Tuscan Village, Salem, NH
Background
AutoStore is a leader in robotic storage solutions that’s transforming warehouse automation with modular storage. In fact, AutoStore was named to Fast Company’s Annual List of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2024.
The company’s Salem, New Hampshire offices are located in the new, mixed-use Tuscan Village, the only development of its kind in New England.
Challenge
As a cutting-edge company, AutoStore wanted an energy-efficient light fixture that mirrored the high-tech environment of their office space. Their vision was very specific – and they wanted the project completed on an accelerated schedule.
The fixtures originally specified for this project were from a competitor that was unable to meet the delivery time required.
Traditional, tailor-made lighting requires machining and can entail lengthy production times as well as significant expense. Knowing this project would require flexibility and rapid prototyping and production, Reflex Lighting Group led the project to Cooper Lighting Solutions and PrentaLux, our brand of on-demand, 3D-printed lighting fixtures.
Solution
As it turns out, one of the standard fixtures offered by PrentaLux had “the bones” of what AutoStore was looking for, but it didn’t quite fit their unique space and operational requirements.
That was no problem for PrentaLux. The personalization PrentaLux 3D printing is known for allowed the standard fixture design to be “squished,” that is, made shorter in height and larger in width.
There was no machining or tooling involved – everything was done by computer with specialized software. The first prototype was designed and approved within a couple days. Another prototype was sent for approval just a few days later.
PrentaLux personalization extends to a large selection of color and material choices enabling seamless integration into AutoStore’s distinctive environment.
Results
PERSONALIZATION The PrentaLux 3D printing process allows designers to personalize standard PrentaLux fixture shapes, colors, and materials. Standard PrentaLux fixtures can be further personalized by refining their shapes to meet various designs and applications.
SPEED Design ideas are quickly created using software and a single fixture can be 3D printed in a couple of hours. The rapid innovation cycle meant the PrentaLux team was able to transform AutoStore’s concept into a reality within a remarkable 10 days.
PERFORMANCE While tailoring the shape of the fixture to meet AutoStore’s requirements, the PrentaLux team was able to preserve the integrity of the light engine. The fixtures met rigorous lighting requirements, including 3500K at 90 CRI, that are crucial to AutoStore’s operation.
RESPONSIVENESS If AutoStore needs a change or one of their PrentaLux fixtures gets damaged, we store all the information as digital files and can use them to refine a design and 3D print a replacement on-demand. There’s no physical tooling that has to be stored and that could wear out or become obsolete.
SUSTAINABILITY PrentaLux 3D-printed fixtures are made with at least 65% mass-balanced, bio-circular materials and all PrentaLux products are Declare-certified.
SUCCESS 219 personalized, 3D-printed fixtures were shipped to AutoStore’s New Hampshire offices. The project’s success led to an expanded collaboration when Tuscan Village commissioned 143 additional fixtures for their headquarters.
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