ISO 13485:2016
DEVICE DEVELOPMENT

Thermal Printer

Background and Challenges

Business-critical printing solution leader Printronix engaged Nectar to develop and apply a new brand design language across its line matrix and thermal printer offerings in order to unify and strengthen the company’s combined brand identity. In addition, they asked us to create the interface for the new printer. Some of the big challenges included navigation through a large sitemap, innovating new help and setup functionality, and specific complex UI controls with the limited physical UI (ex: alphanumeric inputs).

 
Thermal Printer sketch

Giving Industrial Printers a Brand Design Makeover

Business-critical printing solution leader Printronix needed to create and implement a new brand design language for its two primary product lines following its acquisition of the TallyGenicom brand. The company now offers the two most-trusted brands in industrial, back office, and supply chain printing, which are well known and regarded throughout manufacturing, distribution, retail, banking, healthcare, government, and other industries worldwide.

 

Thermal Printer working

Evolving a More Capable Product Line

While the goal of communicating a brand image of industrial strength, reliability, durability, and robustness was the same, revamping the Printronix family of industrial line matrix and thermal printers was especially challenging because the two types of printers are so different. Industrial line matrix and thermal printers utilize dissimilar technology platforms, require different form factors, handle various label/paper sizes, and serve unrelated markets.

 

 
Thermal Printer product

Blending Creativity with Sound Engineering

Nectar worked closely with the Printronix development team to create a fresh, exciting brand design language for the company’s industrial line matrix and thermal printers. Drawing on its industrial design and mechanical engineering expertise, Nectar balanced creativity with the limitations of the rollout strategy to revitalize the Printronix brands while remaining true to the expectations of current customers.

Both the line matrix and thermal printer product lines included multiple SKUs of increasing levels of functionality and label/paper size capabilities. Nectar also fabricated the housings from sheet metal to withstand the abuse of industrial shipping environments.

 

Delivering Innovation in Printer Design

Printronix customers have reacted positively to the new brand design language, which the company has applied to several new line matrix printer products and the T2 thermal printer line. Not only did Nectar achieve the objectives that Printronix established for the project, the firm also added value at key points in the process. For example, Nectar helped Printronix develop a new design language using sheet metal despite its forming, shaping, and detailing limitations.

Nectar enabled Printronix to create new products in a manner that lessened the impact of tooling transition costs. In short, Nectar gave Printronix printers an exciting brand design makeover while controlling costs and remaining true to the intrinsic qualities of the brand.

 

 

UX/UI Research

Competitive Analysis – The team was able to demo an array of similar printers from other companies as well as the legacy printer UI to be replaced. By interacting with the various examples, we were able to identify the successes and failures of each.

Inspiration – We also looked at other industrial interfaces to get a feel for best practices, standard colors, and any other random design inspiration to be used.

Design Patterns – For certain interactions, we looked at how other products executed the same functions. For example, we looked at icon driven navigation, alphanumeric entry, error messaging and resolution, setup wizard, menu styles, and more.

 
Thermal Printer data

Information Architecture

We consolidated the menu architecture, created workflows for setup wizard, faults, help, and more. Also looked at user permissions.

 
Thermal Printer concepts
Thermal Printer value adjustment

Wireframing

We started with whiteboard concepts and quickly moved to digital wireframing. We iterated on options for the main menu and the use of icons there. We also explored a variety of input styles for the various settings pages. The display through the page levels was also given a lot of thought and development, ultimately deciding on a main menu with icons, followed by cascading menus.

arc-machine-development

Look & Feel / Visual Development

We consolidated the menu architecture, created workflows for setup wizard, faults, help, looked at user permissions and more.

ICONS
Icons started with hand sketches and research on different icon styles. There was a consensus to go with a flat feel. The first pass of the icons were single color, which eventually evolved into two color for active states. The selection style was also determined.

FINAL STYLES

There were a great deal of iterations and concepts to arrive at our final look and feel palette. In the end, we arrived at a light color scheme of white and blues, with green accents. This allows color to be used to highlight important scenarios like warnings. The icon designs are two colors and relatively flat.

 
Thermal Printer instructions
Thermal Printer guide
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Darren Saravis

CEO

Darren is an accomplished, dynamic leader who founded Nectar, X-Naut, and BreathDirect. He is committed to improving the world through the synthesis of technology, science, and art. Under Darren’s leadership, Nectar is leveraging the latest advances in cutting-edge technology to transform medical device development and design. As part of his

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Steven Wells Ph.D.

Director of Operations

Dr. Steve Wells holds a critical role in steering Nectar’s operations and defining its strategic direction. His impactful leadership has established a clear course for the company’s success. He has revitalized the company with a passion for maximizing impact through expert resource utilization since taking the helm in 2020. Steve has boosted Nectar’s portfolio, streamlined processes, and reinvigorated its innovation agenda, all with the goal of developing life-saving and impactful products. His background in senior leadership roles at Georg Fischer and his people-focused, results-driven leadership style make him an invaluable asset to our team. Steve’s extensive knowledge in chemistry, biocompatibility, and biology only adds to his value as a team member.

