Provides SafeCharge with Manufacturing Solutions to Overcome Production Challenges

MASON, OH — June 19, 2018 – Velocity Group, leading provider of full range product design and development expertise, is highlighting the success of one of its key customers, SafeCharge, the leading manufacturer of the world’s most secure cell phone charging station.

As demand for SafeCharge’s secure cell phone charging lockers increased and business grew, SafeCharge had a critical need to fulfill orders for high quality products cost effectively and on time. Prior to working with Velocity Group, finished products were often assembled inconsistently and lacking the desired level of quality.

“We were in the middle of a 50 unit build and we were low on inventory and needed units ASAP.” Said David M. Adams, co-founder of SafeCharge.  “Velocity Group collaborated with us and quickly put a plan into action. They definitely went the extra mile in allowing us to ship finished product to our customers ahead of schedule,” added Adams.

“We were excited to partner with SafeCharge and take the time to understand their unique manufacturing and production requirements,” said Heather Best, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Velocity Group.  “SafeCharge placed their trust in Velocity Group, and we were able quickly customize and design an assembly process based on their specific volume, demand and budget.”

To learn more about Velocity Group and SafeCharge, read the testimonial at www.velocityfast.com

Showcasing Full Suite of Product Design and Development Capabilities for Small to Medium Sized Businesses

MASON OH, May 11, 2018 – Velocity Group is pleased to announce it is exhibiting at AmCon in Louisville, Kentucky in booth #201.  Visitors to the Velocity Group booth will have the opportunity to gain information and knowledge on how Velocity Group can accelerate their time to profit through full-service product development and production. In addition, Velocity Group will be holding a drawing for a chance to win an Amazon gift card valued at $200.

“From design to production, Velocity Group is ideally positioned to provide manufacturing solutions for companies with small to medium sized production requirements,” said Heather Best, vice president of sales and marketing at Velocity Group. “Our sales team is excited to interact with customers face-to-face and learn about their unique challenges,” added Best.

Featuring single-source accountability, ISO certifications, and 100% domestic operations, Velocity Group customizes programs with flexible entry and exit points at any stage of the product development cycle including design, prototyping, machining, tool making, injection molding, and test and assembly.

About Velocity Group
Velocity Group is a full-service product development and production company. We have assembled a world-class portfolio of design and manufacturing organizations providing rapid production services for a diverse customer set including entrepreneurs, middle market companies seeking expansion, and advanced R&D centers at leading OEMs. We seek challenging opportunities and are working in innovative markets with leading edge technologies that are introducing new solutions every day.

For More Information:
Heather Best
Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Velocity Group
513-284-9892
heather.best@velocityfast.com

Mason, OH, March 7, 2018 – Velocity Group is pleased to announce it is exhibiting at the annual Advanced Design and Manufacturing (ADM) Expo 2018 in Cleveland Ohio, March 7-8, and will be located at booth #613 on the exhibit floor. As a leading provider of full-service onshore product development and production services, Velocity Group’s participation at ADM reinforces the firm’s commitment to serving OEMs in Ohio and nearby states.
“We are uniquely positioned to provide tailored contract manufacturing programs for companies with small to medium sized production requirements,” said Andrew Stelmack, General Manager at Velocity Group. “ADM offers the ideal forum to meet with a diverse group of industry professionals and demonstrate how Velocity Group can propel their projects forward,” added Stelmack.
Velocity Group representatives will be on site to speak with ADM delegates about their specific product manufacturing needs. Visitors to the booth #613 will learn how Velocity Group can accelerate time to profit by customizing programs with flexible entry and exit points at any stage of the product development cycle including Design, Prototyping, Machining, Tool Making, Injection Molding, and Test and Assembly.

About Velocity Group
Velocity Group is a full-service product development and production company. We have assembled a world-class portfolio of design and manufacturing organizations providing rapid production services for a diverse customer set including entrepreneurs, middle market companies seeking expansion, and advanced R&D centers at leading OEMs. We seek out challenging opportunities and are working in innovative markets with leading edge technologies that are introducing new, disruptive solutions every day.

For More Information:

Andrew Stelmack
General Manager, Velocity Group
513-701-9115
andrew.stelmack@velocityfast.com

What: Strategic Alternatives Through an Owner’s Eyes Panel Discussion

The satisfaction of succeeding as a business owner can be unparalleled. Achieving millions in sales by starting with an idea and a plan, weathering ups and downs and making major decisions, in many cases, has been solely up to the owner. Inevitably, there will come a time when change is necessary. One of the most important decisions owners face is how to address a major ownership transition in the business.
Andrew Stelmack of the Velocity Group will provide a perspective on strategic buyers; offer his insight on what makes some acquisition targets more attractive than others; and share his experience on how companies can prepare in advance to ensure a smooth transaction process and transition.

