Product Development

Industrial product development is the comprehensive technical process that transforms an idea or need into a validated, manufacturable and competitive physical solution. Unlike product design, which focuses primarily on form and aesthetics, industrial development integrates mechanical engineering, materials selection, functional prototyping, simulation and experimental validation. At INFINITIA, we tackle both aspects in a coordinated manner: from the initial conceptual sketches right through to preparing the product for industrial production, ensuring that every design decision is technically sound and viable in production. You can see specific examples in our ‘Product Development Projects’ section.

INFINITIA can be brought on board at any stage of the project: from the initial conceptualisation phase, when there is only an idea or a market need that has not yet taken shape, right through to advanced stages of prototyping, redesign or preparation for manufacturing. We work both with companies starting from scratch and with teams that already have a project underway and need an external technical partner to resolve bottlenecks, validate decisions or accelerate time-to-market. This flexibility allows us to act as an outsourced development department, tailoring the scope of the project to each specific situation. If your project is in the ideation phase, the initial product development assessment is the usual starting point.

Yes, and it’s one of the types of business we work with most. Start-ups with a physical product face a specific challenge: they need to move quickly to validate their business idea, but without the in-house technical resources of an established manufacturing company. At INFINITIA, we act as an external technical partner, providing engineering, design, prototyping and validation right from the early stages. This allows the start-up to focus its resources on the business whilst INFINITIA manages the technical complexity of the product.
Compared to other alternatives, such as turning to a technology centre or university research groups – which are perfectly valid and complementary approaches – working with a technical partner like INFINITIA usually offers a stronger focus on the end product, tighter turnaround times and a comprehensive vision that spans from concept to manufacturing. Among other projects, we have developed an advanced liquid dispensing prototype designed to attract investment and a disinfection device for amusement arcades, both of which were developed in response to specific needs where no previous product existed.

Development time depends on the technical complexity of the product, the maturity of the idea and the objectives of each phase. At INFINITIA, we work using a phase-based methodology (concept design, demonstrator, pre-series, type approval and mass production) which allows us to progress step by step and reduce uncertainty at each stage. Generally speaking, timelines can range from several weeks for validations or specific phases, to several months or even years for complete developments involving mechanical and electronic integration, prototyping and preparation for manufacturing.

There is no standard timeframe: each project is planned according to its actual requirements. In any case, the aim is to optimise iteration time and avoid proceeding to manufacturing with unverified technical assumptions. Further details on the process milestones can be found on our prototyping page.

These three concepts serve different purposes within the development cycle. The proof of concept (PoC) validates whether a technology, principle or mechanism works under controlled conditions; it is a test of viability, not a product. The MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is the first functional version with the minimum features required to be tested by real users and to generate insights. The MLP (Minimum Lovable Product) goes one step further: it incorporates sufficient functional and user experience attributes to make the product not only useful, but also desirable. At INFINITIA, we use all three approaches as tools for technical decision-making, choosing the most appropriate one based on the project’s objective and the level of investment available. You can find further information on our pages about the Minimum Viable Product and the Minimum Lovable Product.

User research and market research are validation tools that enable the development team’s technical hypotheses to be tested against users’ actual needs and market opportunities. At INFINITIA, we incorporate them particularly in the early stages of a project to avoid one of the most common and costly mistakes in product development: designing a technically sound solution that nevertheless fails to address a real need or lacks a competitive edge. A well-conducted user analysis enables us to prioritise features, define more precise design specifications and reduce the number of subsequent iterations in the development process.

Yes. At INFINITIA, we take a holistic approach to product development, which includes both mechanical development (CAD design, material selection, geometry optimisation, tolerances and design for manufacturing) and the integration of electronic components, sensors, actuators and control systems where the product requires them. This cross-disciplinary capability enables us to develop complete solutions without relying on multiple suppliers working in an uncoordinated manner – something that is critical when the mechanical design and electronics must evolve in parallel to ensure the functionality of the assembly as a whole. This is one of the most significant practical differences compared to working with more specialised professionals or university research teams, who typically focus on a single discipline.

The decision between redesigning and developing from scratch depends on several factors: the extent of the technical limitations of the current product, existing manufacturing costs, market requirements that are not being met, and the time available for development. In many cases, redesign offers a greater return in the short term because it builds on a proven foundation: adjusting materials, optimising assemblies or resolving specific faults can significantly boost competitiveness without the cost of a complete redevelopment. At INFINITIA, we carry out a technical analysis of the existing product before recommending any approach, assessing actual limitations and opportunities for improvement. You can see an example of this type of project in our case study on product redesign to reduce production and assembly costs.

Type approval is the certification process that guarantees a product complies with the technical, safety and environmental standards required for it to be placed on the market in a specific market. Depending on the sector, regulations such as the CE marking (mandatory for most products sold within the European Economic Area and covering directives such as those on Low Voltage, Machinery and Personal Protective Equipment), the RoHS Directive for electronic components, food safety regulations or specific defence requirements. At INFINITIA, we take regulatory requirements into account from the earliest stages of design (not just at the time of certification), which significantly reduces the need for redesigns and the costs associated with late non-conformities. If you require information on pre-approval validation testing, please contact our design and innovation department.

INFINITIA has developed product projects in sectors such as the automotive industry, consumer electronics, energy, industrial machinery, consumer goods and defence. Each sector has different regulatory, functional and durability requirements, which necessitates the adaptation of materials, manufacturing processes and validation strategies. For example, in the automotive sector we work with components subjected to dynamic loads and continuous vibrations; in electronics, thermal management and miniaturisation are critical factors; and in industrial machinery, operational robustness and maintenance are priorities. This multi-sector experience enables us to identify the specific technical risks of each environment from the earliest stages of the project – something that a generalist technical partner or a team focused exclusively on basic research would struggle to offer with the same practical focus. Take a look at some real-world case studies in our ‘Projects’ section.

Accredited laboratories, technology centres and universities are valuable and, in many cases, complementary resources. Their strengths lie in their analytical capabilities, regulatory accreditation or depth of research. What sets working with Infinitia as an external technical partner apart is something else: its focus on specific industrial problems and decision-making.

At Infinitia, we do not simply carry out tests and deliver results: we interpret the evidence within the real-world context of the product, the process and the sector, and translate it into actionable conclusions. We work across the board with the client’s quality, production, procurement and R&D teams, acting as a technical extension of the in-house team so that the analysis translates into real improvements.

→ Find out how we integrate this approach into our technical industrial consultancy.

The first step is a technical discussion in which we analyse the idea, the current status of the project, the objectives and the main constraints with you. From there, we propose a specific approach — which may begin with a preliminary study and refinement of the idea, a technical assessment, or directly with a conceptual design phase — and we work with you to define the scope and deliverables. You can contact us via the form on the website to receive a priority response from the technical team.