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Case Study: Appello Smart Trigger Cradle

Jan 25, 2023

Appello are market leaders in digital telecare and Technology Enabled Care (TEC). With over 30,000 customers and 550 digital developments across the UK, they have delivered safer, happier and enriched residential communities through technology, people and innovation.

Case Study: Appello Smart Trigger Cradle

By 2025, British Telecom companies, such as BT and Openreach are scheduled to switch off their analogue telephone network and transfer to digital phone lines. This could lead to over 10 million people being left without the communication infrastructure they currently rely on. In readiness for this Appello started developing the UK’s first fully digital telecare solution, Smart Living Solutions (S

LS) in 2016, this became the first digital telecare offering in the UK.

Appello went on to develop SmartConnect and one of the first digital dispersed alarms with interop

erable capability called SmartLife, all part of their SmartTEC range. One of the newest additions to the range is SmartTrigger an emergency alarm pendant, developed to work with hardwired and dispersed alarms in their SmartTEC range. It can be worn either around the neck on a lanyard or wrist mounted like a watch and, via their monitoring team, provide customers with the peace of mind that help can be accessed at any time with a simple press of a button.

Case Study: Appello Smart Trigger Cradle

Appello approached  Plunkett Associates in early 2022 asking us to create, from scratch, a brand-new wrist cradle and strap for the SmartTrigger device. Appello needed a product that would be secure, robust, and reliable, and chose to work with Plunkett Associates because they knew they could support all stages of the route to production.

Starting with a blank sheet of paper the design moved through

the concept stage supported by a number of rapid prototype parts. These parts, made on our Fig

ure 4 machine, allowed the team at Appello to accurately assess each design from both a functional and aesthetic point of view.

Case Study: Appello Smart Trigger Cradle

Once a prototype was approved, we got to work creating the injection mould tool for the cradle.

With an imminent order of 25,000 units, we had to manufacture a mould tool with the capability to produce the quantities required.

Producing 25,000 mouldings was just the beginning of the manufacturing activity. Each then had to be assembled to the strap and packed in a printed bag, so they were ready to ship and be customer ready as soon as they were received. Within a couple of weeks, the team at Plunkett Associates had the order ready to go and be delivered into Appello’s warehouse.

Case Study: Appello Smart Trigger Cradle

Iain Hockings, Head of Marketing at Appello said:

“We are very pleased with the outcome of the wrist-cradle and strap for our emergency pendant. Plunkett Associates listened to our brief and style guide and produced a product which is very smart, elegant but also discreet meeting the expectations of our service users.”

  • Plunkett Associates worked on the design and production of titanium frames for an artificial heart valve where precision and consistency was paramount. Communications were efficient and productive with concepts readily incorporated into the final design, and suggestions for improvements all highly appropriate. The quality of the end product was ideal and I have no doubt that I will use the advice and expertise of Plunkett Associates again.
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    Tim Collings, Operations Director, Troika Systems Ltd
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    Simon Leggett, Director, Olivewood Technology
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    Carolina Ballon-Forrester, Director, Kittyrama Ltd
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  • “We use Plunkett Associates because we want someone we can trust, that knows what they’re talking about, has all the contacts, will provide reliable advice and feedback and will get the right result for us.”
    Jim Copestick. Design Manager, Thorlux Lighting
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  • “Accuracy, finish and delivery all first class.”
    Andrew Peters, JMDA Ltd
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  • “We were really surprised at how quickly they turned round such a high quality prototype and the parts certainly proved their worth. They were of high enough quality to provide a fantastic visual representation and to undergo rigorous testing."
    Stuart Wilson, Design Director, TRT Lighting
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  • "Tim's experience, expertise and supplier base have been fundamental to us getting this project off the ground."
    Sam Pearce, Jelly Products Ltd
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  • Plunkett associates always find a solution. Whatever we need to prototype, they have a great grasp on the technologies available, costs and lead-times so we get the right solution tailored to the project needs. Have always delivered and never let us down.
    Naim Audio
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