Episode 92 -- Cameron van den Dungen from Sleeptite

Welcome to this special episode of @AuManufacturing Conversations with Brent Balinski, one which we're running as part of our quest to identify Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers.

The 50 Most Innovative is an annual campaign by @AuManufacturing. This time around it has been made possible through the generous support of MYOB, CSIRO, the NSW government’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility, and the Commonwealth Bank.

In this episode we hear from Cameron van den Dungen, CEO of Sleeptite, who tells us about the company's novel sensors for beds developed with RMIT University engineers, the challenges in developing new technology for use in the aged care sector, why manufacturability came first, and much more. 

Episode guide

1:02 - Making printable, flexible stretchable electronics to sense and determine what’s happening in a bedroom environment.

1:54 – The influence of family in what Sleeptite does. Father is a foundation member of Forty Winks. Grandmother and grandfather ran private aged care homes.

4:22 – “Every system I found of data extraction was either under-bed or unreliable.”

5:55 - A meeting with then-Associate Professor at RMIT, Madhu Bhaskaran, brokered by Rob Fildes from The Australian Academy of Science . 

6:40 – ‘REMI’ taken from TRL 2 to reach a working prototype in 2021 via a CRC-P. Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre support to a commercial-ready product, which is where they are now. 

8:01 – Underestimating the time it would take. Laughs at an early interview with Tony Peacock for the CRC Association podcast and “naivete” starting out.

11:08 – What REMI does and being led by needs in the aged care sector.

12:50 – There was no technology to address under-staffed aged care workplaces.

13:10 – Providing information on presence, posture and position. 

14:30 – Other data could be tracked (e.g. respiration) but isn’t a focus for the time being.

16:10 – Some of the bigger hurdles.

17:50 – The importance of manufacturability.

19:10 – If you don’t know how to make your own product and go global, then you will lose control of your IP.

20:50 – Applications beyond aged care. 

24:20 – Why a planned sleep disorder diagnosis and monitoring trial was put on pause.

26:55 – Upcoming work with Flinders University, University of Birmingham, and Monash University’s Turner Institute.

28:40 – Why they're bootstrapped.

29:58 – Investor support in Australia. “...Due to our size of industry it’s very formulaic and there’s probably a lack of understanding or sophistication of many investors of what deep tech is. That patience and that long term of pre-revenue, pre-commercial support is very difficult in Australia. It’s not impossible.”

30:50 – The importance of non-equity-diluting funding. Van den Dungen's appreciation of Ed Husic’s interest in what the company does.

34:12 – A recent demonstration of Remi Care at the ACCPA. Nearly two years of trials in facilities owned by one of the biggest aged care providers in Australia.

35:58 – The challenges to providers in adopting new technology and how governments can help.

37:15 – Preparing for the first production run. 

38:22 – What success would look like, and the best kind of award possible.

38:55 – Praise for the team.

39:38 – Personal definition of innovation. 

40:50 – “I think there is a lack of understanding around what manufacturing should be in Australia, fundamentally, at all levels.”

42:20 – Taking inspiration from HSV and the Walkinshaw family.