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TTP is an independent technology company where scientists and engineers collaborate to invent, design and develop new products and technologies. With a 30-year history of invention, our multidisciplinary teams are able to deliver across the scope of a project, from research through to ideas, design, engineering and manufacture.

TTP’s state-of-the-art technical facilities are part of Europe's largest technology hub in Cambridge, UK. Here, we work across a wide spectrum of industries - including health, telecoms, industrials and consumer - to create breakthrough solutions that bring strong commercial value to clients and the benefits of technology to all.

www.ttp.com

Electronic Nebuliser

The problem

You breathe in. You breathe out. This happens about 20,000 times a day, without a second thought. But if you have cystic fibrosis, chronic asthma, or another respiratory disease, it’s a different story. You may need a regular dose of drugs delivered straight into your lungs, just to keep you alive.

Deep lung penetration requires a highly controlled droplet size — too small and the droplets are exhaled, too large and they’ll land in the back of the throat.

TTP’s challenge was to find a better way to deliver liquid-phase drugs directly into the lungs, one that would increase drug efficacy and eliminate propellant gases.

Our solution

The solution was TouchSpray™, a chamberless, planar nozzle plate driven by a piezoelectric actuator. The inertial transfer mechanism generates a highly defined aerosol of liquid droplets at the touch of a button.

The invention of this breakthrough technology ultimately led to the global launch of the PARI eFlow® electronic nebuliser — a new inhaler that cuts patient treatment time by an amazing 50%. The drug delivery technology used in the PARI eFlow® electronic nebuliser enables liquid medication to be absorbed through the lungs with as much as 90% efficacy.

What makes the Pari eFlow® different?

  • Reduces treatment time by more than 50%.
  • Silent, discreet operation.
  • Battery-powered and easily portable.
  • Interchangeable spray heads allow easy cleaning.
  • More reliable and serviceable than traditional compressor-based systems.
  • Designed for use with all inhalation medications approved in Europe.

Dymo electronic label printers

Over 20 years of innovation

TTP has provided a complete range of technology innovation and product development services to Dymo since 1990. Repeatedly meeting challenging BOM (bill of materials) and performance targets on very short development timescales, TTP helps to keep Dymo’s product range ahead of competition.

Our longstanding relationship

As Dymo’s business in electronic labelling has grown, our role has always adapted to complement Dymo’s world‐class in‐house capabilities and resources.

TTP helped Dymo enter electronic labelling by initially evaluating manufacturing partners and print technology vendors before going on to design, develop and transfer a complete range of products to manufacture.

Working alongside Dymo’s engineering, marketing, and manufacturing specialists, TTP has identified innovative new product formats and features, creating an extensive family of patents to protect Dymo’s investment, while consistently delivering products which were cheaper to manufacture and technically more advanced than Dymo’s competitors.

Letratag

One such product was the Letratag. This set the benchmark for cost‐efficient printer design by combining innovative direct thermal label tape with a custom printhead and novel power supply architecture. Letratag has sold millions of units and continues to do so many years after its introduction.

About Dymo

As Dymo’s business has grown it has made acquisitions and changed ownership. Throughout this life cycle we have continued to work with Dymo’s senior management to add value through innovation, technology introduction and product development projects.

TTP has created a full range of electronic label printers for office and consumer use for the Dymo brand, with millions sold across the world.

Beer Dispenser

PerfectDraft

The PerfectDraft beer dispenser was designed and developed by TTP for InBev and is marketed under the Philips brand. It has created a new product category since its launch in 2003 with many millions of beer kegs sold. Two models are now on sale in six countries across Europe.

The product

PerfectDraft is a patented system designed to provide the consumer with chilled, draft‐quality beer in their own home. InBev, the world’s leading brewer, partnered with TTP to realise this new product as we had the capability to take on every aspect of the product and consumable development. From business planning to engineering and manufacturer selection, we complemented InBev’s own marketing and brewing expertise.

The project

TTP designed and developed the PerfectDraft system from concept through to product launch — and beyond. An in‐depth thermal and flow analysis was carried out at the start of the project to optimise cooling power and rate. This was followed by a detailed design of every aspect of the product and the construction of fully functional prototypes.

Volume prototyping and consumer approval trials were completed with TTP and Philips working closely together to transfer the design to production. TTP also designed key stations of the keg filling line and helped optimise the novel filling process at InBev’s plants in Europe.

In parallel with the appliance development, TTP designed PerfectDraft’s low‐cost keg system. The keg is constructed from reusable aluminium for a high‐quality feel. It has a disposable inner lining and patented valve which allows the user to pour beer on demand yet protects from oxygen ingress.

In addition, a disposable beer line was designed which controls the dispense rate and prevents in‐glass foaming, removing any requirement to clean the beer line.