SMARTBOX

Smartbox is a Malvern based company with a dedicated “Smart Lab” in the centre of Bristol. They create assistive technology solutions that help people with disabilities carry out the daily activities that others might take for granted. The Power Pad device is one of Smartbox core products and has proven to be their most powerful communication aid.

After successfully completing the design and development of the Power Pad in house Smartbox turned their attention to the requirements of the CE mark. All products sold in the EU must display the CE mark indicating that it has been assessed and meets EU safety, Electro-magnetic Compatibility (EMC), and environmental requirements.

To obtain the CE mark, the Power Pad had to fulfil the requirements of the (EMC) Directive which involves submitting the product to an external test laboratory for formal testing. To ensure the best chance of success, Smartbox brought Cubik on-board to provide specialist expertise throughout the process.

The first step was to carry out a design iteration of the existing design. This enabled us to incorporate suitable techniques that would mitigate any issues that arise during testing. We then produced a small batch of 5 products to use during the test process.

Paul Mullen, Managing Director, together with Smartbox, accompanied the product to the test house where Paul provided expert support throughout the process. This included simple fixes that might otherwise have caused further delays or incurred additional costs.

The Power Pad successfully met all requirements of the EMC directive and earned the CE mark required for sale in the EU. Following successful EMC testing, Cubik assisted with the compilation of the manufacturing data to allow the Power Pad to be manufactured. This included the Technical File which acts as proof that the product has been designed and tested according to the appropriate standards.

Speaking about working with Cubik, Daniel Stead (Hardware Manager) at Smartbox said:

“Smartbox have been working with the team at Cubik to develop, prototype and manufacture our custom electronics. We have always received the highest standard of work from them and they have been instrumental in the development of our product, Power Pad. Furthermore, their supportive and versatile management of all aspects of their business is evident. Whether it be solving complex engineering problems or delivering on challenging deadlines. We hope and expect to continue this working relationship for many years to come.”