DESIGN PRODUCT NEWS - DPN Staff

Cover Story FEATURE
Moon Shade solves multiple challenges
continued from Front Cover
Not only did the product have
to be defined for a market that is
accustomed to refined appearances
in its finishes, but so did the production
process, assembly machine
design and the materials used in the
blind blades. “We spent the better
part of 2009 working on these steps
– it has been the hardest design engineering
project I have faced in 10
years,” said Lokody. He added that
the design challenge was much more
demanding than a typical automotive
special purpose machine project
that his other company (EMD
Integration) gets involved in since
there were so many variables that
needed to be satisfied.
blade material thickness and height.
That way, we can tell if the blade
is too long and define the product
around standard window valences.”
The goal of Lokody is to grow
Macadam Blinds organically by
scaling up production. He noted
that since his production process
has been perfected, options for
adding more facilities is now a
possibility, as is the opportunity to
license the technology.
The archway opening is as old as
architecture, but to successfully cover
a window required the ingenuity and
engineering know-how of Macadam Blinds.
The expertise of Lokody has
been crucial to bringing the Moon
Shade closer to success after company
founder Mac Foy appeared
on season three of CBC television’s
Dragon’s Den in 2008 (http://ow.ly/
goez4) to demonstrate the product
and look for investors. Foy was
inspired to create the original blind
after waking up with sun streaming
through the top of an arch window
opening.
The Macadam production
assembly machine can customize the
size of the blinds in seconds due to
the machine’s simplicity, explained
Lokody. “We found a Canadian supplier
of blades that is already in the
window blind industry. The blades
also use the same sunlight-resistant
material found in matching horizontal
or vertical blind configurations.”
SolidWorks software has been
instrumental in bringing the original
Moon Shade concept forward.
“We wanted to reduce the number
of prototypes for the blade assemblies,”
said Lokody.
“Each customer provides dimensions
for a different opening, driving
the software to determine the proper
Variety as standard
Standard and versatile. Tough and
leakproof but always compact and
powerful—Festo’s range of products
for gripping and positioning is truly
comprehensive. New: miniature
standard grippers DHxS.
Powerful, precise and resilient.
Festo Inc.
Tel: 1 877 GO FESTO
Fax: 1 877 FX FESTO
festo.canada@ca.festo.com
www.festo.ca/grippers
February 2013
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2013-01-21 12:38 PM
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