PP Smith

This suspension system was designed to better stabilise salmon measurement apparatus in Scandinavian aquaculture farms. It is a portable system, allowing both the suspension system and apparatus to be transported between fish cages. The design was formed around the user requirements of the farm workers, who must maintain and transport the system regularly. The locking clip allows the unit to be attached and removed easily from the cage boundary, utilising a durable flat, nylon strap to tether it securely and reduce the chance of rope chafing. The lock cavity doubles as a handle allowing the suspension unit to be carried easily, even when wearing large gloves.

The design brief encompassed three main design considerations which were uncovered during primary research. These encompassed the heavy safety clothing worn by workers who would transport the product and their need to maintain the product at regular intervals. Additionally, a full product-package was designed to enable a 'plug and play' style of set up. This was important to encourage smaller aquaculture farms with less infrastructure to adopt the suspension unit.

Some examples of sketch work and a digital render created during development.

Materials were selected to minimise weight without sacrificing high tensile strength and Young's modulus. It was also essential to specify material grades that would be suitable for the rugged marine environment in which the product would be placed.