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 Wind-Resistant Propane Heater and FLEX Cooker

CHALLENGE: Develop a heater that would answer consumer requests and secure future market position. 

SERVICES: Insights, Design, Engineering, Prototyping, Sourcing, Manufacturing

Buddy Flex offers fresh, innovative design solutions

 

Enerco, a Cleveland based company in the gas equipment and supply industry, manufactures and markets the Mr. Heater range of portable gas space heaters. They enjoy a market leadership position in this category with retail distribution across the US and Canada.

With an understanding that complacency is detrimental to an organization, Enerco and Nottingham Spirk identified a strategy to bring to market a new proprietary and innovative portable heater which would stand apart at retail and offered them a protected market position for years to come. We were able to provide a fresh set of expert eyes to review their design and identify ways to reduce costs on design elements that were complimentary with the new design.

Early on our team identified a direction that would grow their consumer reach and offer innovative and fresh design approaches solving consumers pain points, acquiring new IP, and further strengthening Enerco’s relationships with all major retailers. While maintaining the functionality, accessibility, value, and quality attributes their consumers had come to expect over the years, the Buddy FLEX® heater was born.

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THE NEED FOR WIND RESISTANCE

The challenge: Improve safety by creating a wind-resistant solution, without compromising the directional ability and strength of the heater. See a glimpse of the collaborative and raw Nottingham Spirk design process as we work from the early product sketches to design files.

Developing a Better, Safer Heater 

The Buddy FLEX® heater features a high performance, omni-directional mesh burner that provides high intensity radiant heat in a full 180° spread so everyone can enjoy the warmth. With integrated gas-powered accessory controls and a quick connect accessory rail system, users are safe and ready to go in any weather conditions.

The wind-resistant design heats up to 275 square feet – about the area of a parking space – indoors or out. This updated heater includes a quick connect gas and accessory system with rails and a cooker that attaches to the bottom rails for easy storage and transport. Not only is it powerful and useful, it’s efficient. The Buddy FLEX® heater can run up to three and a half hours on low and two hours on high, using only one propane cylinder.

Buddy Flex outdoor heater is wind resistant and includes safety features

The next gen Buddy FLEX Heater

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Learn how Nottingham Spirk can help you design and commercialize your next product innovation.