Take a peak at the final three designs for the 2012 Montie Gear Design Contest!

 

By Josh : A tree mounted multi-use organizer.

 

By Jake : An elevated cooking surface with stove.

 

By Luca : A collapsible wet/dry tree mounted container.

 

 
The 2012 Montie Design / Montie Gear Student Design Contest is underway!  We have entries from NC State, Appalachian and Virginia Tech.  The students are competing for a shot at having their product commercialized at a micro manufacturing facility that we are setting up in Spring Creek, NC.

Click on the image below to see a short video describing the contest.

Merry Christmas from all of us at Montie Design!  I hope you have a joyous Christmas and enjoy the holiday season.

Innovation vs. Invention – Case In Point

“Innovation” is an often misused term.  Simply put, innovation is where you combine existing intellectual property (or know how) in a new and creative way.  Invention is where you create new intellectual property.

There is an awesome video of a new product that has achieved viral status on YouTube.  You can watch the video here.  This device (called a Fly Board) allows the user to fly like Iron Man for a few feet into the air.

Water is pumped from an impeller (same as impeller on a Jet Ski) through a hose and then ejected from four nozzles to propel the user through the air.

Is this an example of invention or innovation?  There are many examples of using nozzles to eject water in a high velocity stream (think fire hose).  Water is often piped through flexible hoses (think fire hose again).  This product is an example of innovation because existing technologies from fire hoses were combined with using a personal watercraft as a remote power source.  This is a great example of cross pollination because technologies from different industries were innovatively combined to create a new product.  On a personal note, I want to try this new product.  But, I’m pretty sure I won’t be thinking about product development terminology as I’m flying through the air.

Want to talk product development or need help with a project?  Don’t hesitate to contact me at 919-481-1845 x107 or montie@montie.com.

Merry Christmas,
Montie

Flex Circuits Seminar, and Networking Events

Paul Tome with EPEC Technologies  joined us for a lunch and learn event on Tuesday, Nov 15th.  He lead a discussion called the “Secrets of Flex Circuit Design”.  Paul has 15 years of experience designing flex circuits.  Paul is the Flex Circuit Product Manager for Epec Engineered Technologies (www.epectec.com).

 

IDSA Southern Regional Portfolio Review at VT

Last weekend was a lot of fun.  The industrial design students in our region have an amazing amount of energy and talent.  It was an honor to serve as a professional reviewer at the event.

 

PCB Carolina Show in Raleigh

The PCB Carolina show was held on Tuesday at the Raleigh Convention Center.  The convention center is an awesome venue for this type of event.  Shows like this are a great way to meet new clients and catch up with existing clients and friends.  You may be wondering why a mechanical design firm would exhibit at a show focused on PCB design and manufacturing.  All those printed circuit boards have to end up in some sort of enclosure (hint – think Montie Design).

 

DEFNET Event in Raleigh

Last night the folks at Wake County Economic Development put on the 3rd DEFNET event.  These events are designed to enable networking between the local companies that do work in the defense market space.  This event included a short speech by David Price.  Sign up for the event announcements by emailing Wayne Watkins.

Congressman Price speaking at the Wake County Economic Development DEFNET Event.

(Morrisville, N.C.) Montie Design, an innovative concept-to-marketplace product design and development firm, is continuing a string of educational outreach events by hosting a November 15 Lunch and Learn featuring Paul Tome with EPEC Technologies. Tome will be leading a discussion called the “Secrets of Flex Circuit Design” at the Montie Design studios located just off Aviation Parkway in Morrisville. The event is free but requires advance registration online at https://www.eventbrite.com/event/2434228844. Continue reading “Luncheon Continues String of Educational Outreach Events to Manufacturing Sector”

Earlier in the year we sponsored a student design contest for students in NC and Virginia.  Nick Pennington submitted a contest winning slingshot design.  We liked his design so much that we invited him to serve as a summer intern at Montie Design and commercialize his design.  Nick managed to successfully complete two versions of his design.  Look to see both versions in the Montie Gear catalog in time for Christmas.

 

 

 

 

All the parts were finished this week, so Mason could start assembling his new table this week. He was one of our interns this summer. If you are looking for an entry level Industry Designer, then check out his LinkedIn profile.

Table is Made of Aluminum Plates for a High Tech Look

 

(Morrisville, N.C.) Montie Design, an innovative concept-to-marketplace product design and development firm, recently participated in the North Carolina Defense Business Association (NCDBA) Breakfast with a Prime event August 25th as one of the presenting companies. Held at the Research Triangle Park Archie K. Davis Conference Center, Breakfast with a Prime featured a main presentation by renowned government contracting group IEM and was well-attended by representatives of private businesses, local government and universities. Continue reading “Montie Design Participates in Defense Business Event”

Rob and Nick are putting the finishing touches on the new Montie Gear Slingshots. These slingshots were the winning entries of Nick Pennington in the 2011 Montie Gear Student Design Contest. Nick worked with us all summer to commercialize his entry, resulting in 4 different slingshot models.

