- Chains and belts (326)
- Gears, brakes, couplings and engines (1,441)
- Hydraulic Components (471)
- Lubricants (418)
-
Capital Equipment (3,387)
- Capital Equipment (1)
- Manufacturing Machinery and Plant Equipment (468)
- Production line blowers and fans (62)
- Compressors and Air Treatment (510)
- Electronics Manufacturing, Tools, Instruments (192)
- Electrical hardware (131)
- Machinery and Production Equipment (1,093)
- Robotics, Handling and Storage (930)
-
Sensors (7,080)
- Sensors (8)
- Accelerometers and Vibration Sensors (427)
- Loadcells, Force Sensors, Torque Sensors (699)
- Pressure sensors (621)
- Flowmeters and Flow Sensors (618)
- Level Sensors and Leak Detectors (527)
- Linear Position Sensors (399)
- Rotary Position, Tilt and Angular Sensors (546)
- Proximity Sensors (700)
- Gas, Chemical, Radiation, Magnetic Sensors (284)
- Humidity and Environmental Sensors (152)
- Temperature sensors (612)
- Vision and Colour Sensors (1,384)
- Barcode Sensors (103)
- Valves, Pumps, Process Hardware (3,623)
