Behind the Scenes of the New LEO Ultimate

On 1 September, KELLER Pressure will unveil the next generation of its digital pressure gauges.
Behind the new LEO Ultimate lie countless decisions, technical challenges and close collaboration across departmental boundaries. Together with project manager David Schwenter and developers Pascal Schlegel and Francisco Dumont, we look back at the development history of a project that has been a key focus for KELLER Pressure over several years.

When the future of KELLER Pressure’s pressure gauge portfolio was being discussed, it quickly became clear that this was not simply to be ‘just another product’.

«The LEO Ultimate is part of our strategic direction for the future pressure gauge portfolio», explains project manager David Schwenter.

The vision was ambitious. The aim was to combine various functions whilst creating a product that would meet users’ high standards. However, it was a long road to get there, characterised by intensive development work, testing and numerous adjustments.

From vision to project

For project manager David Schwenter, the priority from the outset was to channel the many ideas, requirements and expectations into a clear direction.

«The decisive factor in the early project phase was to develop a technically feasible, shared vision across all departments involved.»

This was no easy task. After all, many departments were working on the same project, and each brought its own perspectives and requirements to the table.

Looking back, David describes precisely this coordination as one of the most demanding tasks:

«The biggest challenge was to align all stakeholders with a shared vision over an extended period in this interdisciplinary project.»

The technical journey to the new LEO Ultimate

Whilst the project management team maintained an overview, the development team worked on the technical foundations of the product.

Pascal Schlegel, who has been with the company for several years, was directly involved in many of these developments. His remit ranged from the electronics and Bluetooth functions, through firmware testing, to regulatory approvals and the transition to series production.

Numerous technical decisions had to be made even in the early stages of the project.

«Selecting the right suppliers, evaluating the electronic components, and choosing the display, Bluetooth module and memory were crucial foundations for the project’s subsequent progress», explains Pascal.

At the same time, the first functional prototypes and feasibility studies were produced. The aim was to assess the technical feasibility of various concepts at an early stage.

The requirements were demanding.

«The biggest challenge was combining high accuracy, full functionality, long battery life and ease of use in a compact device.»

It was precisely this combination that repeatedly proved challenging as the project progressed. Numerous solutions had to be tested, adapted and, in some cases, completely rethought.

«Particularly with regard to the mechanics, menu navigation and individual hardware components, it was only through testing that we discovered which solutions would work in the long term.»

What seems self-evident today is often the result of countless prototypes, trials and joint discussions.