P r o d u c t

Launch

Ross Murphy
13804301
University of Brighton

Contents
1. Material Selection
2. Material and Process Selection
3. Transportation
4. Transportation
5. Transportation
6. Transportation
7. Product Use
8. Product Redesign
9. End of Life Assessment
10. Product Redesign
11. Intellectual Property
12. Intellectual Property
13. Product Liability
14. Product Risk Assessment
15. Product Redesign
16. References

Life Cycle
Assessment
Raw Material
Extraction
Tr

an

po

t i on

sportat
i
on
an

Use

Material
Processing

r ta

Transp
or

on

End of Life

i
at
t

Part
Manufacturing

Assembly
Material Production and Emissions
Part

Material

Production
Energy
Mj/kg
Back Board
Oak
259.2 286.2
Slider
Stainless Steel 5.4 - 6
Wheels
Stainless Steel 0.78 0.9
Connector Part Stainless Steel 8.2 9.1
Plant Pot
ABS
25.2

Co2
Kg/Kg

Nox
Kg/Kg

Sox
Kg/Kg

-29.1 - -18.9
3.4 3.7
0.49 0.56
5.5 6.1
9.2

46.2 51.1
3.8 4.3
0.55 0.61
9.4 10.4
7*

118 130.5
3.8 4.3
0.55 0.61
9.4 10.43
18*

*Could not find legitimate data

Used data from similar output level in PS (Glass Filled)*

Ross Murphy
13804301

Part

Kg

Slider
0.70
Wheels
0.10
Connector Part 0.170
Backboard
Plant Pot

Material
S. Steel
S. Steel
S. Steel

18

Oak

0.280

ABS

Relative Manufacture method

Casting Energy
Forging Energy
Machining Energy
0.2
0.4
0.7
0.031
0.058
0.10
0.5
1
1.7
Coarse Maching
Fine Machining
Grinding Energy
19
115
221.4
Extrusion
Moulding Machining (c)
Machining (f)
Grinding
1.6

5.8

0.24

1.2

2.3

It can be understood that the main reason for the large number
in the Oak (Backboard) Colum is due to the amount used but it
is also recognised that wood is a finite and expensive material
to use in such bulk. It is then important to consider this in my
product to ensure that the design does not have such a detrimental impact on the environment. As oak is not recyclable
it would be considerate to look at decreasing environmental
damages at the first stage of material sourcing.
One way to counteract the environmentally detrimental effect
of the wood sourcing is to source from FSC sponsored woods.
This company supplies a range of wood from all over the world
while managing and maintaining sustainably where the resource comes from.

FSC Manifesto

1. You can buy wood products, from all types of forest, with a clear conscience when you see the FSC
logo.
2. The FSC label guarantees that the trees that are harvested are replaced or allowed to regenerate
naturally.
3.Parts of the forest are protected entirely, in order to protect rare animals and plants.
4. FSC gives an assurance that future generations will be able to enjoy the benefits of the forest.
This will increase the cost on sourcing the oak wood, and may not directly effect the above tables but
does mean that the material sourcing will be clean and sustainable, and so decreasing the environmental impact of having oak in my product.

Ross Murphy
13804301

Transport
Material
Oak

Source
China

Stainless Steel China

ABS
China

Pricing
$25-35 per Square Meter
$50 per 1000/2000 sheet
$2.20 per Kg

Possible Transport Method

Likley to be lorry or train to manufacturing plant
Train to manufacturing Plant
Lorry to Manufacturing Plant

It is wise to ensure that all the materials originate in China as to decrease the transportation
costs that get the materials to manufacturing plants (also in China).
The different manufactured parts will then be produced in China to decrease most of the costs
in relation to the manufacture. The parts will be assembled, packaged and then be ready for
transportation over to Europe (the main market for the product).

Transport is a really important thing to research and analyse as this will be a massive part of the
efficiency and costing of my product. This section will mean choosing the correct transportation
method for the ditance the product is covering and how well this fits with the loads that will be
carried around.

