Earlier this month, Ricoh UK Products Ltd (RPL), the home of Ricoh 3D, was announced as a double finalist in the prestigious ideasUK ‘Idea of the Year Competition 2024’.
ideasUK
The annual competition celebrates the best ideas from ideasUK’s extensive list of member organisations.
By their own admission: “It provides a great opportunity for businesses to recognise the people who submitted those incredible ideas. It also helps boost employee engagement as it acknowledges contributions to organisational success.”
Nominations
RPL was nominated in two categories:
- Customer Focus Award
- People & Wellbeing Award
For the Customer Focus Award, RPL’s additive manufacturing division, Ricoh 3D, was recognised for their co-created and recently commercialised Ankle CCD Lever Kit, in partnership with The Orthotic Research & Locomotor Assessment Unit (ORLAU), of The Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust.
For a number of years, ORLAU has been supplying patients with a simple ankle contracture correction device (CCD), which applies a controlled stretch of the lower limb soft tissues – but these traditional devices can be difficult to ‘don and doff’ (donning refers to putting on work clothes, gear, and equipment, while doffing means removing them).
ORLAU required a more ergonomic CCD lever, which had to be a suitably usable accessory for the universal orthotic, in addition to being cost-effective, quick to manufacture and roll-out.
The adoption of 3D printing has allowed ORLAU to iterate the design multiple times in real-life test scenarios, demonstrating a more agile approach to customer-centricity and rehabilitation needs.
Outcome
Today’s bespoke device includes a 3D printed lever, manufactured by Ricoh 3D using Multi Jet Fusion technology. ORLAU pioneered the use of the innovative lever design which applies compression to a gas-spring, which in turn, applies tension to the patient’s lower limb for rehabilitation purposes. The lever improves the overall user experience by it being an integral part of the design as opposed to an additional tension-tool.
In short, the 3D printed lever has made it much easier for patients to put on and take off their orthotic and engage with their rehab. Access the full case study by clicking here.
Testimonies
“With this cost-effective method and innovative solution, we hope orthotists around the UK are now able to easily purchase a kit of parts that can be applied to a hinged AFO shell to create a simple ankle stretching device”, said Keith Miller, Rehabilitation Engineer, The RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital (NHS).
Ricoh 3D’s Senior Engineer, Richard Minifie added: “I think the difficulties faced during Covid-19 highlighted that the manufacturing and medical sectors can be more closely aligned – and local, where possible, to provide bespoke manufacturing services to our National Health Service. This would enable a more agile business model and effective patient-centric care.
“We are incredibly mindful of the need for time and cost-sensitive healthcare applications and want to work with ORLAU – and across the National Health Service – to empower them to support their patients.”
In the People & Wellbeing Award, RPL was recognised for the company’s former internal Think Act Save campaign. In response to the cost-of-living challenges and global energy crisis, the campaign focussed on wellbeing, energy conversation and cost savings both at home and in the workplace.
Combined, the two entries have enabled collaboration, continuous improvement (Kaizen) and innovation, and developed people, ensuring employee engagement, high performance, and future sustainability.
Further Reflections
Speaking of the success, RPL’s Continuous Improvement Engagement Coordinator, Jayne Garner, commented: “I’m really proud to have two ideas selected as finalists once again.
“This is a testament to our 15-year Platinum-accredited ideasUK status, and the innovative ideas from our people here at RPL. The Engagement & Recognition Programme continues to be a key part of our DNA.”
RPL and Ricoh 3D will have representatives at the annual ideasUK conference (the 37th International Conference) on 6-7 November at Shrigley Hall Hotel & Spa, Macclesfield, whereby nominations will be presented to a judging panel, ahead of the awards gala on the evening of 7 November.
ideasUK is a not-for-profit network organisation, building the capability of organisations in the field of ideas management and innovation.