Ask4Me Industrial Design

Company Introduction Realizing products in China 2012 11 03

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Company facts

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Realizing products in China Ask4Me Group is a Dutch design and engineering company based in Guangzhou, China.

From the first design sketch up to production.

In China since 2005: Extensive network of reliable local suppliers and manufacturers We understand Western design and know how to translate it for manufacturing in the East.

We are essentially our clients’ eyes, ears and hands in China.

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History 2003 

Boukje Koch and Jorg van den Hoven start Design Company Amazuro in The Netherlands. Both Delft University of Technology (MSc.) Degree graduates Industrial Design Engineering and Innovation Management.

Amazuro’s focuses on product design and strategic design

2005

Founders of Amazuro move to Wuxi (PRC) to set up electronic gifts factory.

2007

Registration of Ask4Me Group in Hong Kong and opening Guangzhou Office

2010

Official opening new Representative Office (RO) studio in Guangzhou.

Ask4Me Group focuses on product design and production services in China.

2012

Ask4Me Group registers as a Wholly Foreign Owner (WFOE) enterprise in Guangzhou, China.

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History

2009 2009 2010 2010 2011 2011 2012 2012

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Client It’s a Clock wins the Tillywig Toy Award and nominee for the Kind+Jugend award Client Vanmoof wins the Eurobike Award organized by the IF awards.

Client Vanmoof wins the Dutch Design Award for Best consumer product.

Client Kamworks wins the Jinyang Award 2010 , the China Low Carbon Life Design Award.

Client It’s a Clock wins baby innovation award 2011.

Client Vanmoof wins Red Dot Design Award Client Modrobotics wins the Pop Sci CES 2012 “Product of the Future” award Client Littlebits wins Science, Technology, Engineering & Math Toys for Girls (STEMmy) award.

People Founder/ CEO: Boukje Koch, Master of Science in Product Design Engineering. Prior to Ask4Me Group she set up a 1000+ personnel factory in Wuxi. She has cross industries design & engineering experience, and deep understanding of project management in China. By her education she is specialized in Integrated Product Design.

Founder/ New Business Development: Jorg van Hoven, Master of Science in Strategic Product Development. Entrepreneur in Asia and local contact point for Dutch designers in Guangzhou.

Project Manager: Mariet Schreurs, Master of Science in Integrated Product Design. Experienced project manager for both Chinese and Western clients. Prior to Ask4Me Group she proved her innovative talents by inventing and realizing an award winning multimedia game for people with dementia. Joined Ask4Me Group in January 2008.

Project Manager: Maarten Boer, Master of Science in Integrated Product Design, and furniture maker and woodworker. Project manager for western clients. Prior to Ask4Me Group he proved himself by realizing several kitchen designs, and his graduation at Philips Healthcare. Joined Ask4Me Group in February 2012.

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People Project Specialist: Mr. Teruo Hishiki, Japanese, 10 years in China, has a 25 years track record in multinationals in Japan, Hong Kong, The Netherlands and China, as Engineering Director he holds over 10 patents in battery management, with extensive experience in Philips Electronics he add knowledge in electronics, mechatronics, mechanical engineering, programming and tons of experience in consumer products for the Western and Asian market. He worked as advisor in various Ask4me Group projects and since 2012 cooperates in projects on a frequent basis.

Project Specialist: Mr. Curt Lehrdahl, US Citizen, 6 years in China and a veteran in injection moulding for the last 35 years. Delphi Tooling Manager in Mexico,11 years. Worked for GM in US, Spain, Germany, Japan, Mexico, China. Director of Engineering large custom molder in Detroit. Has over 5,000 injection mold tools built under his direction over the last 35 years. Experience in Steel Progressive Dies, Die Cast Molds, Blow molding dies, Steering Wheel manufacturing (wire, welding), screw machine, insert molding, secondary finishing. 2 shot injection molds, etc...

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People Office Manager: Nerissa Pan. Bachelor in Business English. Within Ask4Me Group she takes care of Business Accounting, Product Sourcing and Quality Control. Joined Ask4Me Group in 2007.

Sourcing and Account Manager: Rachel Tian. Bachelor in Business English. Specialized in sourcing, logistics and trading. Joined the Ask4Me Group in 2007.

