Bio 5 is a Sheffield-based start-up which specialises in stationery products that boast antimicrobial properties. Its product range includes a triform pencil, a sharpener and eraser combo, and a folding ruler. As part of Bio 5’s growth plans, the company wanted to bring forward new product ideas but limited resources meant they weren’t able to develop them to the stage where they could be manufactured and marketed.
The company turned to the AMRC for help, which as part of the national High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult network of research centres, provides funded support to small and medium-sized businesses. Over the course of two years, research engineers from the AMRC delivered product development to Bio 5 through 3D modelling and prototyping, helping the company take its brilliant ideas for new stationery and turn sketches into 3D models that could be manufactured.
Bio 5 now has a contract with YPO, which supplies products to schools, colleagues, universities and councils to name a few; and a store on Amazon. The company also has eyes on the wider retail sector with negotiations underway that include a luxury department store.
Alistair Wheatley, co-founder of Bio 5 and managing director of the business, said the AMRC was a huge support and ‘the catalyst to making the project work’ in its early stages.
He said: “We asked for help on our product development and the AMRC jumped on it straight away and were magnificent. They were a huge support and couldn’t do enough to help us with lots of help and advice. They were the catalyst to making the project work in the early stage and we hope they will help out in the future also with further product design.
“The AMRC was the first platform to turn our ideas and paper drawing concepts into reality. The impact of this has meant we have been able to show the physical product before it is even manufactured and help capture the customers’ imagination with a physical product they can touch, feel and use. Also it has helped us show other manufacturers what we are looking for in terms of their support.” Read more
