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Building Your Competitive Advantage Through Innovation |
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Did your company have research,
innovation, and product development years ago?
Yes, but things
changed! Well, it's true all over.
Let us be your R&D team!
We recognized the
changes
years ago at UNC Charlotte and established the
Mechanical Innovation course and program. We use
the creative side of the mechanical design process
and teach students how to design a product that
meets the demands of the new world market.
Marketing, marketing, marketing is emphasized by
Frank Skinner in
Mechanical Innovation.
In the summer of 2005,
Skinner met with Matt Popik, Vice President of Irwin
Industrial Tools. Matt was very interested in
reviewing the creative student projects. Together,
they linked the student projects with the
anticipated product needs at Irwin Tools. Late in
October, 2005, Mr. Popik attended a presentation and
commented positively on the student's project work.
The "Quick Lock Adjustable Wrench" caught Matt's
interest. He recommended that these students keep
up the good work.
And, indeed they did!
The students built a working prototype and gave this
to Irwin Tools at the time they applied for a UNC
Charlotte patent.
Other companies have
joined Irwin in the
Mechanical Innovation team this
year. Hargraves Technology Corporation has need for
a miniature pump and a rapid assembly machine.
Stabilus, of Gastonia, NC, would like us to invent
an improved gas spring.
Last fall, Tom
Chervenak, Engineering Director at Irwin Industrial
Tools spoke at the UNC Charlotte Senior Design
Breakfast and singled out the design of the Quick
Lock Wrench as a positive achievement. Our students will
soon have a patent number on their
resume.
Would you like to join us?
Please click on "Contact Us."
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