Michel Prins
Accountmanager Safety & Security
Michel Prins is Account Manager at Faes and a specialist in Safety & Security. Thanks to his background at the Ministry of Defense and years of experience in the sector, he advises organizations on reliable packaging solutions for critical applications. He combines practical knowledge with technical expertise to package sensitive equipment safely and efficiently.
More articles by Michel PrinsFaes is active in several very different industries. Sometimes we work for a company in the medical sector, other times for a machine builder. But what our customers all have in common is that they want to transport or present their products in a high-quality manner.
In this article I'll tell you more about a packaging solution we developed for a client with a very specific request and a special application, namely; drones.
Our client was increasingly asked by its customers whether compact drone cases could be supplied with its drones. On the one hand to properly protect the vulnerable drones from falls and impacts, and on the other hand to be able to neatly store the drones complete with accessories. Another important aspect was that the drone crate had to be easily transportable in the back seat of a passenger car and that it would be heat-resistant. We set to work!
Nice to see that this drone manufacturer was very involved in the packaging project. The client itself immediately tackled it very seriously and professionally, making our collaboration a real co-creation. For example, they chose in advance which products and components should be packed in the case and made their own sketch of how they saw the end result, using STEP files (digital drawings) that we shared with them. The sketch was eventually converted into a design to be produced.
Compactness was an important feature for the customer, so the lid was also put to good use. This was quite a challenge, because of course the parts were not allowed to fall out when the lid was closed and they were hanging upside down. We succeeded, with the result that all the space in the case is used very efficiently.
What’s that for, you might think? Well, the drones our client sells are used all over the world; including in hot areas. Temperature is an important factor because heat causes the bonding of the lid interior to loosen, which can cause problems. The creative solution of our engineers? Fixing the lid interior mechanically, without being visible from the outside.
At an early stage, renders (digital 3D models) can give a good idea of what the coffin will look like. That was also true in this case, and after approval of the design, the prototyping process began. During a fit test we checked together whether all products fit. After a prototyping process, minor points of improvement came to light, which is very common. When these were resolved, we made one final prototype. The customer could review this design in our ‘online proofing’ environment and then give ‘approval’, after which production was started.
My fellow packaging experts and I love a challenge, so are you looking for a smart packaging solution for a specific or even complex application? We are happy to tackle it with both hands.
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