Senior Engineer: Rundy Huang. Prior to Ask4Me Group he worked as an injection mold engineer. He has rich experience in managing projects with western designers and Chinese toolmakers. Within Ask4Me Group he takes care of the communication with manufacturers, prototype companies and TUV experts in China.

Joined Ask4Me Group in 2008.

Product Designer: Morgan Jiang. Bachelor of Art in fashion design. Prior to Ask4Me Group he worked as an office manager for a French shoe label. He is skilled in hand sketched presentations. Within Ask4Me Group he takes care of the communication with Chinese clients and visualizing product concepts. Joined Ask4Me Group in 2011.

Junior Engineer: Li Hao. Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Design and Automation. Prior to Ask4Me Group he worked as a Toy Engineer. He is specialized in surface modeling. Within Ask4Me Group he assists production projects in China. Joined Ask4Me Group in 2011.

Personal Assistant: Jessie Zhang. Assistant of our design team in China. Joined Ask4Me Group in 2012.

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Company Profile - Project workflow

Project type

Annual project Capacity

Average project Duration

Feasibility study

6

1 month

Product concept design

12

2 month

Product Restyle design

12

1 month

Engineering, prototyping and pilot run

8

6-18 months

Manufacturing

8

Ongoing

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Services

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Management

Ask4Me Group helps companies to realize unique products in mass-oriented China.

We offer brand firms the possibility to produce products without having to deal with suppliers and factories directly.

Ask4Me Group offers the following services:

Most of our clients have products that are innovative and unique. This usually means that there is no manufacturer that has experience in producing the product.

Ask4Me Group specializes in project management and communication between clients and Chinese manufacturers, making the road from idea to finished product as smooth as possible.

Engineering & Prototyping

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Feasibility & Design

Manufacturing & Assembly

Feasibility & Design Feasibility Study

Design

Because of years of experience in doing business in China we have a clear understanding of what it takes to develop and successfully realize a product here.

From the start of the process we can tell you where the focus needs to be.

Our clients come to us because they need something that not only looks good but that’s also practical. It needs to function without flaws and - eventually sell well.

We can make a reliable study in which we estimate feasibility for product concepts.

For a fixed price we present our clients a report that states (among others): what steps need to be taken by which parties, an estimation of the costs, an indication for the planning, a list of possible suppliers, design restrictions, etc.

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From the first sketch we look for creative solutions that will actually work for the design challenges we are faced with. We generate creative and viable solutions that work from an user perspective and already keeping the engineering process in mind - will function well.

Engineering & Prototyping Engineering

Prototyping

Distant problem solving in development projects is difficult. Living and working in China gives us direct access to the factory of the world. Communication lines to suppliers are short and factories are just around the corner.

The first idea - no matter how good - is rarely the same as the final product. One of the best tools when designing and engineering an innovative product is a mechanically and electronically fully functioning prototype.

Our Chinese engineers understand the local factories and tool makers. They know what engineering solutions will work from their own factory experiences. We know and talk the local engineering language. This, combined with western master’s degree engineering skills gives us a solid base for engineering.

It shows where enhancements need to be made, communicates the product’s function to your target audience and shows the product’s merits and potential to investors or decision makers.

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Our near proximity to prototypes enables excellent prototyping in an any phase of the project.

Manufacturing & Assembly For manufacturing and assembly we cooperate with partner companies with whom we have a long and intensive working relationship. Even so, we are not bound to specific suppliers, giving our clients access to a very broad spectrum of quality and hand picked suppliers.

We do our own quality control and follow up on the production planning, in order to ensure production is up our standard of design and engineering, and deadlines are met.

As experts in product design engineering Ask4Me Group knows how to get Chinese manufacturers to a higher level in finishing and quality.

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Work Samples

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Power LED Floodlight Optolabs

Status at start of project

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Epilator MS6000 Senza

Status at start of project

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Outdoor Barbeque Swiss Grill

Status at start of project

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Cubelets Modrobotics

Status at start of project

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3D Mask mr Rex Willowfun Status at start of project

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It’s a Clock Bee on Time

Status at start of project

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Solar Bicycle Light Vanmoof

Status at start of project:

Cuckoo Clock Kookoo

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Automatic Cooker Color study for Gemside

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Feasibility and Design Services 25/48

Pugh List Criteria for design and business plan

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Feasibility Study Design Engineering Prototyping Manufacturing & Assembly