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Nellie Roque

Director of Finance and Accounting

Nellie Roque is a seasoned professional with over 17 years of experience in the fields of accounting, human resources, and payroll. She has a wide range of experience, having worked in industries such as manufacturing, software, and non-profit organizations. Nellie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Accounting, demonstrating her strong foundation in financial management and human resource practices. Throughout her career, Nellie has gained extensive knowledge and expertise in these areas, making her a valuable asset to any organization.
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John Duval

Principal Engineer

John is a true asset to Nectar, having been a founding member and instrumental in shaping the company’s portfolio and establishing its reputation for engineering excellence. With over 30 patents and numerous design awards to his name, John is a master of product architecture and subsystem integration, as well as design for manufacture, mechanisms, and root cause analysis. His passion for creating simple and holistic solutions that take into account a wide range of variables is evident in his work and has made him a valuable member of the Nectar team.
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Aaron Gifford

Principal Engineer

With a wealth of experience as a medical device developer, Aaron is a valuable addition to the Nectar team. His expertise in transferring medical devices and IVD instruments to production is unmatched, and his 25 years of professional engineering experience speaks to his expertise. At Nectar, Aaron plays a crucial role in ensuring regulatory compliance throughout product development and manages projects with skill and precision. His recent leadership in the development of the critical care Covid EUA BDR-19™ ventilator is a testament to his abilities, and his 13 patents in the medical device space further highlight his contributions to the field.
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Larry Larson

Director of Hardware and Firmware Engineering 

Larry Larson is a highly experienced engineering professional who has served as Nectar’s Director of Engineering for several years. He has extensive experience in leading, overseeing, and managing the design and development of innovative products, and has been involved in 70 unique product design cycles to date. With a deep understanding of highly regulated industries such as medical and aerospace devices, Larry has been instrumental in bringing cutting-edge technologies to market and delivering solutions that meet the needs of his clients. He has a passion for engineering and is dedicated to advancing the field by delivering products that are safe, effective, and of the highest quality.
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Adam Marten

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Adam Marten has worked in the aerospace and consumer products industries since 2006 with lead engineering experience in conceptual design, product development, analysis and performance qualification testing. Adam has experience leading a range of technical projects, including multiple structural analyses for military and aerospace applications. He has also worked directly with engineering teams to develop medical devices and laboratory instrumentation.

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James Wilkin

Industrial Design Manager

James is a seasoned professional with over seven years of experience at Nectar, where he brings his expertise in industrial design, user interface, and user experience to the table. With a background in the highly competitive automotive industry, working for heavyweights like Daimler and Tesla, James is a true asset to the Nectar team. He is responsible for ensuring that the company adheres to user-centered design best practices, and he works closely with clients and partners on crucial human factors strategies for FDA submissions and the overall usability engineering process. James’ achievements in this field speak to his exceptional skills and dedication to the work he does.
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Rejsa Kuci

Business Development Coordinator

Rejsa is a dynamic force in driving sales and acquiring new projects at Nectar, where she excels in seamlessly aligning the Sales and Operations teams. Holding a prestigious double degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Management and Multimedia, Rejsa brings a wealth of experience to her role as a Project Manager, Digital Marketing Strategist, and Creative Lead. With over four years of expertise in the digital world, Rejsa is not only highly skilled but also enthusiastic about following the ISO 13485 path to ensure successful project completion. Her ability to effectively bridge the gap between Sales and Operations, combined with her passion for driving projects forward, makes her an invaluable asset to the Nectar team.
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Belen Quintero

Associate Project Manager

Belen is a project manager at Nectar who brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her role. With a strong background in Mathematics and Philosophy from the University of California, Riverside, she has honed her skills in a variety of industries including healthcare ,education, food manufacturing, and engineering. Belen’ success as a project manager is due in large part to her ability to align projects with business goals, clearly define project needs, lead cross-functional teams, and effectively communicate results to stakeholders. With her proven track record of success, Belen is a valuable asset to the Nectar team and a key player in driving the company’s projects forward.
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Erjon Ameti

Mechatronics Engineer

Erjon Ameti is a highly knowledgeable Mechatronics Engineer with a wealth of experience in both academic settings and startup environments. With a strong background in electronics, robotics, and 3D modeling, he possesses a unique combination of skills that allow him to excel in the fields of automation systems and mechatronics. Over the past five years, Erjon has honed his expertise in product development and industrial automation, emerging as a leading authority in his field. Currently, Erjon works at Nectar as a hardware engineer, where he is responsible for documentation, CAD design, and electronics in general. He has been involved in the entire process of Nectar engineering, bringing his expertise and experience to the forefront of the company’s success.
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Redon Berisha

Electronics Engineer

Redon is a highly skilled engineer with a passion for technology and innovation. He has a background in mechatronics, which has given him a strong foundation in electronics, including electronic design, PCB design, and cable design. Redon excels in the critical components of the design process, including documentation for assemblies, testing, debugging, and ensuring each project is completed to the highest standard. At Nectar, he plays a crucial role in the creation of cutting-edge technology, bringing his unique vision to life and making him a valuable member of the team. With his technical expertise and creative vision, Redon is a leader in the field of electronic design.
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Kerry Eiss

