{"id":16256,"date":"2025-03-04T16:08:53","date_gmt":"2025-03-04T15:08:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/initial.mentalworks.me\/?post_type=realisation&p=16256"},"modified":"2025-03-20T09:58:29","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T08:58:29","slug":"product-development-cical","status":"publish","type":"realisation","link":"https:\/\/initial.mentalworks.me\/en\/achievements\/product-development-cical\/","title":{"rendered":"Product development : an anti-wolf collar to protect livestock farms"},"content":{"rendered":"
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New technology for French breeders<\/h2>\n

At a time when cohabitation between livestock and wildlife is becoming a crucial issue, Initial has supported the product development of an anti-wolf collar. Designed by CICAL<\/a>, the collar protects farm animals using a deterrent technology based on ultrasonic and light signals.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

CICAL specializes in the development of innovative solutions for the protection of livestock and the cohabitation of wildlife and agricultural activities. It offers robust, high-performance equipment designed to meet the challenges faced by livestock farmers. Committed to an approach combining technology, sustainability and animal welfare<\/strong>, the company implements effective solutions to secure herds against predators, while respecting the surrounding ecosystem.<\/p>\n

The anti-wolf collar is based on an ingenious technology: it detects the jolts associated with an attack and instantly triggers ultrasound and flashes of light to repel predators.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Initial played a key role in the product’s design and industrialization.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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The aim is to enable farmers to produce and raise their animals, not to spend time protecting their herds. That’s not their job, it’s CAL’s.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Cyril Gautreau<\/div>\n
Founder of CICAL<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n
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Prototyping: a multi-phase approach<\/h2>\n

The engineering department designed the collar to withstand outdoor conditions, with the design of gaskets guaranteeing optimum sealing, and the design of the electronic integration for optimal collar efficiency.<\/p>\n

The prototyping phase was divided into two major stages:<\/p>\n

1. Ergonomic powder sintering prototype<\/strong><\/p>\n

Powder sintering<\/a> technology was selected to produce an initial prototype. This method was used to test and adjust the ergonomics of the collar, ensuring optimum comfort for the animals.<\/p>\n

2. Functional vacuum casting prototype<\/strong><\/p>\n

Once the ergonomics had been validated, the vacuum casting<\/a> workshop produced a functional prototype using materials close to those used in production. This prototype was tested in real-life conditions to validate the collar’s resistance and effectiveness in the face of field constraints.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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Industrialization and series production<\/h2>\n

After the test and validation phases, the collar entered the industrialization phase. Thanks to Initial’s design office, the final design was optimized for plastic injection molding<\/strong><\/a>. The tooling was also designed by our engineers. This in-house expertise guarantees part quality, precise control of production parameters and efficient mass production.<\/p>\n

During the industrialization phase, the PA6<\/strong> material was selected for series production, thanks to its properties perfectly suited to the collar’s use:<\/p>\n