International product design company IDC has partnered with leading Pilates device manufacturer FÉ LD to create a new Pilates bed that promises to be the most convenient and safest foldable device on the market.

Following the success of FÔLD's first Pilates bed for the home fitness market, the company hopes to develop a new generation of equipment to make it easier to use and store at home. They also want to enhance the design aesthetics of their products by providing more diverse color schemes, surface treatments and the highest engineering quality.

IDC UK was selected as the ideal partner for its award-winning design and its China branch's ability to support product production.

FÉ LD has a large Pilates user community, and based on user feedback, the company has insight into where the product can be improved.

One of the key points is the folding structure based on the Pilates bed storage. The user finds that the existing roller is very easy to slide when the user performs folding and storage. At the same time, the equipment weighing 75kg is inconvenient for some users. fld hopes that users with little strength can easily operate it.

The UK IDC team took an in-depth look at how users interact with the device and created a new solution that provides greater stability. In response to the problem that the rollers often offset the position of the instrument, the team designed a progressive unfolding system that uses a "master-slave" logic on both sides of the folding device. This means that the heavier side can easily slide open/closed, while the other side firmly grasps the ground with round feet to provide stability. This design also provides rock-solid stability when the instrument is in an upright position, ensuring safety. In addition, the rollers have been redesigned for smoother handling and scratch-resistant floor features.

The team solved the weight challenge by developing a new spring-assisted structure that makes the folding process light and labor-saving. This structure has been patented and is known as the Easi-Fold system on FchLD's new device. The structure was tested by the British IDC through a prototype, and after many iterations, the right balance between smooth movement and stability was achieved. Taking into account the product's pursuit of quality, the team also ensured that the solution runs quietly and silently. The upgraded spring retainer can avoid sharp noise caused by spring displacement.

IDC's China team played a key role in converting the design to production. The IDC China team visited the company's existing manufacturers in China on several occasions or with Fchld to ensure that new products were developed to the correct specifications. These visits build understanding and trust, consolidate a good relationship with the manufacturer, overcome the problems caused by the language barrier, and save a lot of time throughout the process.

Matt Harras, co-founder of FÉ LD, commented: "Partnering with IDC UK is a game-changing decision. They took the time to understand our vision for the most user-friendly collapsible Pilates bed on the market and turned it into reality with clever, pragmatic solutions. Their support from the early design stage to the on-site presence in China is very valuable for us to create a Pilates device that is beautiful in appearance, labor-saving in operation, and more convenient for users to use."