Clinical Expert - RN, BSN, CLNC

With over two decades of experience in healthcare innovation, Kerry has been instrumental in transforming patient care and improving patient outcomes across the globe. Her extensive knowledge and expertise in the cardiovascular and cardiothoracic operating room, as well as her experience in emergency medicine, geriatrics, pediatric psychiatry, and main OR, make her a versatile and valuable member of the team. From small hospitals to large teaching institutions, Kerry’s 20 years of experience with patient documentation, including the use of EPIC, Cerner, and Meditech electronic charting systems, have positioned her as a leader in her field. Her recent involvement in helping transition the Providence St. Vincent Medical Center’s Cardiac Surgery program from paper charting to electronic documentation further underscores her commitment to advancing the healthcare industry.

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Flaka Brahimi

Marketing Manager

Flaka, a highly skilled professional with a background in Architecture and Spatial Planning from the University of Business and Technology in Pristina, holds a dual role at Nectar as both the Marketing Project Manager and a valuable member of the Business Development team. In her role as Marketing Project Manager, she is responsible for overseeing the development and execution of marketing strategies and as a member of the Business Development team, she actively contributes to the growth of the company by assisting in the creation of impactful marketing tactics. With her diverse background and expertise, Flaka plays a crucial role in ensuring the success of Nectar’s projects.
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Brayton Hammerli

User Experience Designer

Brayton is a multi-disciplinary designer with a A.A in Studio Arts and a B.S in Industrial Design from California State University Long Beach. As a user experience designer, Brayton specializes in usability evaluations, user research, feedback studies, GUI design, mobile app design, human factors evaluations, and formative studies. In his free time, Brayton enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking as well as other creative pursuits. He approaches problems with a solution-focused mindset and enjoys exploring ideas. 
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Stephanie Rodriguez

Accounting Coordinator

Stephanie Rodriguez is a highly experienced administrative professional with over 10 years of expertise across a diverse range of industries, including contract manufacturing, financial and wealth management, and the medical field. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Humanities from Northern Arizona University. As a valued member of the Nectar team, Stephanie plays an integral role in supporting the engineering teams by acquiring materials and parts for the prototype phase of our clients’ projects. She also assists the Director of Accounting by issuing purchase orders and provides project managers with accurate data to effectively manage and track budgets for each stage of the statement of work. Stephanie’s knowledge and skills, combined with her dedication and drive, make her an asset to Nectar and a key player in ensuring the successful completion of our projects.
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Toska Ukaj

Scientific Content Writer

Toska Ukaj is a gifted writer who brings a wealth of expertise and passion to Nectar. With a background in medical science and years of experience producing high-quality scientific and medical publications, Toska’s writing skills are unparalleled. She boasts an excellent educational record, advanced interpersonal skills, and a deep passion for healthcare. As Nectar’s writer, Toska consistently produces clear, concise pieces that can be easily understood by the public and truly captures the essence of Nectar’s mission. With her exceptional writing abilities and commitment to healthcare, Toska is an invaluable asset to the Nectar team.
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Sean Wells

Mechanical R&D Technician

Sean plays a critical role at Nectar. He has a wide range of skills that help keep the company and equipment running. His background in machine and building maintenance means he has skilled hands ready for anything. Sean runs our lab equipment including 3D printers and a laser cutter. He also helps with complex project builds, assemblies, and testing.
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Jonathan Cantera

Quality Manager

Jonathan at his core is a Human Factors Engineer with his M.S. in Human Factors and Minor in Sociology from California State University of Long Beach. At Nectar, Jonathan is responsible for managing and maintaining the company’s ISO 13485 Quality Management System keeping in compliance with US and international regulations for product development. Jonathan’s role ensures each department is in compliance every step of the design process, making him a critical Nectar team member. Jonathan’s Human Factors background also allows him to aid in user research, feedback sessions, usability evaluations, and formative studies such as risks assessments. When he’s not in the office, Jonathan enjoys film photography, and reading.
Vessa Hyseni Purchasing Manager

Vesa Hyseni

Purchasing Manager

Vesa is a skilled Purchasing Manager with a strong focus on procurement strategies and vendor management. With a track record of successfully leading procurement teams, Vesa excels in optimizing procurement processes, consistently striking a balance between quality assurance and cost-effectiveness. Her ability to identify cost-saving opportunities and manage supplier relationships effectively makes her an indispensable asset to Nectar.
Uran Cabra Engineer

Uran Çabra

Software Engineer

Uran Çabra, with a background in Mechatronic Systems Engineering, has been working on Embedded Systems, specifically on IoT product development. His responsibilities include firmware development and electronics design and testing. He holds a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering with a focus on Autonomous Mobile Robotics.
Sarah Clark UX UI Designer

Sarah Clark

Industrial Designer

Sarah has a background in fine art & graphic design with a B.S in Industrial Design from California State University Long Beach. As a user experience designer her specialties include: keen aesthetics, creative problem solving, a detail oriented approach to research, and improving user journeys within complex experiences.