Tired of shoveling snow? Worried Aunt Betty will slip and fall down the stairs?

Yet again Old Man Winter is here. Imagine a world with no shoveling, salting or snow blowing – just driveways, stairs and walkways clear of snow and ice.  It would be like Christmas every day of the winter!

The Heatstone™ Snow and Ice Melting System is for all those driveway gladiators and divas who want to put down their shovels and throw away the keys to their snow blowers. Now they can enjoy clearing their driveways, walkways and stairs from the comfort of their cozy living rooms. In addition to the numerous safety, convenience and regulatory compliance benefits. The Heatstone system is compliant with all regulations, making it safe, convenient and stress free. A recent Ottawa Citizen newspaper article confirms the link between shoveling snow and heart attacks.

The Heatstone system includes concrete patio stones and electric heat cabling, which are easy to install and maintain. A highly efficient and affordable option for home owners and businesses, a simple flip of a switch ensures the:

• safety, comfort and convenience of winter by easily and efficiently melting snow and ice from driveways, stairs and walkways
• enjoyment of your backyard with the added warmth of heated patios and areas around pools and hot tubs.

Design 1st also likes this new way to shovel snow. With its own team of gladiators and divas Design 1st is at the center of the snowstorm product development effort that brought the Heatstone product to life.

Seeing an opportunity to increase winter safety, comfort and convenience Toronto-based inventor and founder of Heatstone Concepts Inc., Nunzio Consiglio, engaged with Design 1st.  From the initial meeting a year ago to introducing the product to the marketplace today, Nunzio worked closely with the engineering and design team throughout the product development process.

Challenging design requirements included outdoor electrical safety, low power consumption, energy efficiency as well as easy installation and maintenance. Installation by one person using a simple snap in place design was required and the stones needed to connect into standard outdoor electrical plugs.  Combining both low power consumption and energy efficiency the stones will only heat the snow and ice but not the ground below. In addition to dissolving Old Man Winter’s efforts, the design of the stones had to protect against any damage that Mother Nature (and gardening tools) unleashed – ensuring the concrete protected the electric cabling inside.  Above all, the design efforts needed to meet North America regulatory compliance requirements.

The prototyping process involved creating innovative cabling and connections as well as functioning concrete stone patio blocks.  The blocks were tested and modified until they delivered on the promise to melt the snow as it falls or even after it accumulates. After some minor tweaks the Design 1st New Product Introduction (NPI) team documented every part, assembly and material - right down to the last nut and bolt - in preparation for contract manufacturing.

Design 1st is proud of its collaboration with Heatstone Concepts and suggests that you put down your shovel and visit www.heatstoneconcepts.com to better clear your driveway and enjoy your backyard more in 2012.

Contact the Design 1st engineering team to get your products to market successfully, email us at d1mail@design1st.com or call Elf Ian at 1.877.235.1004 x228 to make your Christmas product development wishes come true, after he checks that you are not on the naughty list.

Don’t forget to ask Santa for a Heatstone System. Wishing you and yours a joyous Christmas from the Design 1st team