When:

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Where:

AMBA Conference Grand Rapids, Michigan

Who:

Moderated by Michael D. Benson, Stout Investment Banking Group

About Velocity Group 

Headquartered in Madison Ohio, Velocity Group was created with the vision that a Full-Service Product Development and Production company can leverage speed and proximity to market, lean manufacturing processes, and an integrated capability portfolio to create a competitive advantage for US-based OEMs. Building this capability on 100% domestic operations and providing dedicated project management, we help our customers accelerate time from idea to profit from their low and medium volume production programs. Visit www.velocityfast.com for more information.

A group of manufacturing services companies said today they created a collaboration, called the Medical Device Development Collaborative, to help improve access to a full range of product development capabilities for concept-to-market solutions.

The collaboration is based in the Medical Alley region and aims to help small to mid-size OEMs by offering experience and expertise to bring design concepts to life.

The MD2C said it will look to help companies through the entire product development concept including design, prototyping, part fabrication, quality assurance, FDA regulatory approval, assembly and project management services.

Companies that are a part of the collaboration include Intelligent Product Solutions, Borderless Compliance, South Dakota Partners, Protoduction and Velocity Group.

“Collectively, the MD2C has a deep understanding of the many challenges associated with getting a project up and running, keeping it on track, and controlling costs,” Tim O’Brien, VP of sales at Intelligent Product Solutions, said in a press release. “By strategically partnering with OEMs for both business guidance and product development expertise, the Collaborative can deliver the highest quality, service and value in bringing new medical devices to market.”

MD2C said it will partner with OEMs to build project teams based on specific needs and requirements.

“The Medical Device Development Collaborative and the Medical Alley Association share a common goal to improve the quality of health,” Shaye Mandle, president and CEO of Medical Alley Association, said. “By providing the breadth of integrated manufacturing capabilities to OEMs, the MD2C is helping to advance this cause by bringing new and innovative medical devices to market.”

Partners with OEMs to bring new medical devices to market with tailored and integrated design to manufacturing solutions

MINNEAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Medical device OEMs today are challenged by accessing the full range of product development capabilities necessary to advance new solutions from concept to market. To meet this challenge, a dedicated group of leading manufacturing services companies has formed the Medical Device Development Collaborative (MD2C.) Anchored in the Medical Alley region, a recognized hub for medical device development and innovation, the MD2C helps small to mid-size OEMs turn concepts into a reality by offering deep experience and expertise throughout the entire product development continuum including design, rapid prototyping, part fabrication, quality assurance, FDA regulatory approval, assembly, and project management services.

“Collectively, the MD2C has a deep understanding of the many challenges associated with getting a project up and running, keeping it on track, and controlling costs,” said Tim O’Brien, vice president of sales at Intelligent Product Solutions. “By strategically partnering with OEMs for both business guidance and product development expertise, the Collaborative can deliver the highest quality, service and value in bringing new medical devices to market,” added O’Brien.

Offering an integrated, consultative, and customized approach, the MD2C partners with OEMs to build dedicated project teams based on a customer’s specific needs and requirements. The group of expert companies in the Collaborative include:

• Intelligent Product Solutions (IPS): Product design and engineering
• Borderless Compliance: Quality and regulatory requirements and systems
• South Dakota Partners: Electronics manufacturing, assembly, and distribution
• Protoduction Inc.: Product design and prototyping for electronics
• Velocity Group: Injection molding and machining

“The Medical Device Development Collaborative and the Medical Alley Association share a common goal to improve the quality of health,” said Shaye Mandle, President and CEO at Medical Alley Association. “By providing the breadth of integrated manufacturing capabilities to OEMs, the MD2C is helping to advance this cause by bringing new and innovative medical devices to market.”

For more information on working with MD2C, contact Tim O’Brien at tobrien@ips-yes.com.

Contacts

Velocity Group
Andrew Stelmack, 503-701-9115
andrew.stelmack@velocityfast.com

CINCINNATI–3D printing enables an easy transformation of digital designs into functional models. However, online rapid prototyping companies offer only limited design and engineering support, especially for complex products. Their narrow focus leaves many OEMs struggling to understand how to go from printed parts to a manufactured product. In response, Velocity Group launched its online 3D printing service to give OEMs easier access to full-service product development and production support. 

“Velocity Group is focused on accelerating time from idea to profit,” said Kent Savage, CEO. “We recognize that today’s cocktail napkin has evolved into a 3D printed model. While the starting point has shifted, the journey of product development for disruptive, innovative products remains a challenging endeavor, one that requires a partner with the experience, expertise, and structure necessary to bring concepts to market. Fast.”

Velocity Group offers single-source accountability, 100% domestic operations, dedicated project management, and a broad portfolio of design and lean manufacturing services to compress the timeline associated with traditional product development programs.

“Just because you can print a part does not mean you can manufacture it reliably and at a reasonable cost,” said Andy Stelmack, General Manager of Velocity Group. “We have decades of experience taking customers from concept to production, including helping them understand how to mature 3D printed concepts for traditional manufacturing.”

