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Inventas and Ocean Autonomy Cluster invited participants to a DFM breakfast in Trondheim to showcase how companies in the region can succeed with product development for manufacturing. The event gathered actors from technology and industrial environments and demonstrated how good design choices early in the development process can be crucial for quality, cost, and production capability.

Helene Øyangen Lindberg, Senior Advisor at Fremtidens Industri and Ocean Space Incubator, introduced and presented how the Ocean Autonomy Cluster, Testination, and Ocean Space Incubator complement each other in accelerating new maritime technology from development to market.

Helene Øyangen Lindberg, Senior Advisor at Fremtidens Industri and Ocean Space Incubator. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

Lars Vegard Slettemark from Ocean Space Acoustics delivered an entertaining and engaging presentation on the journey through product development, testing, and production. He emphasized the importance of making the right choices along the way, both technically and organizationally, to succeed with industrialization.

Ocean Space Acoustics develops acoustic solutions for maritime applications, including positioning, communication, and underwater monitoring. One of their products is PingMe!, a compact and cost-effective acoustic positioning system that enables precise localization and retrieval of underwater equipment using acoustic signals. The solution is designed for demanding maritime operations, testing, and fieldwork, where reliability and precision are critical.

"Transitioning from prototype to a product that can be produced stably and predictably is one of the biggest challenges, and this applies to both small and large products," said Slettemark.

Lars Vegard Slettemark, Ocean Space Acoustics. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

Elegant, or Big, Strong, and Ugly?

Snorre Bache from Inventas emphasized the importance of prototyping as an integral part of the Design for Manufacturing process:

"Prototyping is about testing, experiencing, refining, and making. Find the mistakes before production starts. Choose the right level of precision and design both for the actual production process and for the ability to use multiple production methods over time. Material selection should be considered in conjunction with the production method."

In some industries, according to Bache, designs must follow the three S’s: Big, Strong, and Ugly. The best mechanical solution is not necessarily the most elegant, but the one that provides stable and predictable production.

Snorre Bache from Inventas. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

What should production cost?

Aleksander Wermers, CEO of Creor, a subsidiary of Inventas, shared experiences from product development and industrialization. He addressed key questions such as how early in the development process production costs are determined and how to plan a product’s supply chain to ensure an efficient production process.

Aleksander Wermers, CEO of Creor. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

Common Challenges

Both members of Ocean Autonomy Cluster and Inventas customers attended the breakfast meeting, which also became a networking platform that quickly generated interesting discussions on material selection, development challenges, and solutions.

"This event is about helping companies in the region succeed when moving from early-stage prototypes to market-ready products. It’s about doing the right things at the right time. At the same time, we see that many challenges are common, whether you work with large steel structures or very small machined components, the principles of production-friendly design and correct tolerances are relevant across the board," said Mads Martinussen, Commercial Manager at Inventas.

Mads Martinussen, Commercial Manager at Inventas. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

About Inventas

Inventas is a design and innovation company that develops products from concept and prototype to production-ready solutions. The company collaborates with both small and large technology companies in the region and is an active member of the Ocean Autonomy Cluster, working with several of the cluster’s members.

Yngve Brathaug gave participants a guided tour of Inventas’ facilities. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

A number of well-known products have passed through Inventas during the development process. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

Eivind from Inventas and Erik Bjørgo, CTO of LGr Technologies. LGr develops robust radar-based sensor systems for area monitoring. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

Inventas has contributed to the development of a mobile medical cabinet that has already saved several lives. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri

Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens Industri