1st Call Lockouts - Touchclone
The Company.
1st Call Lockouts Ltd is a traditional locksmith company based in Birmingham. They were looking to branch out into the world of auto locksmithing, and had an idea with the potential to transform the industry.
The Product.
Touchclone is a simple, cost-effective solution to the expensive reprogramming of keys every time a car key is lost or stolen. It merges three different technologies – a traditional transponder, electronic reader and a cloning device – and can clone keys with a single touch.
The Problem.
One of the biggest problems for 1st Call was trying to manufacture a suitable enclosure to house the product. It needed to be aesthetically pleasing, ergonomic to use, and be durable and able to withstand the knocks it would face, both in a traditional workshop and as part of a mobile unit. The enclosure also needed to house electronics, which were pre-developed, and be easy to use when the user was wearing gloves.
The Solution.
Our work on Touchclone involved a range of our services. With a race to get to market, 1st Call called upon our Nebulem Express service, as there was a short two-week lead-time in which to design a suitable enclosure.
Our product design service was called upon to provide CAD for the enclosure and our design had to include the integration of electronics, which were provided to us in their physical form. Within the two-week window we produced a prototype unit so that 1st Call could validate the final design and prepare it for tooling. Finally, as this was a new product range, we produced a range of visual renders for the marketing materials needed to promote the product.
The Outcome.
Touchclone was launched to a diverse range of markets, including auto locksmiths and high street key cutting services. This successful product provides auto locksmiths with a one-stop shop for cloning car keys and programming them with the all-important transponder function.
Project Details.
CLIENT
1st Call Lockouts
DATE
2012
CATEGORIES
Concept Generation, Product Design, Integration of Electronics Design for Manufacture, Prototyping