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DMMP is a UK-based company that’s been importing and selling spreaders from the USA since the 1970s. With an experienced team at the helm, DMMP Ltd. knows the mechanics and the physics behind spreading products efficiently and effectively, and helps their customers choose the right product for their needs.
The sudden onset of Covid and the tumultuous effects of Brexit on European trade created an opportunity for a Euroepan manufacturer of spreaders. Traditionally spreader were imported into the European marketplace via China or the USA, however, high transport costs and a lack of flexibility in order quantities placed huge demans on a very small niche.
Europe needed a quality spreader offering at a reasonable price with realistic order quantities. DMMP approached ISTEC for the answer and Cresco was born as a result.
In the time the founders of Cresco have been in business, they’ve seen many models come and go. But one challenge remained undefeated: the creation of a spreader that could spread salt in the winter, and fertiliser in the summer. This meant that their customers often had to buy two products, an inefficient solution that took up valuable storage space and was twice as expensive.
In addition to this, the team at Cresco used their experience to spot an opportunity. When they started their business, they knew they could rely on trusted, USA-based brands to resell to their customers. But as time went on, Cresco noticed that cheaper foreign imports were making their mark, undercutting the traditional brands but offering lower quality spreaders that didn’t impress Cresco’s regular buyers.
As a result, Cresco saw an opportunity for a new, high-quality spreader — one that could handle multiple spreading materials; fertiliser and salt. The industry was ready for innovation, and so the team approached ISTEC to support in the product development and design.
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.
Eventually, the prototype was signed off, and the Cresco multipurpose spreader was ready for use. Now, Cresco’s spreading mechanism has been incorporated into a range of products, and remains their best-selling product to date. Cresco have built their own brand to be go-to choice for a quality spreader that can be used in both summer and winter.
To see the Cresco spreader in action, check out their range of spreaders here. To talk to the ISTEC team about your own product, contact us here.
Charles Walters and ISTEC collaborated to develop a versatile spreader for both summer and winter use. This innovative product saves space and costs by eliminating the need for separate units, showcasing our successful partnership and design expertise.
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