case study
How Kollectaball Partnered with ISTEC to Create a Revolutionary Ball-Collecting Device
In professional sports, collecting small balls can be back-breaking work that takes valuable time out of a training session. Kollectaball saw an opportunity to create a single device that protects sportspeople from injury and allows them to collect balls safely and quickly. To develop the product, the Kollectaball team turned to ISTEC.
task
Kollectaball is a sports product business created by coaches for coaches. With an experienced team of product design specialists and tennis fanatics, the business was born out of a few too many hours spent picking up tennis balls after training sessions. With lower back pain and frustration, the idea for Kollectaball came!
Although the Kollectaball team knew they had stumbled upon a great idea, they were stuck on making their product a reality. They had created a couple of sketches, but once they started researching the process, they knew they had to bring in an experienced team. They contacted ISTEC, who were able to get to work.
An Easy-to-Use Ball Collector
The Kollectaball vision was of an easy-to-use, lightweight ball collector that worked almost like a vacuum without the electric power. The genius idea for the Kollectaball wheel came from their team – a wire ball that expands when rolled over a ball, then closes, trapping it in its basket.
The Kollectaball is easy to use, safe for young and old players, and protects coaches, ball boys, and players from lower back injuries from repeated bending. Plus, the Kollectaball vision was that it would be affordable – easy to buy for community clubs, schools and individual players alike, meaning it was accessible for sportspeople worldwide.
Milestones
HIGHLIGHTS
The ISTEC team knew that the challenge of the spreader would be in its design. Having a spreader with a dual purpose meant careful design of the spreading mechanism and the dispersion device. In our design we had to consider multiple factors, including the operating temperature (for multiple seasons) the variation in thickness and density of the materials, the height and angle of the hopper, the speed of the user and the natural movement and speed of a machine in motion.
As the spreader is mobile and designed to be operated by a single person manually, the spreader design also had to be comfortable, easy to use, and lightweight with sturdy wheels that kept movement and position stable during use.
The ISTEC team got to work, closely collaborating with the Cresco experts to understand their extensive requirements and then mapping different designs. We created multiple designs on paper and held in-depth workshops and discussions with various stakeholders, including the entire Cesco team and some of their select customers. Eventually, we chose a design that the team agreed on, and we were able to pass to the next stage: making a functional prototype.
However, to create a prototype, it was critical to source raw materials for the spreader range and find reliable suppliers who could proceed with manufacturing it with us. The search was on but with a few specific caveats.
Firstly, the team at Cresco were passionate about delivering a quality spreader that would be durable and long-lasting. This meant that they were reluctant to sacrifice quality for low costs and looked to source stronger materials with greater longevity to withstand the corrosive effects of fertiliser and salt.
That’s not to say cost wasn’t a priority, however! The Cresco team knew that to compete with other spreaders available on the market, it wasn’t only necessary to have a high-quality product but also to offer their customers low prices. That meant that foreign suppliers were out, as their import and shipping fees were pushing up the final product cost.
After an extensive research stage, the ISTEC team presented our findings: suppliers that fit the bill on quality and price and had passed our extensive vetting process to ensure they could be depended upon when we went to production. After receiving our first shipment of raw materials, ISTEC started the manufacturing stage.
In this stage, the ISTEC team were looking for a seamless manufacturing process that could then be scaled to meet demand. Based on the designs we created in phase one, we started to assemble the prototype, ready for final sign off.
In the ISTEC product labs, this meant a careful analysis of the manufacturing and assembly processes, aiming to create a working prototype and a workflow that could be replicated and scaled. We supported Cresco in the design and development of their manufacturing machinery, too, helping them create a mould that could be used to shape the tray of the spreader and working closely with them to create the intricate small parts that the spreading mechanism relies on.
After the prototype was delivered, it needed a few tweaks to get right. But that was no trouble for the ISTEC team, who went back to the drawing board, ready to present solutions to the Cresco management team.
The Success of the Kollectaball
Now, Kollectaball is the leading ball collector on the market, with a patented basket approach and products that expand beyond tennis and include golf, cricket, and even pickleball. They work with an external partner to put our designs into action, which allows them to ship globally, throughout Europe, and into the USA, too.
To learn more about the full range of ball-collecting tools on offer at Kollectaball, click here. If you’ve got a product idea you’re excited to bring to market, we’d love to hear from you. Our team offers comprehensive product design and development services, from conception to assembly and logistics.
To work with ISTEC on developing your own product, contact us here.
Milestones
OTHER PROJECTS
ISTEC partnered with Cresco to develop a dual-purpose spreader for both salt and fertilizer. Through expert design, quality material sourcing, and efficient manufacturing, ISTEC helped create Cresco’s best-selling, innovative spreader, showcasing successful collaboration and market impact.