Clever Projects™
We Play With Polymers!
Design and development of biobased, biodegradable and compostable polymer products.
Our Process Contact Us
The purpose of Clever Projects™
At Clever Projects we specialise in the design and development of biobased, biodegradable and compostable polymer products.
We work with a wide range of commercially available bio polymers and also develop and compound novel polymers to suit specific applications and environments.
Our ProcessThe Clever Projects™ process:
Step 1: Concept
When it comes to solving real world problems, there is never a shortage of ideas. Ideas are plentiful and cheap, but unless they progress beyond just being an idea, they cannot solve problems in a meaningful way.
To find real solutions requires a process to make good ideas a reality. From the design to providing an environmentally responsible end-of-life scenario, we can develop and manufacture solutions to address everyday challenges that can be solved with biodegradable products.
We often see product developers say: “we will turn your idea into a reality” – that is not us. Instead, we will help guide you to find a solution that considers all aspects of product development, even before the design phase is reached. Simply bring us your problem and let us figure it out with you. We meet you where you are at in your journey and guide you through every step of the process.
Step 2: Design
Designing a product to be made from biopolymers is about much more than aesthetics. Functionality and economics play a major role in the design of environmentally responsible products.
Every aspect of the life cycle needs to be considered – from the origins of the raw material components to the eventual end-of-life options of the product. The manufacturing process for biopolymers is very different to working with conventional plastics. The equipment is different, and the raw materials behave differently before, during and after the manufacturing process. We have extensive experience working with biopolymers and compostables specifically and can share what we have learned through our own trials (and errors!).
Step 3: Prototyping
Progressing a design to a prototype is always an exciting milestone. To see an idea come to life and become something tangible is exciting! It is also the first step towards developing the tools you’ll need to produce the final product. In this stage of development, we can refine, even re-think, the design to ensure that the end result is fit-for-purpose and that it can be manufactured efficiently and to a high standard.
Getting a product to market can be challenging, but prototyping and a well thought out field trial can avoid costly mistakes and smooth the process considerably.
Step 4: Trials
Taking a product to market is not cheap or easy. It makes sense to conduct extensive trials before settling on the final configuration, so we always encourage in-situ trials. This is often the phase where you will discover something that was previously overlooked or an opportunity to make the product even better.
How often have you tried something new and thought “if only they had considered this one small thing, the product would have worked ten times better”.
It is in the trial phase that you usual discover that “one small thing” that could make your product significantly better. It is also in this phase that you can expect to receive the most candid and useful feedback from potential customers.
Step 5: Manufacturing
Our NZ based manufacturing facility can do compounding of biopolymers, extrusion and injection moulding. When you are just starting out, you may not want to commit to large quantities, and we understand that so can offer your small runs in using our lab equipment.
Local manufacturing offers faster turnaround times and much lower minimum ordering quantities, plus you can always trust us with your IP. We can tailor a package for you that makes sense practically and financially.
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Get in touch
Getting in touch is easy. Please find our contact details below. We look forward to hearing from you!
[email protected]
(+64) 9 988 9560
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