Accelerate Innovation Program + Cuprum
Cuprum is looking to improve the Escalumex product line to increase its profitability, which is why the redesign of structural steel ladder for industrial use is required.
The proposal must have the ability to be collapsible, that is, the ladder must have a mechanism that allows it to reduce its dimensions and have common components that may have replicate in other models of the family.
This in order to modify the volume during the transfer and the storage to reduce the logistical costs generated. Ergonomics, user safety and final manufacturing cost must be taken into account as a basis during the product conceptualization and development.
Problem: Optimize the volume for transfer and storage of EFI-15 Industrial ladder and with that increase profitability and reduce inventory and transportation cost.
- How can we optimize the transportation?
- What elements avoid optimization?
- What components do not have to be changed?
- What would happen if we chose to change the material?
First contact with the EFI-15 Industrial ladder (small size)
Characteristics:
- Safety rail
- Platform
- Tubular handrail for safety
- Flat steps of anti-split
- Pedal brake system
- Rotating slices
- Anti-skid safety feet
- 5″ rear wheels
BBP: Best Business Practice
We carry out a comparative of the market referring to the product in which it makes us analyze which option is the best on the market considering different characteristics.
Cuprum EFI-15 Industrial Ladder Analysis
Advantages
- Durable
- Withstands temperature variation
- Hard to break
- Rough use
Disadvantages
- Heavy
- Good thermal and electrical conductivity
- Possible oxidation
- Sensitive to shocks
Field Analysis
- Height drop (Risk factors)
- Sliding of the foot of the ladder (lack of anti-slip shoes, sloping or sloping floor, little inclination, superior support on the wall, etc.).
- Imbalance by lifting loads or by leaning sideways to do a job.
- Breakage of a step (old, poorly repaired, poor inclination of the stairs, existence of knots, ...)
- Unbalance raising loads or when leaning laterally to the side to carry out a job.
- Rough gesture by the user (object difficult to climb, electric shock, attempt to pick up a falling object
- Unbalance when sliding on step (dirty step, inadequate, footwear, etc)
- Bad position of the body, hands or feet. Stair swing
Brainstorming
The team brainstormed after analyzing the different market stairs and the field test.
Improvement Proposal
- Collapsible
- Universal
- Assemble
Guidelines
- Common components
- Collapsible
- Easy to transfer
.
Improvement proposal + Guidelines = New product
HOW CAN WE MAKE A COLLAPSIBLE LADDER ? AND DIFFERENT LEVELS?
Proposal:
It is to put fasteners and hooks on the ladder to grab the base, so that it can reduce the space when folding it. For this mechanism we have to take into account that the same base must have both sides of smooth pin joints for this separation to be possible.
Put a hook on the top of the ladder, this will allow the top lid to be grasped by it, allowing them to slide down. (If you put the collar pin in the area of the steps)
As a remark: Make the handrails can be installed manually. (That they be screwed instead of soldiers)
Identification of the improvements to make it collapsible
Prototype of validation proposal
Proposal Ladder
The mechanism facilitate the transportation since it can be compacted to transport. It is also designed to have height variants without forgetting the safety
All parts of the new ladder are made with pieces from different ladders that Cuprum has.
Photo 1: Teamwork Multi-disciplinary team of Engineers and Designers
Photo 2: Photo with the jury of Cuprum