Ross Murphy
13804301

Water based travelling or freighting is the most common method of transportation, especially from the manufacturing capital of China. If the freight units are used efficiently it can be an effective method of transport that
are capable of carrying many heavy loads. This is likely the transportation method I will choose due to oversea production methods I have chosen, making it logical to ship the parts in from there. Also my product is a
square-based which makes it ideal for packing into a freight to make them as efficient (Quantity x Dead Space)
as possible.
Transportation Method
Freight to UK

Lorry/Truck to retailer
(Possibility for alternative fuel resource
to be used in this part of transport to
decrease emissions)

Miles Covered (Miles)

Pollution per trip (CO2e)

5,714.56

1675lbs

149

600lbs

Why have these been chosen over others?

Air is another successful and prompt method of transportation to get a
product from one place to another really quickly. However for my product
it is not necessary for this speed of travel. Also air travel is highly expensive and very polluting, which only increases the carbon footprint places
upon this products life span.
Train travel seems like the ideal transport method due to its clean emission level, but it is a very lengthy method for transporting from half way
across the world. It is also seen that it is not the most stable way of
transporting product that can be damaged, it is important to protect the
product at all times.

Ross Murphy
13804301

Investigation
Freight Containers
Container
Length
Container
Width

Container
Height

8ft
2438mm

10ft

7ft 1ins

2159mm
7ft 5ins
2260mm

30ft

40ft

3048mm

9144mm

12192mm

8ft
3048mm

8ft
3048mm

8ft
3048mm

8ft 6ins
2590mm

8ft 6ins
2590mm

8ft 6ins
2590mm

Packaging Size for My Product

1060mm

320mm

590mm

120
cases

Dead Space

320
cases

80
cases
57
cases

Ross Murphy
13804301

It is suggested that the packaging when freighting should be a

box carton or crate in order to form a protective layer. My product
is rather heavy so it is likely to be palletized which is, in turn,
likely used to help carry the product from ship to land. It is also
suggested that each part should be covered in plastic wrapping
(bubble wrap) as to form an extra layer of security from impacts
and water.
http://www.freightshippingcenter.com/packagingandshippingtips.php

New
Product

Bubble
Wrapped

Stored into wood

crate and palletised

Packed into
Cardboard
Box (SRP)

Packaging
As the product has to be put in a cardboard crate for
transportation there may be a possibility that this can
then be shelf ready packaging (SRP), as to decrease
wastage of material when reaching retail shop. This can
have a range of benefits:
More products can be displayed
More efficient for retails shops and so more attractive
100% recyclable and disposable when finished with

NOTE: The SRP may need to come in a larger

carsboard crate due to the shipping of the
product. But that should be the only waste

Ross Murphy
13804301

Product Use

ur

Di
s

Use

c
ro

essing

sal

Pr

po

od

Ma nu f act

Energy Fractions

Ma

er
i

The use of my product will require little to no energy at all, the only foreseeable entity being is light
maintenance to the wall mount. This nullifies assessing the energy used during the use of the product.
One of the main resources the product will utilise throughout its use is water. This is for watering the individual plant pots which becomes a daily activity for gardeners. It could be usefull to consider this when
redesigning the product as to make it a more efficient product.
A way to ensure that there is less wasted water for the plant, there could be an additional tray system
which will collect the water if it is not absorbed by the plant.

Ross Murphy
13804301

Product
ReDesign

This redesign has enabled

the product to collect water in
the below tray which can be collected by the roots in its own time.
Less excess water is wasted.

This tray can be swivelled out

and emptied if the plant is drowning under immense loads of
water.
This provides less need
for the user to keep watering
the plants as it will be collected (usefull incase user is
forgetful)

Design Improvements

Reach &
Stretch

Locomotion

Cognitive

Less Water
Used

More
Efficient

Better Product
Image

Ross Murphy
13804301

End of Life
Assessment
This involves the analysis of how different parts will be disposed of or recycled once it has lived its
lifespan. This involved breaking down the different components in the design and analysis the different
materials and their disposal methods.
Kg
18

