Thanks to mould-free plastics processing, we can adapt to our customers’ requirements and offer them tailor-made plastic parts and housings. This was recently the case for a French company based in Lannion, Brittany, which specialises in counting pedestrians and cyclists in urban and natural environments. It is the world leader in this sector. For more than two decades, it has been designing products to count users of these soft modes of transport and analyse the data collected. To date, its counting systems are used in 55 countries, in a wide variety of outdoor environments: city centres, green spaces (public gardens, for example), natural sites (along a stretch of Mediterranean coastline in particular), the entrances to historic monuments, and so on. A wide variety of locations where reliable data on pedestrian and/or cyclist traffic is required.
For its business, this company needed a custom-made plastic support for internal tools. The company was familiar with our work, as we had previously designed and manufactured parts and housings for its counting applications and solutions, and turned to us for a one-off requirement. After studying their request, we once again took up the challenge using our innovative proprietary technology: the Mould-Free Sheet Metal – Plastics Process!
A mechanical part for a bicycle and pedestrian counter
Our Breton customer’s project involved the manufacture of a support for an electronic card intended for the production of a system for counting pedestrians and cyclists in an outdoor environment. He contacted us at the start of the development of his product. From then on, we were involved at the start of the R&D cycle. As this was a mechanical part designed to optimise the manufacture of a specific counting system, a standard solution did not meet his needs. It needed a made-to-measure model. However, as there were insufficient quantities to design an injection mould, he opted for our Plastic Sheet Metal process. This production technique also corresponded to his budget and proved to be the most suitable for rapid, made-to-measure production, as he had requested.
Our design office therefore worked on a customised mechanical part based on the customer’s requirements and specifications. We then developed a ready-to-use prototype so that our customer could test it in-house and check its compatibility with their metering system.
The special features of this made-to-measure project
Our customer in Lannion had no specific technical requirements for the design of this plastic support for electronic equipment. We simply had to follow the 2D plan provided. As for the design and finish, once again there were no requirements on their part. The mechanical part designed is therefore unpainted.
On the other hand, a made-to-measure solution was necessary, as the standard solution did not meet his expectations. We also knew that this support would be used on the production line of a counting system, and we were under a time constraint. Production had to be fast, which is why we chose our Plastic Sheet Metal process. So, in 8 days, we drew up, designed and manufactured the mechanical part. The deadline imposed by the company was met, and we are delighted to have been able to offer them a tailor-made solution for this one-off requirement, in line with their expectations.
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