J&M Holdings develops and sells products aimed at improving safety for runners and walkers at night. The company worked with IT Carlow in 2016 on R&D for its debut product, the Night Runner LED belt and with advances in LED and electronic wearables technology, realised it would be possible to decrease the size and weight of its product to improve usability and wearability. In 2021, working together with IT Carlow again through the Design+ Technology Gateway, the company sought to develop the design concept for a universal housing for the product. The housing had to be able to enclose the battery, the printed circuit and the LEDs. It also had to be adaptable to fit a number of different wearable products. The team produced a 3D printed prototype of the housing for initial user testing, a vital step in determining the commercial success of the device that is now retailing and has been featured on RTE’s Nationwide and Late Late Show.
The Innovation Office at IT Carlow was involved from the time of initial enquiry and provided support throughout the project advising, in particular, on the development and management of IP arising from the project. The relationship between IT Carlow and the company is ongoing.
• ENTERPRISE IRELAND - INNOVATION VOUCHER
• ENTERPRISE IRELAND GATEWAY NETWORK - DESIGN+
“IT Carlow come highly recommended because they provide an excellent service and professional experience that results in turning a concept into a product.” - Padraig George, MD, J&M Holdings
Published: 2022
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