We apply our deep expertise in science, engineering, design, and strategy across a range of industry markets, working with organisations in complex, regulated, and fast-moving markets, whilst tailoring our product development approach to sector-specific challenges, regulations, and user needs. Supporting innovation from discovery through to commercial launch.
CDP delivers product development services powered by deep expertise in science, engineering, design, and strategy. We help clients solve complex challenges, accelerate innovation, and bring products to market through integrated capabilities spanning early discovery to commercial launch.
Tom Lawrie-Fussey spoke to Packaging News at the recent Active & Intelligent Packaging World Congress
International names in retailing joined more than 300 attendees at the recent Active and Intelligent Packaging Industry (AIPI) World Congress, enough for 2016 to be marked a ‘breakthrough’ year for technologies putting new powers into the hands of brand owners, altering their perceptions of what packaging is and will become – an industry of tools for communication, quality control and shelf life extension.
Knowing the consumer
Knowledge is power, and smart packaging and smartphone together give brand owners a direct line to understanding what the consumer wants and how they behave. General Mills brands have participated in a pilotQR digital labelling programme sponsored by the US grocery industry, and Kraft Heinz is exploring ‘frictionless’ tools to give mobile shoppers easier access to in-store promotions and improve customer insight data.
But the connected package and frictionless interaction comes at a high cost and, depending on the underlying job to be done, smart thinking might do the trick.
“Smart packaging can be zero-tech,” says Tom Lawrie-Fussey, Congress keynote speaker and leader of business development at Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP). For example, printing a picture of a flatscreen TV on a bicycle box saved a savvy Dutch company losses through damage in distribution of 70 to 80%. The boxes are similar in size and, as VanMoof predicted, shippers handle a TV with more care.
CDP and Kings College London develop innovative steerable catheter to treat cardiac arrhythmia
August 4th 2016
Innovative design and technology consultancy Cambridge Design Partnership has worked with King’s College London to develop a novel steerable catheter which King’s researchers had designed. The catheter is designed to improve the treatment of cardiac arrhythmia – a range of conditions which can lead to stroke or heart failure that affects 2 million people a year1 in the UK alone.
The new steerable, micro moulded catheter enables targeted delivery of radio frequency energy to specific points in the heart tissue for corrective treatment. Compared with traditional catheters, the new device has been designed to be quicker and easier to manoeuvre into the correct position, improving the accuracy of positioning and minimising damage to healthy tissue, which should improve success rates of the treatment.
Cambridge Design Partnership won a four-way competitive bid to further develop the device created by King’s College London, involving helix-shaped interlocking tubes that would allow improved steerability and greater compatibility for robotic control over other catheters on the market. The team at Cambridge Design Partnership successfully refined the initial design, enabling the device to meet key regulatory and biocompatibility requirements, whilst ensuring suitability for commercial manufacture. Through CDP’s experience of developing highly technical medical devices, the team was able to miniaturise the design to allow improved space for the delivery of ablation energy and irrigation. The new catheter design is also assembled from micro injection moulded sections, incorporating features that enable the device to be built on an automated assembly line at reduced manufacturing cost.
Matt Brady, head of Medical Therapy, Cambridge Design Partnership, said: “The steerable catheter is an extraordinary product, with innovative features that enable corrective treatment to be delivered to very specific areas of the heart. By enabling greater accuracy and quicker treatment time, we believe it is possible to preserve more healthy heart tissue, and increase the success of the treatment. It’s been hugely exciting to be involved in this joint project with King’s College London and use our expertise to bring such an innovative product one step closer to commercial use.”
Professor Kawal Rhode, Professor of Biomedical Engineering at King’s College; London, commented: “We have been delighted with the results of Cambridge Design Partnership’s work on this project. The team was chosen for the strength of their existing experience in developing catheters across both start-ups and global corporations. We were very pleased with the engineering approach and practical improvements that they managed to incorporate. They delivered fully moulded parts, and specified other components and the assembly route which fully met our aspirations for the project.”
King’s College London is now undertaking extensive lab testing of the catheter device, with clinical trials expected to be take place in two to three years.
CDP supports local charities with £25,000 donation to mark 25 years
January 1st 1970
Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP) is donating a total of £25,000 to five charities in Cambridgeshire, UK and Raleigh, NC, USA, where it has fast-growing R&D centers.
CDP is celebrating its 25-year anniversary, having enjoyed record growth over the last 12 months, but recognizes that this period has been uniquely challenging for surrounding communities. Five local charities, four in Cambridgeshire and one in Raleigh, will receive £5,000 to further their mission. CDP is 100% owned by its employees and the charities were nominated by employee owners.
Chris Houghton, Partner, Head of FMCG said: “Our 25th anniversary is a time to reflect on our purpose and culture. Part of that reflection is to acknowledge the way the pandemic has put pressure on the health and wellbeing of those around us and to work to make a positive impact in our local communities. We’ve chosen a range of charities working tirelessly to improve lives locally and we hope our support helps their vital work.”
“I am absolutely delighted to learn about CDP’s incredibly kind donation and am especially pleased to learn that this donation is thanks to nominations from staff. Please do pass my utmost thanks on to the team, we’re so grateful for everyone’s support.”
Hannah Wysocki, Head to Toe Manager, JustGiving, Head to Toe.
“This generous donation will be used to further our work to build a more sustainable and resilient food system in Cambridge. We are working hard to create an environmentally and socially just food system, where everyone has access to healthy and sustainable food across the city. CDP’s support will help us to tackle climate change through food-based solutions, such as initiatives that will cut food waste and promote healthy, climate-friendly diets.”
Gemma Birley, Head of Programs, Cambridge Sustainable Food CIC.
Blue Smileaddresses mental wellbeing for school pupils through art-based therapies.
“It was a wonderful surprise to be contacted by CDP and learn that we had been nominated for a donation. This kind of giving means the world to us – and is so important in helping to make a difference to local children, especially as we emerge from the pandemic. Your fantastic donation of £5,000 will contribute directly to the provision of 1:1 arts therapy to Cambridgeshire children who are struggling with their mental health, and will help those children to achieve their potential and enjoy the childhoods they deserve. Please pass on a huge thank you to your team.”
“Throughout the pandemic, Camcycle’s Spaces to Breathe campaign has continuously engaged with local authorities and communities to facilitate emergency active travel measures. As we begin to transition from reaction to recovery, our Zero Carbon Streets campaign will be ramping up with the aim of locking in – and improving on – much of the work that has been done over the past year. CDP’s donation will in part go towards a new technical staff member who will empower residents and authorities to implement high quality, accessible walking and cycling projects for them and generations to come.”
Roxanne De Beaux, Executive Director, Camcycle.
In Raleigh, CDP’s USA team elected to tackle food poverty with a donation to Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. The charity’s #StopSummerHunger initiative meant donations in June and July, like CDP’s, were matched to provide twice as many meals for the community.
“We’re so grateful to CDP for helping us toward our vision of ‘No One Goes Hungry’. This generous gift will allow the Food Bank to provide the equivalent of 70,580 meals for families struggling to keep food on the table this summer.”
Tessa Johnson, Corporate Partnerships Officer with the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.
