Design, prototype and testing of equipment for applying flock onto swab sticks for collection of biological specimens

将植绒应用到拭子棒上以收集生物样本的设备的设计、原型和测试

• 批准号: 60607
• 金额: $ 8.16万
• 依托单位: CAMPBELL COUTTS LIMITED
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Feasibility Studies
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2020 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=60607
• 关键词: Design; prototype; testing; equipment; applying

On February 2nd, 2020, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidelines for collecting clinical specimens when novel coronavirus infection is suspected in human subjects; these guidelines include the use of synthetic fibre swabs, with plastic shafts: these are know as "flocked" swabs. One of the major causes of the delays in coronavirus testing throughout the world is the huge demand for testing swabs far outstripping the existing production capacity available from only a very few manufacturers, with no production capacity in the UK.Campbell Coutts Ltd (CCL) is the UK's leading and longest established supplier of flocking equipment and consumables; we design and manufacture small and large scale equipment for the application of flock fibres onto a variety of substrates, for numerous industrial uses.On completion of this project CCL will have designed, concept tested and created a working prototype of an innovative piece of equipment capable of electrostatically applying flock fibres to swab sticks, creating effective diagnostic testing swabs for the collection and release of biological specimens.We will develop the technology and design the machine capability for bulk-loaded test swab sticks to have nylon flock fibres applied and cured, at a production rate of 6,000 to 10,000 per hour in a clean environment,We will complete the design and concept testing of a prototype within 3 months. Subsequently, finished production units can be produced within 10 weeks, for organisations who wish to produce and distribute flocked swabs for medical testing.We will also be able to supply the adhesive and flock fibres required.The EXTENSION FOR IMPACT FUNDING will extend the positive impacts of the project and increase speed to market by allowing us to contract professional service providers in the following 2 areas:1. A marketing consultant will be briefed and engaged to carry out market research and produce a report into the international market for nasopharyngeal flocked swabs and swab production equipment, identifying key players (potential competitors, customers and influencers), routes to market, market characteristics, size and growth projections. This will allow the company to develop a marketing plan to take advantage of market opportunities in a structured manner. To date, we have been fully occupied responding reactively to enquiries for swab-flocking equipment from numerous new prospects (and designing the machinery and fulfilling orders) without in-depth knowledge of this particular market. We do not have internal marketing expertise, nor the time to carry out this research. We are aware that flocked-swab production capacity in the UK is minimal, with a huge reliance on imported swabs from non-UK suppliers; as a priority, with the UK market intelligence obtained, we plan to focus on playing a part in establishing greater production capacity in the UK through collaboration with key biomedical testing equipment suppliers, pharmaceutical companies and public health influencers. As part of the research project we also intend to purchase a recently published report entitled: Global Disposable Flocking Swab Market Report 2020 by Key Players, Types, Applications, Countries, Market Size, Forecast to 2026.2. An intellectual property expert will be consulted to assist in identifying IP protection opportunities (patents, trademarks and designs) and advice on the costs and procedures involved in making IP applications, should we determine it worthwhile as part of the future business plan.

2020年2月2日，美国疾病预防控制中心发布疑似人类感染新型冠状病毒临床标本采集指南；这些指导方针包括使用带有塑料轴的合成纤维棉签：这些被称为“蜂群”棉签。全球冠状病毒检测延迟的主要原因之一是对检测拭子的巨大需求远远超过了少数制造商的现有生产能力，而英国没有生产能力。Campbell Coutts Ltd （CCL）是英国领先和历史最悠久的植绒设备和耗材供应商；我们设计和制造小型和大型设备，用于将群纤维应用于各种基材上，用于众多工业用途。在该项目完成后，CCL将设计、概念测试和创建一个创新设备的工作原型，该设备能够静电地将群纤维应用于拭子棒，为生物标本的收集和释放创造有效的诊断测试拭子。我们将开发技术和设计用于批量加载测试棉签棒的机器能力，在清洁的环境中应用尼龙绒纤维并固化，以每小时6,000至10,000的生产速度，我们将在3个月内完成原型的设计和概念测试。随后，成品生产单元可在10周内生产出来，供希望生产和分发用于医学检测的蜂群拭子的组织使用。我们还将能够提供所需的粘合剂和羊群纤维。延长影响资金将扩大项目的积极影响，并通过允许我们在以下两个领域与专业服务提供商签订合同，加快项目进入市场的速度：将向一名营销顾问简要介绍并委托其进行市场研究，并编写一份关于鼻咽棉签和棉签生产设备国际市场的报告，确定主要参与者（潜在竞争对手、客户和影响者）、进入市场的途径、市场特征、规模和增长预测。这将使公司能够制定营销计划，以结构化的方式利用市场机会。迄今为止，我们一直忙于响应来自众多新前景的对棉签植绒设备的询价（以及设计机械和履行订单），而没有深入了解这一特定市场。我们没有内部营销专业知识，也没有时间进行这项研究。我们意识到，英国的棉签生产能力很小，严重依赖从非英国供应商进口棉签；在获得英国市场情报后，我们计划将重点放在通过与主要生物医学测试设备供应商、制药公司和公共卫生影响者合作，在英国建立更大的产能方面发挥作用。作为研究项目的一部分，我们还打算购买一份最近发表的报告，题为：2020年全球一次性棉签市场报告，按主要参与者、类型、应用、国家、市场规模，预测到2026.2。我们将聘请一名知识产权专家，协助我们确定知识产权保护的机会（专利、商标和外观设计），并在提出知识产权申请的成本和程序方面提供建议，如果我们认为这值得作为未来业务计划的一部分。