Montie Roland, NPDP

Last weekend, we packed up again to Troublesome Gap to do more product testing.  This time we were testing a bracket system for a company called Ronin Metal Masters.  They have a really cool technology that allows you to ship a sheet metal part flat and bend it by hand when you need it.  They have turned this into a product line called BendAShed.  This is a big advance in metal folding technology in an industry where large press brakes are normally needed, because you can now do it by hand.  Al Ely of ADR Hydrocut in Morrisville, used their waterjet to cut out the stainless steel brackets that we use.

After some hardwork and a bunch of those really cool brackets we ended up with a picnic shelter.   The purpose of the picnic shelter is to use the challenging weather conditions at Troublesome Gap to test just how robust the Ronin Metal Masters design really is.

We also had the opportunity to test an assault rifle accessory that we are working on.  Seems like we also consume a lot of ammo on trips to Troublesome Gap.

 

Looking for How People Misuse Your Product

Some of the best product enhancements come from how users put make use of your products in creative ways.  This picture is a good example.

 

I also noticed how the cutting board grip (handle) didn’t fit into the Montie Gear Camp Rack slot, so a short length of 550 cord fixed that problem.  Similar situation for the black plastic ladel.  Future products and products enhancement goodness in this picture for sure.  By the third evening, Al had decided that the loft in the structure would be a great place to sleep, so after using enough clamps he gave it a try.  Thankfully he remembered that the first step off the cot is a big one.  I think that Mike was already rethinking some of his structure design when he saw Al’s creative use.

I will admit it was hard to come back to Raleigh after 4 wonderful days on Troublesome Gap.  Here are some pictures of why it is so hard to come back.

 

 

 

Now the only question is “Are you Troublesome Gap Tough?”  Come with us next time and find out!

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Last week we took our annual trek to Troublesome Gap for our product testing weekend.  This is when we suffer through the beautiful scenery and beautiful weather to make sure that Montie Gear products are truly Troublesome Gap Tough.

 

 

 

 

 

I enjoy getting out of the office to attend events like the North Carolina Defense Business Association (NCDBA) Event held in Pinehurst April 19-20. Each time, I meet exciting people, obtain invaluable contacts, and learn more about the defense industry. This week’s event does not disappoint. I have connected, and reconnected, with defense industry vendors, and heard from several influential speakers, including Keith Crisco, NC Secretary of Commerce .

Check out the picture from the trade show taken earlier today.

 

Learn more about defense contracting on the Military Contracting page on Montie.com. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates.

The Fuquay-Varina Economic Development Committee has announced the SPHERE incubator that provides low-cost space for start-up companies in the gaming, simulation and defense industries. Fuquay’s location between the Research Triangle and Ft. Bragg really puts them in a position to benefit from the growth of these industries. Flyer available for download at:

http://www.fvedc.com/assets/files/PDFs/SPHERE%20Flyer.pdf

If you have any questions please contact James Sauls at jsauls@fuquay-varina.org.

(Morrisville, N.C.) Collaborative product design and development firm Montie Design has announced the winners of its first annual Student Design Contest centering around new additions to the Montie Gear line of outdoor equipment. Prizes will be awarded at the March 25 Final Friday networking event at the Montie Design studios in Morrisville. First prize goes to North Carolina State University student Josh Little, who will collect $500 and receive a two-year commission on his product, the Autolever gun rack, if it is successfully brought to market within two years. Nicholas Pennington, also of NCSU, will be awarded $250 for his second-place design for a Montie Gear slingshot.

“Even the five runners-up had outstanding ideas,” Montie Roland, company president, said. According to Roland, Montie Design enjoys a strong relationship with many premier design schools as well as industry groups for students, such as the Industrial Designers Society of America.

“We’re going to have all the student designs on display at our March 25 Final Friday event, in addition to having some of the contestants on-hand to talk about their experience and professional goals,” he added.

Montie Design’s Final Friday events allow the firm to provide its insights and experience to help the industrial and mechanical engineering and product design communities achieve excellence. They are fun, informal quarterly networking opportunities for product design and manufacturing professionals to mingle in a relaxed atmosphere after work. Attendees at previous Final Fridays have come from small, medium, and large firms from multiple industries, representing the diversity of skills and experience Montie Design applies to each individual project from concept to prototype to market.

There is no cost to attend Final Friday; music, food, and non-alcoholic beverages will be available from 4-6:30 p.m. To RSVP or to get more information, email Jeff Smith at jeff@montie.com.

About Montie Design
Montie Design is a collaborative product design and development firm with core competencies in industrial design, mechanical design and fuzzy front end services. Implementing a client-centric approach in taking products from concept to marketplace, Montie Design balances vision with usability in realizing products that are economical to manufacture, elegant and robust. The firm operates out of the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina with access to industry-leading technology, resources and innovative thought. For more information, visit www.montie.com.

Montie Design and the RTP Product Development Guild are providing two new opportunities for high-impact networking and education at March Lunch and Learn events. John Slaughter of Moore & Van Allen will be presenting “Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreements: Understanding their Role and Practical Tips” on March 2. Pam Cardozo of The Ultimate Sales Connection will be presenting “Resetting Your Revenue Future” on March 16. Each event will take place at the Montie Design offices in Morrisville. Continue reading “Two New Opportunities for Education and Networking at March Lunch and Learns”

You asked for it — you got it! Two of our most popular 2011 Lunch and Learn presentations from Barry Cox of Wyle Labs and Jeff Smith from Montie Design and Trajectory Business Services are now available for download and viewing.

Barry’s presentation shares important insights related to the business of developing and bringing engineered products to market:

Alphabet Soup: The Acronyms and Steps of Military Contracting

In his seminar, Jeff provided step-by-step guidance on creating and conveying the identity for a product, service, or business by selecting the most effective name for it:

Who’s Your Product–Putting the Right Name on What You Sell

The next Montie Design Lunch and Learn is “Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreements: Understanding their Role and Practical Tips” on March 2nd featuring John Slaughter, intellectual property attorney of the law firm Moore & Van Allen.

In this seminar, John will provide an understanding of how confidentiality agreements fit into the context of intellectual property rights, and how they can be used to protect your rights in business transactions.  He will discuss different types of confidentiality agreements, different terms commonly found in such agreements, and practical tips on which types of and terms in confidentiality agreements are appropriate for different situations.

To register, click here.

Montie Design has received 13 Stage 1 entries for its first annual student design contest as the February 17 deadline for final design proposals quickly approaches.  Students from Appalachian State University, North Carolina State University, and Virginia Tech have sent in their description of basic concept for a new product for the Montie Gear line of outdoor shooting, hunting, camping and archery products.

“We have had a wide variety of product submissions from shooting-related to emergency outdoor survival to outdoor furniture,” said Montie Roland, company president.

Prizes of up to $500 and a two-year commission on any products that go to market within two years of design submission will be awarded.

Participants are being tasked with designing which grew out of the success the firm has enjoyed with its X-Rest line of portable firearms rests. The X-Rest originated as a hands-on, intensive review of product design and manufacturing for Montie Design staff, Roland said, but soon took on a life of its own once the original version was made available for sale.

Montie Design enjoys a strong relationship with the NCSU College of Design and the Industrial Design Program at ASU as well as industry groups for students, such as the Industrial Designers Society of America. The firm regularly hosts interns who engage in hands-on product development from concept to design to prototyping, manufacturing and marketing.