A recipe for success
New product development is the lifeblood of any manufacturing company. Neil Hannay, Senior Development Engineer with Titan Enterprises, explains how, by investing in research and development and continually pushing the boundaries of technology – and running down a few rabbit holes along the way – Titan maintains its competitive edge in the flowmeter market.
Titan Enterprises, an international manufacturer and supplier of small-bore liquid flowmeters, is building its reputation by designing and producing cost-effective, reliable sensor products. Its focus for R&D is achieving a solution for its OEM customers, driven by flow technology. This can take the form of:
- Product portfolio development: such as identifying where products can be improved, as Titan has recently achieved with the launch of the new Pulsite Link pulse and analogue converter.
- Breakout R&D: developing a low-cost ultrasonic flow measuring device utilising its technology.
- Customer / OEM bespoke product development to be incorporated into a customer’s specific application.
Where do ideas come from?
The R&D creative process is generally sparked by a customer who presents a problem that the development team can progress to investigate workable solutions. Development routes can also derive from a ‘Eureka’ moment, a mistake or where the market is going – driven by emerging technology.
Neil Hannay, Senior Development Engineer with Titan Enterprises, explains: “OEM customers come to us with a problem or need, and we scope out a bespoke design concept that has the potential to solve this.”
Concept designs
In forming the initial concept designs, close working with the customer to develop specific design parameters and overcome fundamental difficulties that may be encountered is key from the outset. Understanding what the priority is for the customer is also essential at this early stage, as it will influence the development route and technology used within the concept design process. In the simplest terms, is the customer prioritising accuracy over product costs or looking for a low-cost solution with reliable performance?
Design specification
Defining a more comprehensive design specification will enable concept models of designs to be composed that meet both Titan’s performance specifications and the customer’s process or system.
For example, working with a drinks dispenser OEM, the design brief needed to consider dimensions, to fit within the limited physical space available, capacity for dual fluids – a single unit being able to measure both non-viscous and viscous liquids side by side, specific connections to fit existing equipment, these of approved (NSF/FDA) food grade materials plus cost and production window implications.
Prototypes and testing
Once the concept designs are agreed, the next phase is to agree on the pricing of the tooling and final meter based on expected production quantities. For Titan, typically, our OEM customers invest in the injection moulded tooling, which is bespoke for them, and they ultimately own this; the design remains within Titan’s intellectual property.
Machined prototypes are put through a rigorous in-house testing process for design and performance before being issued to the OEM to test in situ. “This allows us to uncover any unexpected issues or indeed cause unexpected issues,” said Neil. “We often find ourselves doing lots of ‘head scratching’ in the testing phase, and it’s where the team’s problem-solving skills come into their own.”
For example, a recent machined prototype unit was below its expected performance when initially tested. Several rounds of rebuilding followed, from gears to body parts, but the performance of the meter was still erratic. Two crucial aspects were discovered, and the prototype was reworked using a harder material and polishing the internal surface, resolving the performance issues identified.
In-situ testing and final design
Once ready, the prototype is sent to the customer to test in situ and verify both the physical and mechanical performance meets its requirements in all operational situations. Any modifications to dimensions, for example, or adjustments to fittings within the system, are worked into the final design. This iterative process of finalising design requires close working with OEM customers, including re-evaluating costings and agreeing production volumes.
Titan’s flow meters are typically incorporated into much larger industrial systems where accurate, reliable recording or control is required. Neil concluded: “Investing in R&D is paramount to us staying ahead of the game and taking advantage of the latest technologies, and our R&D spend is more than three times the industry average.”
Contact Titan to discuss an optimised flow measurement solution for your OEM application.