Additionally, 3D printing is limited to mechanical parts and provides only a piece of the solution for embedded system development. Velocity Group’s online 3D printing service makes it easier for customers with complex, connected designs to work with a trusted, full-service partner. Our breadth of capabilities extends beyond mechanical parts and includes electronic and software design that today’s technology-infused products require.

To experience the Velocity Group’s online 3D printing platform, please visit https://velocityfast.com/3D.

ABOUT VELOCITY GROUP

Velocity Group is a full-service product development and production partner. We have assembled a world-class portfolio of design and manufacturing organizations to provide rapid time-to-market services for a diverse customer set including entrepreneurs, middle market companies seeking expansion, and advanced R&D centers at leading OEMs. We seek out challenging opportunities and are working in innovative markets with leading-edge technologies that are introducing new, disruptive solutions every day.

For high volume manufacturing, the low cost and readily accessible labor pool from offshore manufacturing is a key advantage for many companies. However, as technology drives increased customization, shorter production runs, and a move to an extensible platform based product families, the advantages begin to disappear for a growing population of companies with low to medium volume production requirements.

These smaller programs face several key challenges when looking overseas for a contract manufacturer, including the requirement to guarantee large order quantities. If they do find a willing vendor, the US-based OEM will have to bear the full cost and risk of poor quality from the lack of standards and processes, as well as administrative overhead from language, culture, and time zone differences. With each of these challenges, the total cost and time-to-market begin to rise. Add in the requirement for upfront payment of fees and production costs and many companies start to get locked into a bad situation. The window of opportunity for product launch begins to fade, your competition beats you to market, and the opportunity is lost.

Even if you escape these initial challenges, the logistics and customs delays, IP theft and counterfeit products, and poor quality will further erode the benefit of cheap labor. At the Velocity Group, we have heard all too often the story of an entrepreneur who put his project up on social funding sites only to find his product for sale online a few days later, for a cost he could never match.
Once a company overcomes these product launch hurdles, they face the harsh reality of social media and a fickle customer base. The all-too-common practice of undisclosed design and material changes will eventually lead to permanent brand damage as quality issues and product failures spread like wildfire through social media channels.

The solution to these challenges is a partner you can trust. One with experience and capabilities spanning from initial concept all the way into production. One that is flexible to your needs and takes seriously their commitment to providing single source accountability for your project. This allows entrepreneurs and middle market companies to focus on selling and growing their business, not costly and burdensome oversight of offshore production.

The Velocity Group was created with the vision that a Full-Service Product Development and Production company can leverage speed and proximity to market, lean manufacturing processes, and an integrated capability portfolio to create a competitive advantage for the US-based OEMs. Building this capability on 100% domestic operations and providing dedicated project management, we help our customers accelerate time from idea to profit from their low and medium volume production programs.

Need help overcoming some of these challenges?

Learn more about Velocity Group’s Lean Manufacturing.
How We Do It

This post represents the first in a series, as Velocity Group continues to map the evolving commercial UAS competitive landscape.  Company categories are not intended to be all encompassing but should provide a good idea regarding the scope and breadth of companies competing in given market areas.

Over time Velocity Group will examine and list known competitors with primary core competencies in:

• UAV Manufacturer
• Software
• Services
• UAS Service Provider
• RF/Comms
• Propulsion/Engines
• Manufacturing
• Government & Media
• EO/IR
• Embedded Systems/Products
• Electronics/Defense Electronics
• Data Processing
• Components

Data Processing is an area of ongoing focus, given the volume, variety, and velocity of commercial UAV data moving through various enterprises.  The ability to quickly process this data into actionable imagery and information is a “must have” for drone-enabled service providers.  In such a way, the growth of a truly commercial/industrial drone services market will rise in tandem with data collection, processing, exploitation, and dissemination.

The list:  Most of these companies are multifaceted and will have operations in adjacent markets.  They represent a core group of organizations specializing in the processing and throughput of imagery and information.

Want to learn more?
Click Below
Velocity Group’s Commercial Drone Design and Manufacturing Services

Drone Driven to Requirements Driven

What was once perceptible is now palpable.  True, industrial Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) end users are beginning to demand more from the “air” portion of the UAS.  Industrial use-case differences in concepts of operations, operating environments and divergent data needs are creating a better environment for custom drone solutions.  Users are recognizing that both the drone and the data flowing from it can be organizational force multipliers. However, this information is not always actionable or available to service providers or industrial end users purchasing drones from well-established concerns.  Look for drone design to look like a “demand pull” from the end users rather than a “command push” from drone manufacturers.

Market Gaps to Economic Viability

Thanks to Part 107 industry is compiling a law of large numbers with respect to unmet needs throughout the UAS – with an emphasis here on the word system.  The UAS is only as strong as its weakest link, and growing use cases point specifically to the camera as an avenue toward greater efficiency.  That same law of large numbers will begin to enable economies of scale for miniaturized EO/IR and full-motion video systems better tailored toward Groups 1-2 UAVs at less than 55 lbs. Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW).