Just One Word: Plastics
ROBRADY design facilitated a production program for Tollgrade Communications, Inc., that resulted in a cost-effective, brand-defining design--made of plastic.
A leader in network test and management solutions for cable and telecommunications providers, Tollgrade approached ROBRADY to offer design and production support for the new Cheetahª DOCSIS¨-based transponder, which monitors status of HFC (Hybrid Fibre Coax) networks, including power supply and end-of-line test points.
Tollgrade’s decision to switch out the off-the-shelf generic metal housing with design-friendly plastic meant the Cheetah DOCSIS-based transponder could boast a distinguishable look for an industry leader. Without the studio's established tooling relationships, however, plastic may not have surfaced as an affordable option.
In conjunction with the appointed design, the material choice not only offered customized branding opportunities--it eliminated the need for assembly hardware, reducing the product’s assembly time and cost.
Time captured by ROBRADY's expedited tooling and other established arrangements was pivotal to yet another aspect of the project's success. Because Tollgrade's new transponder was to allow for monitoring of existing DOCSIS or Euro-DOCSIS (European Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification Standard) infrastructure, the production program had to accommodate expanded-market testing and certification of the new circuit board under extremely tight deadlines.
In support of total product development, ROBRADY design remained engaged with its client throughout all stages of development--including troubleshooting, FAIs (first article inspections), PPAP (production part approval process), vendor communications, mold-flow analysis, and part optimization all the way through the transponder's market launch.
