Design of Innovative Blood Donor Chair

Octorber 2011

Renfrew Group International and NHS Blood and Transplant Services.
Collaborative design of Innovative Blood Donor Chair:
Innovation in design; innovation in procurement


Renfrew Group International has been working in close partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant Services (NHSBT) to create a user centred design for a new chair to enhance the donation experience and improve the whole process for support staff. The resulting design specification ensured that they achieved exactly what the service required, and at the optimum price.

This represents a real innovation in the procurement process and a breakthrough in competitive tendering. For the first time a truly comparable quotation scenario exists which is supported and controlled by the procurement team. Potential manufacturers benefit from a clear specification and the removal of the requirement to design and develop the products in isolation. This innovative procurement process has been shortlisted for an award at the HSJ awards in November.

In May 2009, the NHS National Innovation Centre (NIC) team were approached by NHSBT with an identified 'unmet need' for a new Donor Chair which would match the newly configured Gold Standard Clinical Pathway for Blood Donation.

The need for a totally new chair arose from several requirements, most of which were not being met by existing furniture. One of the major problems is the tendency for donors to faint during the donation process. The recovery position is completely different from the blood donating position and NHS B&T realised that this should be addressed in the new chair through design innovation.

After three years of attempting to meet the need via conventional procurement, they approached the NIC who took them through the pre-commercial procurement process, via a WIGBI session. This resulted in three different designers producing alternative designs, two of which were selected to progress to physical prototypes which were tested by NHSBT. Renfrew Group International's winning design is now currently undergoing national trials.





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RGi showcase innovation at Medica 2011
November 2011

UK Trade Minister Lord Green visits Renfrew Group International (RGI)on the ABHI UK Pavilion at Medica Show 2011 taking place in Dusseldorf, Germany.  RGi convert medical science into a variety of marketable products and will be  showcasing innovations at Medica 2011 from 16-19 November.




RGi got the Ball Rolling for Cadbury
September 2011

Cadbury, the official treat provider the upcoming London Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012, announced a massive campaign entitled 'Spots v Stripes' for the UK to promote its involvement with the international sports event.

Cadbury's Spots and Stripes 'Catch' campaign created a buzz and got everyone involved in active games in the lead up to London Olympics 2012. Renfrew Group International was asked to create 100 soft but durable polyurethane balls to house a GPS tracking device which allowed interactive on-line participation. Designed, tooled and manufactured in less than 6 weeks, the balls made their way to goals at either end of the country.

Dubbed Spots v Stripes - as 50 of the balls were spotty and 50 stripy - the "play experiment" was conceived to see how far around the country each ball could go in a set period, with participants urged to look out for one, send in a photo of themselves holding it, and then pass it on to somebody else to take further away. And it was automatically tracked via GPS so there could be no cheating! 

RGi designed the balls to be resilient and durable for the world's biggest game of catch. Moulded from tough PU foam with the RGi  low volume production system, they also withstood the world record breaking, highest ever catch. The balls were dropped from a giant crane over 100m high above Wembley National Stadium.

With the balls reaching an amazing terminal velocity two great catchers: Gavin Henson & David Seaman, would attempt to catch them. See this by clicking the link above.

The record-breaking moment marked the launch of Cadbury Spots v Stripes' nationwide game of Catch.

It was, essentially, the world's biggest game of catch!  

Renfrew Group's in house expertise covers plastics and metals mechanism design, mouldings development from rapid prototypes to low volume and high volume, special tooling design, aluminum, tooling board, steel.etc. Polymer expertise is strong and innovation is core to our activities.
Some of the capabilities offered at the Renfrew Group include :



Finalist for Plastic Industry Awards 2011
August 2011

Renfrew Group International has been short listed for the Plastic Industry Awards this year under Consumer Product Design category for the development of the Duo Bird Feeder. Westland Horticulture has created the new brand Peckish to promote bird feed and feeders in the Wildlife Market and Renfrew Group International were retained to develop the new product range starting with the feeder. The main objective was to create a new fun style that was easy to clean and refill. Research suggests that birds spread infection one to another when consuming old contaminated food left in conventional feeders each time they
were refilled. The new design is specifically configured to allow for easy dismantling and cleaning prior to re-use.

Mike Phillips, the company's Design Development Director, added: "We researched the market and took advice from the RSBP. This was invaluable in designing what became a full range of seed feeders, water feeders, peanut feeders, feeding tables, water baths and mounting poles. The fully working prototype of the feeder was extensively tested against the criteria and to ensure manufacturing integrity". The result is an easy to clean, easy to fill bird feeder, incorporates a pouring spout which ensures less mess and waste is created during the replenishment and use".

The product was launched last December and so far it is selling well without any problems.

This year's Plastic Industry Awards will be held at London's Hilton Hotel on Park Lane, Friday 14th October 2011. More than 600 guests are expected to join the finalists on what promises to be a very special occasion.

From lab to hospital trials – Innovation Delivered:
July 2011

Renfrew Group innovation teams with Steritrox in development and prototyping of powerful 'free radical' vapour hospital sanitiser: Meditrox 100

Fierce competition now demands the swift conversion of new medical concepts into marketable products and this requires the technologist to recruit the help of inventive designers to realise the full potential of the product.

Infection control is a major challenge to hospital administrators and a significant health threat to patients and staff working within the hospital environment. Steritrox Ltd, the leaders in rapid room sanitising and disinfection have developed a system capable of removing airborne and surface borne infection within a hospital room in a timely manner (<1 hour).

