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Product Development Make Life More Organized with Charging Hub
Up Dock
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Project snapshot
The mix of charging cords around the office and uncharged devices created some workflow challenges, we have found a solution.
The LA New Product Development Team delivered Product Development Make Life More Organized with Charging Hub. The work sits in our iot & consumer experience, where we take an idea from concept through design, prototyping and manufacturing readiness.
- Project type
- Up Dock
The client
The challenge
Our solution
The result
Read about our CASE STUDY.
Up Dock Manufacturing and Assembly Optimizations
Frequently asked questions
What is the Up Dock charging station designed to do?
The Up Dock charging station is designed to keep electronic devices charged and workspaces organized. It features three micro-USB ports for charging devices like smartpens, styluses, and remotes. The device aims to solve workflow challenges caused by messy charging cords and uncharged devices, optimizing the workspace with its sleek design.
What challenges were faced during the development of Up Dock?
Initial challenges included the high cost of quality USB-ports, with one hub costing $1.56. The product design required three ports per station, making cost reduction crucial. Maintaining efficiency, convenience, minimal space usage, and balanced weight distribution for heavy devices also presented design complexities during development.
How did the development team reduce the cost of the Up Dock?
The team negotiated a lower price for USB-ports by increasing the order quantity to 1000 pieces, reducing the cost to $1.00 per port. They also simplified the housing design by integrating the bottom and sides into one piece. This change allowed for a different manufacturing method, which cut production costs significantly.
What are the key features of the Up Dock charging station?
The Up Dock has three micro-USB ports and a single standard Type-A cable for wall connection. All ports transmit both power and data, allowing for data uploads and downloads. It includes built-in power surge protection, an anodized aluminum housing, and durable PCB construction. These features ensure robustness and functionality.
Sources and standards
- USPTO — patent basics — Official guidance on provisional and non-provisional filings for new products.
- NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership — Federal program supporting US small and mid-size manufacturers.
- ISO 9001 quality management — The quality-system standard most contract manufacturers are audited against.
Charging station design at a glance
| Scope | Concept, industrial design, CAD, prototypes, DFM |
|---|---|
| Considerations | Cable routing, device stability, heat, footprint, safety |
| Deliverables | Production CAD, prototypes, molding package, renderings |
| Typical timeline | 4-9 months |
Charging hubs are a cable problem
Every charging product on the market charges devices; almost none manage the cables well. The design work is routing, strain relief and how the product looks when it is actually in use with four cords attached — not how it looks empty in a product photo.
What we designed
UP Dock organizes cables inside the body so only short leads are visible, holds devices at a viewable angle without tipping, and vents where power components need it. Parts were detailed for straightforward molding and snap assembly, keeping tooling and labor cost low enough for a competitive retail price.
Frequently asked questions
Do you handle electrical safety certification?
We design toward UL and FCC requirements and coordinate testing with accredited labs.
Can you integrate wireless charging?
Yes — coil placement, thermal management and material selection are handled in the enclosure design.
What is the development cost for a product like this?
Design through production-ready documentation typically runs $25,000 to $90,000 before tooling.
Capabilities used on this project
Rapid prototyping services
3D printing, CNC machining, urethane casting and functional prototype builds with published materials, tolerances and lead times.
Electronic design and PCB engineering
Schematic capture, PCB layout, firmware and electromechanical integration for connected hardware.
Concept design
Sketch exploration, form studies and CAD concepts that turn an idea into a buildable direction.
Industries this project belongs to
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