Design effort inspired by insights from stakeholders beyond the end user
Ingersoll Rand (Club Car)
Sundberg-Ferar assisted Ingersoll Rand’s Club Car division with the design of an entirely new flagship golf car: the Precedent™. The challenge was to re-invigorate golf car sales by enhancing the vehicle’s aesthetic design and functional features.
Sundberg-Ferar conducted robust observational research to fuel the creative process and ultimately developed a golf car design that set the standard for golf car style and comfort — visually distinctive, great to operate, and worthy of Club Car’s premium price point. Patented innovations include the Monsoon™ canopy, which collects rainwater and funnels it down the upright supports and out the underside of the car, helping golfers stay dry.

To inspire value-added innovation, SF conducted weeks of observational research at Municipal, Daily Fee and Private golf courses across the U.S., documenting the behaviors of golf car riders and handlers of different golf car brands and models.
Additional input was gained through an extensive series of focus groups and individual interviews with golfers, golf course owners and greens keepers, club pros and managers, and Club Car dealer/distributors. Iterative learning was essential throughout the program, from early Discovery activities, through vehicle Styling and Feature Concept Refinement efforts, to ¼ Scale Model feedback, and ultimately a Product Clinic to evaluate full scale models and new vehicle features.
Designed as a modular platform with real-time interchangeable components, Dannar 4.0 can be configured with or without an operator cab, body enclosures, and platform decks. It is also interchangeable with work implements including forklift masts, dump beds, scissor lifts, water tanks, portable light units and interfaces with all standard Caterpillar, Bobcat, or John Deere attachments.
Club Car: Precedent™ Golf Car
“Every advancement to the golf car to this point has been evolutionary. Precedent is revolutionary.”
Phil Tralies
President and CEO of Club Car Inc.

Human Impact
The design and engineering innovation embodied in the Precedent reflect the wants and needs of all critical stakeholders, enhancing the comfort of vehicle occupants, reducing the time and efforts of maintenance personnel and protecting the investment of fleet owners.
Business Impact
The Club Car Precedent golf car represented the industry’s first major shift in vehicle design and engineering in more than 20 years and increased the company’s sales by 23% in the following two years. It has gone on to lead the market in terms of sales from 2004-2016, with the company claiming 50% market share for over 13 years.

Other Commercial Products Projects
Sundberg-Ferar : Cobot Ideation
Ideating Cobot Uses in the Food Industry So far, the emerging role of cobots (collaborative robots) in the food industry is only as broad as jobs which are dirty, dull, or dangerous. In this ideation activity Sundberg-Ferar explored ways to maximize the collaborative...
Gilbarco Vedeer-Root: Encore 900 Fuel Dispenser
Boosting B2B with Optimal User ExperienceGilbarco Vedeer-RootGilbarco came to Sundberg-Ferar for design help in developing a next generation bezel system for their Encore product line that would incorporate new technologies while maintaining a seamless integration...
Stryker: InTouch™ Critical Care Bed
Setting a New Standard for the Medical IndustryStrykerStryker asked Sundberg-Ferar to help them set a new standard for the high acuity hospital bed market while achieving the following major challenges. Tastefully integrate new state of the art technology upgrades...