Manhattan, KS— Engineering assistance provided by the Technology Development Institute, or TDI, in the Kansas State University Carl R. Ice College of Engineering has helped a Lawrence-based manufacturer of chiropractic tables improve quality and reduce costs.
Leander LLC manufactures a line of chiropractic tables that are sold around the world and are designed with both patient and practitioner comfort in mind. The company, which started in the Pacific Northwest in the 1980s, eventually moved to Lawrence, where it has recently transitioned into a new production facility.
Leander requested assistance from TDI through the Economic Development Administration’s grant-funded Innovation Stimulus Program to develop new 3D computer-aided design models of the existing products and to evaluate combining some individual parts into larger one-piece assemblies to reduce part count and increase production efficiency.
One unique aspect of the company’s products is that all parts used to fabricate the tables are sourced locally and are supplied by vendors in Kansas or Missouri.
“We are always excited to work with local manufacturers, especially those who purchase many of their parts from other local fabricators,” said Bret Lanz, commercialization director at TDI. “When we looked to redesign some of the assemblies, we kept in mind other local suppliers’ capabilities and designed the parts in such a way that several individual parts could be incorporated into a single laser-cut part provided by one of their existing suppliers.”
“The team at TDI helped us to resolve a number of challenges that we have faced with our production systems and we look forward to a continued relationship with them as we strive to improve the quality and reduce the costs of our tables,” said Greg Summers, owner of Leander. “With all of the trouble we’ve faced throughout the pandemic, having these drawings to get the parts manufactured accurately and efficiently, in addition to being able to use the pictures for standard operating procedures, service training materials and even operation manuals — it’s been incredible.”
The K-State Technology Development Institute, a U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration University Center, provides a broad range of engineering and business development services to both private industry and university researchers to advance the commercial readiness of new products or technologies. Additional information is available at k-state.edu/tdi.
