Complex instrument development — from feasibility to production

Lathrop Product Development works directly with your team to bring new technologies to life. From early feasibility hardware to full instrument development and production-ready solutions, our programs manage risk early, control costs and keep projects on track.

Ready at any stage of development

  • Early feasibility hardware development to prove out and de-risk novel ideas
  • Right-sized design strategies for low-volume builds through production-ready systems
  • Prototype to NPI transfer support, including documentation preparation for contract manufacturing
  • Support for CE and UL certification

Multidisciplinary engineering support

We deliver innovative, reliable, and cost-effective designs that support performance, manufacturability, and time-to-market goals.

Mechanical engineering and design

Expertise spanning precision mechanisms, motion systems, thermal management, structural integrity, and production-ready electromechanical assemblies providing the foundation needed for complex systems.

Systems engineering
 

Defining system requirements and coordinating cross-disciplinary development ensures design decisions support performance, integration, and long-term robustness.

Optics engineering

Development of imaging and illumination solutions is tailored to system requirements, maximizing performance and manufacturability while minimizing cost.

Industrial design and human factors

Bringing ideation, creativity, and human-centered design together to shape product form, function, and user experience — we transform concepts into practical, manufacturable solutions.

Electronics engineering and firmware

Robust and reliable electronics and firmware design ensure your instrumentation and technical products perform consistently and dependably.

Program management

Customized strategic plans are developed to meet the unique needs of your project, focusing on alignment, accountability, and efficient execution at every stage.

Decades of product development expertise

With extensive experience in complex instrumentation and regulated systems, our team supports every stage of the product lifecycle — helping scientific and high-performance markets bring new products to life.

Life Science

Research and diagnostic instrumentation

Medical

Regulated medical devices

Military & Industrial

Electromechanical and opto-mechanical systems

Processes for predictable outcomes

Designed to keep programs aligned, reduce risk and maintain momentum, our disciplined Product Development Process (PDP) focuses on: 

  • Robust risk management
  • Early technical feasibility validation
  • Coordinated cross-disciplinary execution
  • Rigorous requirement definition
  • Documentation readiness for manufacturing and certification
Processes that power smarter product development

By addressing risk early and maintaining steady execution, product development teams move forward with greater predictability and fewer late‑stage surprises. This translates to:

  • Shorter project timelines and lower costs
  • Reduced technical and program risks
  • Fewer late-stage design iterations
  • Higher product quality and production readiness

Feasibility hardware builds, structured validation, and documentation prep are built into our process, ensuring a smooth transition into manufacturing and certification.