Material
Oak

0.250

Stainless Steel

0.280

ABS

Oak

Analysis
Can be down cycled
Suitable for land fill
Can biodegrade A lot of oak in this part and so may take a while
Possibility for it to be broken down and then
Recycled fraction in worldwide supply at the moment 8.5% - 9.4%
Suitable for combustion for further energy use
Combustible heat 21.3 MJ/Kg
Co2 emitted when combusted 1.7kg/kg
Stainless steel is deemed a sustainable metal
Between 65-80% scrap stainless steel metal is reused in new stainless steel
production. Without any degradation.
Recycled ABS maybe good enough for initial use
Decreases costs from being recycled (blended with virgin ABS to make recycled
ABS)
Co2 emissions when recycling 2.5 kg/kg
Able to be down cycled
Suitable for landfill
Not biodegrable
Suitable for combustion 23.7 Mj/Kg

Stainless
Steel
ABS

Ross Murphy
13804301

Product
ReDesign
The main aspect to look at here is the disposal of the large wooden structure. The possibility for this to
be broken down and then down cycled is the decision that has the best environmental impact upon disposal. None of the other options are worth considering (combustion) as the Co2 emitted from this makes
it ineffective.

To consider a way that parts will

be able to be broken apart then ten
down cycled seems like the most valid
conclusion to come to.

With these two parts

being simply glues together, it can be torn apart
The point of this redesign when necessery for breaking down.
is to make the seperation of
layers simpler in order so more
piece can become of a once
whole shape.
With more pieces being broken down from the
product it means that these
parts can find a home elseThis will then mean
where or be downcycled into
that there will be less
other products or designs. landfill wastage from the
one unrecyclable part of
the product

Ross Murphy
13804301

10

Intellectual
property

Trademark Nam

P a te n t Slid e r

te m

S ys

od f

an
P a t e n t M u f a c t u ri n g M
eth

or Back board

st

hod

s li d e r

R e gi

i gh t s

for

nR
g
i
s
e
rD

f
a
u
c t u ri n g M
n
a
M
t
n
ta e
et

Ross Murphy
13804301

11

Intellectual
property
Register Design Rights (RDR)

To protect the product from competitors in this area of design, it would be firstly important to get a RDR
for my product as to protect the concept form being copied. This will then mean actual design is protected for a year, which gives time for the product to be developed and bought forward to production,
without someone potentially imitating or copying the idea.

Patent Slider System

To protect the product further, I could place a patent on the slider system in the product which will
mean no one can use the mechanical technology in the design to copy into theirs. This will give separation from competing products using an effective way of moving the plant pot around.

Patent Manufacturing Method for Back Board & Slider

Another way to protect the product could mean protecting the individual manufacturing method that
makes the chosen part. In this case it could be the way the manufacturing method makes the back
board or the way the injection moulding system moulds the slider system. This will then ensure that no
similar products can be released as these are the most efficient way to make these parts.

Registered Design Rights

in ng

It is important to note that patents are not the be all and end all
within a product. They make little money
out of infringements. They can be mighty
expensive and do not cover you across
different countries. It is important to consider the profibility of the product before
investing in patency.

W ar

A registered design may be applied to provide cover

over and above any design right or copyright protection that may exist in the design. The benefit of a registered design is that the design may enjoy prolonged
protection from copying for up to 25 years. This gives
the designer full control over the design itself.

Trademark Name

This can be a selling point if the product has a good

name. If the name is catchy or eye catching then it
can be really important to trademark this in order to
keep this as an individual name that seperates the
product from the rest.

Ross Murphy
13804301

12

Product
Liability
This is one of the most important quality marks for a product that
ensures the product meets specified essential safety requirements
set out in relevant European directives. This still means the product
must be made to the safest measures, but gives some backing if
anything does go wrong.

GPSR
(2005)

CTSI is not a safety check but is useful in providing help

and backing when doing international trading. This can
mean both help when trading and help of anything
goes wrong with the right knowledge on what to do.

This is a general duty to not place an unsafe

product on the market. This is not a marked
standard like above, but does show that you
have followed all specifications to ensure the
product is safe.

