Research and Development
At Lucid Industries, our commitment to innovation is at the heart of everything we do. Our Research and Development (R&D) department focuses on advancing the quality and performance of our products through cutting-edge research, innovative design, product development, and rigorous testing.
We continuously explore new materials, technologies, and methodologies to enhance our product offerings and meet the evolving needs of the market.
Our talented design team crafts aesthetically pleasing and functional designs that cater to both professional athletes and casual players.
From concept to prototype, our product development process ensures that every detail is meticulously crafted to meet our high standards.
We subject our products to a series of stringent tests to ensure durability, performance, and safety.
Processes for All Types of Balls
Lucid Industries employs a comprehensive manufacturing process for all types of sports balls. This includes detailed material development, product development, production processes, and quality control to ensure the highest quality standards.
Quality Control Process at Lucid Industries
Our robust quality control process ensures adherence to stringent quality standards. This dynamic process evolves over time, allowing for continuous improvement and superior products for our customers. We implement multi-stage checks throughout the production process to guarantee superior end products.
Material Development
Casing Material: Our planning team selects suitable casing materials, such as Polyurethane, TPU, and PVC. Each material undergoes extensive testing to ensure quality, including:
Surface appearance, color shades, touch feelings, GSM, thickness.
Tensile testing to check elongation and ensure the appropriate shape of the ball.
Hydrolysis tests with alkaline solutions to ensure the product’s lifecycle.
Specialized equipment tests for varying temperatures, humidity levels, and UV index.
An abrasion test is a method used to measure the resistance of materials to wear caused by friction. It’s particularly important in industries where materials are subjected to significant wear and tear, such as textiles, coatings, ceramics, metals, and flooring. The test helps in evaluating the durability and longevity of a material under conditions of frictional contact.
Backing Material: Different fabrics and foams are chosen based on performance needs. Tests include:
- Tensile Testing
- Fabric Composition Testing: Checks for cotton, polyester, viscose, and other materials.
- Foams: Thickness, density, softness, GSM.
Bladder: Critical for ball performance, bladders undergo:
- Water Testing: Checking for leakage.
- Physical Checking: Ensuring no damage to the shell or valve.
- Inflation Test: Bladders are inflated and monitored for 24 hours to check for slow leakage.
Product Development
After passing the material development stage, the product development team performs a series of tests on the finished product:
- Knife Cut: Determines the shape and look of the ball.
- Ink Formulation: Sets graphics for the ball; abrasion tests ensure ink durability.
- Shooter Test
- Bounce Test
- Water Absorption Test
- Circumference Test
- Air Retention Test
- UV Test
- Weather Test
- Fungus Test: Ensures the product meets quality standards.
Once the product passes all tests, it is approved for mass production, where the production team ensures all parameters set by the development team are met.
Production Process
Upon receiving an order for mass production, additional processes ensure quality throughout the entire chain of operations.
The Material QC team tests materials to ensure readiness, including checks for thickness, weight (GSM), color shade, backing cloth, and foam density.
Two types of lamination are performed (manual and machine). Material is tested for weight, adhesion strength, and humidity control.
Automatic presses ensure proper panel cutting and minimize human error.
Panels are printed with approved artwork. QC inspectors perform random checks and inspect completed batches.
Panels are sorted according to final product configuration and checked for faults before moving to stitching.
Simple machine stitching and hybrid stitching are performed under strict QC inspection.
In-line QC inspectors ensure proper stitching and panel placement. End-of-line QC checks for even panels, tight stitching, proper placement, and cleanliness. Balls are inflated and monitored for 24 hours for leakage.
Random inspections are performed on ready-to-ship products to ensure quality.
Custom OEM and ODM Facilities
At Lucid Industries, we offer custom manufacturing services tailored to meet the specific needs of our clients. Our OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) and ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) facilities provide end-to-end solutions, from concept development to final production, ensuring products are designed and manufactured to your exact specifications.