Fluxuator

The brief

Design and produce a robust device to cleanly, efficiently and safely dose copper pipes with flux. This product was conceived to replace the traditional ‘brush (or finger) and tub’ method. The marketing challenge was to attract consumers with firmly set practices.

The bang

We produced a range of concepts, testing the feel of each design with rough sketch models along the way. The client’s favourite designs where then merged into one concept. We then worked out the internal dosing structure with manufacturing constraints in mind. Testing features separately was a cost-effective way to test the concept before investing in expensive prototypes. Once the results produced by the prototype tool were satisfactory and effective, they were fed back into the design. Once a design was settled, we reached out to chemical companies across the UK and secured a suitable supplier of flux.

The result

A tool for plumbers that makes flux application simpler, cleaner and more efficient. Working with the chemical supplier, we worked out the logistics of a semi-assembled product arriving from China to the UK factory to be filled; then assembled and finally packaged. Through this connection we were able to identify suitable distribution contacts. The Fluxuator has been shortlisted for best new product from industry awards and Is now in stores all over the UK.