This accreditation service will be useful in the insurance after testing by an examiner that the product will not fail in any foreseeable way during use. The reason why this would be so important for my product is because the main faults in
my design have the high severity level.
Health Risk
Flower pot falling on user
Finger Caught in Mechanism
Mechanism failing and putting full strian
on user
Spillage of waste causing slippinghazard

Freequency (0-5)
2
4
1

Severity (0-5)
4
3
2

Ross Murphy
13804301

13

Product Risk
Assessment
This risk assessment can be useful in checking out where some of the main hazards are within the product. This would be usually be suspected by the quality and safety assurance companies. The observed
directives that must be followed would work alongside the product to ensure that these risks are minimalised to the best possible degree.
Health Risk

Freequency
(0-5)
2

Severity
(0-5)
4

Finger/hair Caught in Mechanism

Mechanism failing and putting full strain on

user
Spillage of waste causing slipping hazard

Leakage of water from plant pot

Consuming of internal material

Product becoming hot in sunlight for long

time
Cracking in plat pot sharp edge

Walking into a low left plant pot

Flower pot falling on user

Wall mount failing, falling on user

Possible actions to take upon this to then

be checked by eurpoean and UK standards
Ensure that mechanism surpasses UKAS
and CE checks which ensure product will
not fail
Rubber flaps to cover finger catching areas.
See Redesign.
Ensure that mechanism surpasses UKAS
checks which tests the products failure rate
Raising side level so interal material will not
fall and cause slipping hazard
Ensure that wall mount is easy to install
and secure enough for long useage. Or
ensure that the product is installed by a
pofessional
Raise edges of pot to ensure water staays
in. Ensure that plant pot is durable enough
to not leak water through.
Ensure warning on product to keep away
from childen. Raise adges so it is a deep
reach to get internal material.
Ensure that metal components are ever
necessary to be in contact with the user.
Ensure the plastic used is durable enough
for rough use
Round corners and edges so they are not
pointy and possibly sharp

* This design solutions has already

been implemented into the design as
safety precaution. *

Ross Murphy
13804301

14

Product
Redesign
Looking at the risk assessment, the design has already been improved on safety measures. These improvements have been made to make the connection between the connector part and the plant pot more
secure. In doing so decreasing the chance of severe injuries from the product.

This magnetic strip that has

been implemented secures
the plant pot in place with a
strong bond

This then decreases the

chances of the plant pot
falling and injuring that user to
almost 0

This ammendment is on the

part that have the highest
severity level is fails.

This was important

to do as it may be of been
picked up immediately by the
standards check and told to
redesign. Which is time and
money.

Ross Murphy
13804301

15

References
Website References
. 2015. . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.fsc-uk.org/10-good-reasons-to-choose-fsc.90.htm.
China Suppliers - Suppliers from China | Tiger Global. 2015. China Suppliers - Suppliers from China |
Tiger Global. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.tiger-global.co.uk/china-suppliers.html. [Accessed 14 May
2015].
China ABS Plastic Materials - China Abs, Abs Plastic Material. 2015. China ABS Plastic Materials - China
Abs, Abs Plastic Material. [ONLINE] Available at: http://dynachemplastic.en.made-in-china.com/product/
iBFxWvqdlQcI/China-ABS-Plastic-Materials.html. [Accessed 14 May 2015].
easel.ly | create and share visual ideas online. 2015. easel.ly | create and share visual ideas online. [ONLINE]
Available at: http://www.easel.ly/. [Accessed 14 May 2015].
Intellectual Property Office - GOV.UK. 2015. Intellectual Property Office - GOV.UK. [ONLINE] Available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/intellectual-property-office. [Accessed 14 May 2015].
Product safety for manufacturers - Detailed guidance - GOV.UK. 2015. Product safety for manufacturers Detailed guidance - GOV.UK. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/product-safety-for-manufacturers.
[Accessed 14 May 2015].
What is Accreditation. 2015. What is Accreditation. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.ukas.com/about-accreditation/What_is_Accreditation/What_is_Accreditation.asp. [Accessed 14 May 2015].
European Community law on the supply of new products - Work equipment and machinery. 2015. European
Community law on the supply of new products - Work equipment and machinery. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/work-equipment-machinery/european-community-law-supply-new-products.htm#general-product-safety. [Accessed 14 May 2015].
Patent. 2015. Patent. [ONLINE] Available at: http://idearights.com/patent.htm. [Accessed 14 May 2015].
Freight Packaging Tips. 2015. Freight Packaging Tips. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.freightshippingcenter.com/packagingandshippingtips.php. [Accessed 14 May 2015].

Journal References
Bainbridge, David. (2012) Intellectual Property. Harlow:Longman 9th Ed

Ross Murphy
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Ross Murphy
13804301