Hand Sketch Line sketch or rendered sketch

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Feasibility Study Design Engineering Prototyping Manufacturing & Assembly

CAD Work Software: Solidworks or ProE

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Feasibility Study Design Engineering Prototyping Manufacturing & Assembly

Color study Define colors

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Feasibility Study Design Engineering Prototyping Manufacturing & Assembly

Packaging

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Feasibility Study Design Engineering Prototyping Manufacturing & Assembly

Manual

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Feasibility Study Design Engineering Prototyping Manufacturing & Assembly

Market Analysis Formal Style

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Feasibility Study Design Engineering Prototyping Manufacturing & Assembly

User Analysis Define product user and character

Feasibility Study Design Engineering Prototyping Manufacturing & Assembly

DIRECTION: WOMAN BBQ

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Engineering Prototyping and Manufacturing Services 34/48

Design for Assembly Indicate Assembly steps, BOM etc

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Feasibility Study Design Engineering Prototyping Manufacturing & Assembly

Design for Manufacturing Reduce cost with smart molds

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Feasibility Study Design Engineering Prototyping Manufacturing & Assembly

Design for Manufacturing Try to make the impossible possible Status at start of project

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Feasibility Study Design Engineering Prototyping Manufacturing & Assembly

Design for Certification ASTM 968 Test probe for strangulation hazard

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Feasibility Study Design Engineering Prototyping Manufacturing & Assembly

Prototypes Production realistic samples

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Feasibility Study Design Engineering Prototyping Manufacturing & Assembly

Prototype Techniques CNC vs. Silicon Mold/ Sticker vs. Silkscreen print/ Metal insert vs. Metal part

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Feasibility Study Design Engineering Prototyping Manufacturing & Assembly

Transfer File Indicate checklist with prototype order

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Feasibility Study Design Engineering Prototyping Manufacturing & Assembly

Practical Testing Lifetime, Strength, Water tightness, drop test etc

Feasibility Study Design Engineering Prototyping Manufacturing & Assembly

Tooling Engineering Mould drawings and verification

Feasibility Study Design Engineering Prototyping Manufacturing & Assembly

Tooling Engineering Mould drawings and verification

Feasibility Study Design Engineering Prototyping Manufacturing & Assembly

Setup Quality Control Production QC checklist examples

Feasibility Study Design Engineering Prototyping Manufacturing & Assembly

Production preparation Manage production and assembly, check stock, specify order, make list of nightmares etc.

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Feasibility Study Design Engineering Prototyping Manufacturing & Assembly

Tooling List Indicate materials, quantities, price, leadtime etc

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Feasibility Study Design Engineering Prototyping Manufacturing & Assembly

Pilot run Check dimensions, indicate mold changes, decrease scrap rate, estimate cycle time etc.

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Feasibility Study Design Engineering Prototyping Manufacturing & Assembly

Contact and references

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Location/ Contact

Ask4Me Industrial Design Limited Dutch Design I Western Engineering I Management 广州市越秀区中山⼀一路21号 天兴大厦东塔24楼05房 邮编： 510600 East Tower Room23A05 , TianXing Plaza, No.21 ZhongShan Yi Road YueXiu District, 510600, Guangzhou, China 50/48

Client List • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 51/48

Unilever (Product design) Droog Design (Realizing concepts) OGear (Outdoor products) KooKoo (Clocks) Bee On Time (Educational toys) Cubelets (Educational toys) Little Bits (Educational toys) Swiss Grill (Barbecue design) PO Selected (Home accessories) LightWell BV (LED lighting) CreAction (Health care products) Senza (Health care products) Vanmoof (Solar LED light) Kamworks (Solar LED Light) Gemside (Kitchen Appliances) Natwerk (Lighting) Kayok (Car Accessories)

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Philips (Kitchen Appliances) PCH Berlin (Product design) Rambo Paints (Product animation) Jellinek Drug Prevention Dutch Literature Museum (RFID) Amsterdam Museum (RFID Design) Heineken (Marketing concepts) Tiger Beer (Marketing concepts) 3House Productions (Home Deco) I-Tobe (Health care products) Mi-toys (Packaging design) Top Vision Group (Packaging design) Bugaboo (Toy design) Dutch DFA (Dutch design pavilion) Delft University of Technology Dutch Police Force (Product design) Zomax (Power tools)