Product Development Projects
Development of a Reusable To-Go container service in Restaurants
This project aimed at eliminating single use Styrofoam To-go food containers used in restaurants and replace it with a reusable, smart container service. These containers were equipped with RFID technology and could be returned to "Smart dispose bins" after use. "Smart dispose bins" had RFID readers and opened only when Green2Go boxes were scanned, ensuring sanitation and hygiene. These boxes were then washed, sanitized and returned to the restaurant for re-use!
The motivation behind this project was to reduce the detrimental effects of Styrofoam on the environment and come up with an innovative, sustainable solution.
Keep reading for more details!
Initial Ideation
Define key stakeholders, conduct market research and establish a technology blueprint for the system.
Key Stakeholders: Restaurants, Green To Go, Municipalities.
System Components: Green Container, Smart Bin, IoT connectivity.
Product Design
The Product Design phase included:
3D CAD model for reusable container with RFID tags (Shown in grey and white)
3D CAD model for "Smart dispose bin" with RFID readers (Shown in green in the video)
Development of "Self Locking Mechanism" (Shown inside the bin in the vide)
Prototyping
The third step included developing a working prototype of the RFID-enabled self-locking "Smart dispose bin".
Market-Ready Product
This final stage included:
Revenue projections
Marketing strategies
Feasible Business Model
Final rendered models for Reusable Green container and "Smart dispose bin"
Design and Prototyping of a Mold for Plastic Injection Molding using 3D Printing Technology
Plastic Injection molding using conventional tooling is a very expensive procedure. To significantly reduce tooling and operational costs, the benefits of 3D Printing were leveraged for this project.
This process reduced tooling costs by a factor of 30 and considerably reduced total lead time.
Product Design
CAD model developed using Solidworks.
Fabrication
Mold 3D printed using Digital ABS material on Objet 3D printing machine
Testing
Mold assembled on Injection Molding machine to inject parts made of Polypropylene plastic.
Result
Satisfactory part quality obtained for 12 injection passes.