Renfrew Group International worked with Steritrox in the design of the Meditrox 100 system providing innovation support: Product design and engineering support rapidly taking technology from lab to market ready product with prototyping and low volume production for testing of products in a clinical environment. Our concepts evolve from tandem thinking, a union of the creative and the technical in a way proven to deliver robust intellectual property.

The Meditrox 100 is a new and innovative UK technology. Safe, fast whole room decontamination designed for ease of use in the clinical environment.

The patented system converts oxygen and water through the science of advanced oxidation into a highly effective biocidal vapour. Unlike other solutions that rely on chemical agents such as hydrogen peroxide and chlorine to perform the decontamination function, Meditrox has developed a patented process that uses a combination of water vapour and ionised oxygen as the primary ingredients.


RGi prepare designs for Dafra 150 Motard
June 2011

Brazil has seen very rapid growth of sales in motorcycles over the last 5 years. The Motard (super-moto) is an emerging trend in Brazil and will be a growing sector in coming years. Dafra motos commissioned RGi to design a new range of motorcycles to help create a competitive, quality brand. The super-moto style is derived from the high power, light weight MX competition machines, adapted for tarmac and mixed surface racing.

Wolflite XT Rechargeable Handlamp
April 2010

Renfrew Group International complete the design and engineering of the new and highly innovative ATEX approved Wolflite XT. This rechargeable Handlamp exploits advanced technology to deliver excellent performance, robustness, reliability and versatility in the harshest environments. Available in a range of models, the Wolflite XT range offers a range of functional options to suit many applications.

CE marked to the ATEX Directive and IECEx Certified, The XT-90 is safe use in Zone 1 potentially explosive gas atmospheres, where a T4 temperature class permits. A Zone 0 version is also available.

Breakthrough in Furniture Design
April 2010

Renfrew Group International helps Aalborg to inject innovation into school furniture.

Launched recently at the Education Show, the Aalborg range of educational furniture marks a breakthrough in school furniture design. From its inception, the Aalborg range was designed to promote good posture, and ease of use - design principles which have been endorsed by leading Ergonomists.

A balanced and upright posture has been shown to have contributed to ‘significantly improved student grades’ when compared to the posture promoted by regular chairs and desks. New schools with new interior spaces demand a new approach to equipment, especially furniture. Renfrew Group helped Aalborg to inject innovation into school furniture. www.aalborgdk.com

Patient Personal 'Waterless Toilet'
April 2010

As part of the programme RGi also developed a portable "waterless" toilet for single patient use within the TIU. The unit incorporates a sophisticated filtration and extraction system to contain both C. difficile bacteria and odour, and a sealed bag system, with similar odour-containing properties, in which waste is stored for a short period before being removed.

Simple display graphics mean patients can confidently operate the unit without assistance, and the whole design is orientated towards safety, simplicity of use and ease of cleaning and maintenance. The Waterless Toilet requires a power supply but no plumbing connection.

The Super 100 gets a Makeover
December 2009

Brazilian motorcycle manufacturer Dafra Motos approached RGi to develop a range of small capacity motorcycles. Included within the programme was the Super 100, a bike based very closely on a 30-year-old Honda design. The basic format with it’s pressed steel backbone chassis and simple mechanical layout was sound, but the stance and appearance needed freshening to appeal to young Brazilians seeking cheap but stylish transport.

RGi re-engineered the chassis and redesigned the superstructure to achieve the desired effect using a virtual 3D CAD method. This technique allowed us to share an engineering database and communicate simultaneously with Dafra’s engineers in Brazil and their supply people in China, whilst the design process proceeded in the UK. We also have Chinese liaison staff on our design team who help to ensure accurate and rapid communication with suppliers. The Super 100 will be launched into the Brazilian market in 2010 and other machines designed by RGi will follow soon.

Department of Health Makes Substantial
Progress on HCAI
December 2009

In 2007 a poll of 600 NHS frontline staff revealed strong support for a patient isolation system to help combat infection on hospital wards. MRSA and C. difficile bacteraemia claim many lives each year and this development was initiated to reduce the incidence of cross infection.

The resultant project, championed by senior DoH people, and known as the Temporary Isolation Unit (TSR), comprises a structural isolation ‘tent’ encompassing a single bed space and incorporating hand-washing, toileting, gown & gloving and air filtration systems. RGi worked collaboratively with all parties to develop the solution that can be quickly erected within a busy ward to provide an effective barrier against infection spread from patient to patient, and to visitors and staff alike.

Plenty of Outdoor Credibility
December 2007

Renfrew Group was invited by Roth Motorgeräte GmbH, a subsidiary of US Toro Inc. to assist with the design of a new 48cm cast deck wheeled rotary recycler lawnmower for launch into the European semi-professional market. Our brief included the industrial design and the creation of the visible A surfaces of those parts which were not carryover.

We increased the length of the lower handle to allow more room for bag removal and designed a system (used on other models) for height adjustment of the controls. The style followed that established by us on the Eurocopter project with a purposeful stance and plenty of outdoor credibility.

After approval of the industrial design, we prepared A surface data for the agreed visible surfaces. This was achieved by direct CAD modelling whilst the underlying engineering package, including the enclosed subsystems, was provided by an in-house engineering team.

An Innovative Solution
March 2006

Today's operational demands on the Fire and Rescue Services have changed dramatically since the days of the cork fire helmet. 60% of all call-outs are now for road traffic accidents, woodland fire fighting, water rescue, urban search and rescue and industrial incidents where a structural fire fighting helmet is not required.

Helmet Integrated Systems were looking for an innovative solution which would also be more cost effective to manufacture. To meet these requirements Renfrew Group designed and developed a dual helmet system featuring two helmet shells that can be integrated into one.The result is the patented Cromwell ER1/FR2.