makes them recognisable as such – and thus as the fulfilment of a promise of quality to everyone who uses our handles.
Dan Savage has worked as a Product Engineer for ARRONE for over seven years. His product design credentials span 25 years, having designed cordless vacuum cleaners, homeware, and washrooms.
How did you get into your career?
I have always been interested in how things work and intrigued by being able to make things work from scratch. I hold a degree in Industrial Design from Teesside University, Middlesbrough. It’s a hugely well-regarded course with many students going on to product design roles.
What is your role for ARRONE, a brand of HOPPE Group?
As well as product design and innovation, I also identify solutions to problems. This includes a mix of new products and innovations to existing products.
I work on big projects that incorporate innovation not only in design but also in user experience, packaging, and factory assembly. The ARRONE brand is strong and technically complex, and my work allows us to remain at the forefront of our competitors.
Mechanical auditing is also an important part of my role. I liaise with test houses to make sure CE and Certifire certification evidence is up to date and look after FPCs (production processes).
What have been your big projects over the last twelve months?
My focus has been on developing our new ARRONE AR227 Split Spindle for the AR915 Apartment Lock.
We needed a new split spindle to help overcome a problem of overtightening during installation. Split spindles have two halves that allow independent movement on each side of the lock. The door needs to lock securely from the outside, but also offer a quick egress on the inside, in case of a fire alarm, fire, or a need to escape.
My job has been about eliminating the potential for assembly error. I have designed a solution to prevent overtightening with the clip-fix mechanism. It’s going to make the fitting a lot faster, so it’s an exciting addition for us.
How would you summarise the favourite parts of your role?
It’s all about making the user experience better and breathing new life into existing designs. The interplay of functionality and form across both residential and commercial is important to me.
The main job satisfaction comes when I arrive at a solution to a problem and have managed to really answer an issue end users have. I get great satisfaction from keeping customers happy.
Looking ahead, what major changes do you see for the next five years?
Now our metal prototype production takes two weeks, but in the next five years, I can see much more in the way of affordable 3D printing with metal to speed up the feasibility and testing process.
Aside from that, with the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report: Government Response published in February, alongside a new Construction Products Reform Green Paper 2025, the focus is really growing around product testing and improving fire safety.
For further information on the AR227 split spindle visit: https://www.hoppe.com/gb-en/arrone-launches-innovative-split-spindle/
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