Last weekend, we packed up again to Troublesome Gap to do more product testing.  This time we were testing a bracket system for a company called Ronin Metal Masters.  They have a really cool technology that allows you to ship a sheet metal part flat and bend it by hand when you need it.  They have turned this into a product line called BendAShed.  This is a big advance in metal folding technology in an industry where large press brakes are normally needed, because you can now do it by hand.  Al Ely of ADR Hydrocut in Morrisville, used their waterjet to cut out the stainless steel brackets that we use.

After some hardwork and a bunch of those really cool brackets we ended up with a picnic shelter.   The purpose of the picnic shelter is to use the challenging weather conditions at Troublesome Gap to test just how robust the Ronin Metal Masters design really is.

We also had the opportunity to test an assault rifle accessory that we are working on.  Seems like we also consume a lot of ammo on trips to Troublesome Gap.

 

Looking for How People Misuse Your Product

Some of the best product enhancements come from how users put make use of your products in creative ways.  This picture is a good example.

 

I also noticed how the cutting board grip (handle) didn’t fit into the Montie Gear Camp Rack slot, so a short length of 550 cord fixed that problem.  Similar situation for the black plastic ladel.  Future products and products enhancement goodness in this picture for sure.  By the third evening, Al had decided that the loft in the structure would be a great place to sleep, so after using enough clamps he gave it a try.  Thankfully he remembered that the first step off the cot is a big one.  I think that Mike was already rethinking some of his structure design when he saw Al’s creative use.

I will admit it was hard to come back to Raleigh after 4 wonderful days on Troublesome Gap.  Here are some pictures of why it is so hard to come back.

 

 

 

Now the only question is “Are you Troublesome Gap Tough?”  Come with us next time and find out!

Sign Up at: http://startupstampede.com/#sec1

Last week we took our annual trek to Troublesome Gap for our product testing weekend.  This is when we suffer through the beautiful scenery and beautiful weather to make sure that Montie Gear products are truly Troublesome Gap Tough.

 

 

 

 

 

I enjoy getting out of the office to attend events like the North Carolina Defense Business Association (NCDBA) Event held in Pinehurst April 19-20. Each time, I meet exciting people, obtain invaluable contacts, and learn more about the defense industry. This week’s event does not disappoint. I have connected, and reconnected, with defense industry vendors, and heard from several influential speakers, including Keith Crisco, NC Secretary of Commerce .

Check out the picture from the trade show taken earlier today.

 

Learn more about defense contracting on the Military Contracting page on Montie.com. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates.

The Fuquay-Varina Economic Development Committee has announced the SPHERE incubator that provides low-cost space for start-up companies in the gaming, simulation and defense industries. Fuquay’s location between the Research Triangle and Ft. Bragg really puts them in a position to benefit from the growth of these industries. Flyer available for download at:

http://www.fvedc.com/assets/files/PDFs/SPHERE%20Flyer.pdf

If you have any questions please contact James Sauls at jsauls@fuquay-varina.org.

(Morrisville, N.C.) Collaborative product design and development firm Montie Design has announced the winners of its first annual Student Design Contest centering around new additions to the Montie Gear line of outdoor equipment. Prizes will be awarded at the March 25 Final Friday networking event at the Montie Design studios in Morrisville. First prize goes to North Carolina State University student Josh Little, who will collect $500 and receive a two-year commission on his product, the Autolever gun rack, if it is successfully brought to market within two years. Nicholas Pennington, also of NCSU, will be awarded $250 for his second-place design for a Montie Gear slingshot.

“Even the five runners-up had outstanding ideas,” Montie Roland, company president, said. According to Roland, Montie Design enjoys a strong relationship with many premier design schools as well as industry groups for students, such as the Industrial Designers Society of America.

“We’re going to have all the student designs on display at our March 25 Final Friday event, in addition to having some of the contestants on-hand to talk about their experience and professional goals,” he added.

Montie Design’s Final Friday events allow the firm to provide its insights and experience to help the industrial and mechanical engineering and product design communities achieve excellence. They are fun, informal quarterly networking opportunities for product design and manufacturing professionals to mingle in a relaxed atmosphere after work. Attendees at previous Final Fridays have come from small, medium, and large firms from multiple industries, representing the diversity of skills and experience Montie Design applies to each individual project from concept to prototype to market.

There is no cost to attend Final Friday; music, food, and non-alcoholic beverages will be available from 4-6:30 p.m. To RSVP or to get more information, email Jeff Smith at jeff@montie.com.

About Montie Design
Montie Design is a collaborative product design and development firm with core competencies in industrial design, mechanical design and fuzzy front end services. Implementing a client-centric approach in taking products from concept to marketplace, Montie Design balances vision with usability in realizing products that are economical to manufacture, elegant and robust. The firm operates out of the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina with access to industry-leading technology, resources and innovative thought. For more information, visit www.montie.com.