TapePro+

NEEDFINDING

Pain points centered around hands and wrists !

Fingertip pressure from repeated pinching cuts; constantly finding the ends (fig. 1); losing the roll; not being easily equipped on ladders; non-ergonomic strain while cutting; and wrist pain from wearing the roll like a “bracelet” just to keep it “handy”.

STORYBOARDING

Pain points centered around hands and wrists !

On the ground, the roll holsters at the waist, oriented for a clean feed. Guarded path and edge control yield crisp, repeatable strips that keep masking moving.

DECOMPOSE

Three tracks: holding & cutting; equippability (clip/holster, magnetic dock); ergonomics (grip, wrist, reach).

MAGNET PROTOTYPES

MAGNET

Now the sticky can stick to anything. - Plato

On the ground, the roll holsters at the waist, oriented for a clean feed. Guarded path and edge control yield crisp, repeatable strips that keep masking moving.

MAGNET

On the ground, the roll holsters at the waist, oriented for a clean feed. Guarded path and edge control yield crisp, repeatable strips that keep masking moving.

Engineering & Prototyping — Iterations

Rapid 3D prints validated grip comfort (with and without gloves), while blade tests compared PLA edge, guarded steel, and composite teeth for cut quality vs. safety.

Materials

Handle: molded polymer with overmolded silicone grip. Blade: stainless retractable in a protective housing. Magnetic retention: neodymium core.

Product Management — Bill of Materials

Molded body, silicone grip insert, retractable blade module, magnet assembly, spindle + locking cap. Target cost: ~$12–$15; retail ~$35–$40.

Manufacturability

Designed for injection molding with snap-fits to reduce fasteners. Blade module ships as a replaceable cartridge to unlock consumable revenue.

Safety

Retractable blade minimizes exposure during transport. An edge-guarded or toothvariant supports school/DIY environments.

Business & Market Thinking

Market: pro painters, contractors, DIY. Differentiator: built for tradespeople, not offices. Positioning: “Tape faster. Work safer. Always ready at hand.”

GTM: licensing (Sherwin-Williams / 3M / Stanley), DTC contractor channels, and Amazon Pro Tools.

Outcomes & Learnings

Achieved a functioning prototype with one-handed flow, fast indexing, and safe cutting. Field sessions indicate reduced restart time and less frustration.

The path to DFM is clear: injection molding with a modular blade assembly.

Next Steps

Finalize the cutting mechanism choice, run durability cycles on site, refine holster/magnet hardware, and assemble a licensing package.

Case Study Deliverables

Hero product render, exploded CAD, ergonomic sketch set, prototype photos, BOM cost snapshot, and a sell-sheet mockup for licensing.