Solid Edge Enables LAPD to Create Breathtaking Lighting Design Solutions

LAPD (Lighting and Product Design) Consultants Ltd set out, in June 2000, to generate success in two market sectors, which sit adjacent to each other and often interlock:

1) Create breathtaking lighting design solutions for architects and end users, considering each client’s individual needs, whether it is using light to enhance, subdue, guide, or maximise space or objects.

2) Create innovative product design solutions for lighting manufacturers, designing fittings that fill gaps in the market that LAPD identify through its lighting design consultancy. This approach has been welcomed by the large retailers and lighting manufacturers. "By having a very wide range of expertise within the company we can meet these exacting demands within the time restraints and also cope with last minute changes in the design," stated Simon Fisher, director. He continued: "We will continue to closely follow and contribute to research and development within the lighting sector, thus always trying to offer new and creative designs."

LG7 is now a well established standard that was devised to address contemporary office lighting by factoring in advances in working practices, computer screen and material technology. As a reaction to this standard, a new breed of luminaries that claim to be LG7 compliant has been created. A common misconception, and one that lighting manufacturers will either love or hate the mention of, is that there can actually be an LG7 luminary – there is no such thing! Luminaries must be selected with consideration to the specific space in question. Lighting manufacturers cannot cater for this variable. It is the job of the lighting designer, in association with the architect or interior designer, to consider the architecture, surface finishes and occupants of the building and design a compliant scheme to suit. So when Trilux approached LAPD to design a range of luminaries that complied with the LG7 standard, it had a dilemma as to how to undertake the project.

The Development of the Product

Market research was, of course, essential to discover what customers wanted and to find out further information concerning the marketplace. For example, questionnaires were used to obtain feedback from potential clients and LAPD spoke directly to customers, specifiers, architects and Mechanical & Electrical (M&E) consultants in order to find a direction in which to develop the product. What was interesting was that the differences in each discipline’s requirements were precisely what you would predict. For M&E consultants performance was the key driver, for architects it was visual aesthetic, for the contractor it was ease of installation and for the end user it was visual comfort.

LAPD found that competitor products tended to offer a rectilinear solution and the result was a narrow product offer. Armed with its research, the company developed an approach to this product’s design. This was to be as free thinking with the design of the fitting as the eventual client would be with the interior. "Unrestrained by straight lines and inspired by natural shapes and forms we aimed to create a fresh product, commented Simon Fisher, director. The range would contain product variants and include louvers, providing a link back to traditional methods of lighting offices. LAPD generated a number of concept designs in 2 dimensions for evaluation with Trilux Germany and Trilux UK. A product design was selected and detailed design on the Liventy range commenced.

2D quickly became 3D views, using Solid Edge. Particularly at this stage Solid Edge is a very powerful tool to understand the proposed form and make minor adjustments to refine the design. Once the design aesthetic was settled upon, the form was rendered and manipulated in virtual space for client approval. Aesthetic, is however one thing - delivering the performance to match, is another. LAPD felt that there were a number of

key performance criteria, outside the guidelines set out in LG7, to which the product should also comply. These included maximizing light output ratio (LAPD achieved up to 84%). This increases the likelihood of compliance to UK Building Regulations and current Enhanced Capital Allowance schemes. Ease of installation and maintenance throughout the product’s lifecycle were also carefully considered. LAPD called upon its extensive materials library and its association with the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining to help in the specification of the high transmittance material that forms the diffuser panels. The result is a product with very good diffusion properties – with excellent flashing and glare control.

The product brief was driven by the requirements of the UK market, but the Liventy was adopted, post concept, for the European market. Working with Trilux’s engineering team in Germany LAPD ensured the transition to production was smooth and that the design maintained the original values of the UK brief.

LAPD had to understand the mindset and manufacturing techniques of Trilux. To facilitate this it had a series of visits to the Arnsberg production facility to meet Trilux’s engineering and manufacturing teams. This gave the company a clear understanding of the impressive manufacturing facilities, which include vacuum forming, injection moulding and sheet metal manipulation all under one roof.

The versatility of Solid Edge, with its ability to converse with 3

"Solid Edge, coupled with our cornerstone design techniques: Design for Manufacture and Design for Assembly ensure that we question every design decision we make," stated Simon Fisher, director. He continued: "This helps us to develop products with as few components as possible and makes assembly quick. Furthermore, efficient and virtual tolerance checking means the product is right first time."

LAPD was therefore able to maximise Trilux’s in-house production facility to create a product that is economic to build and distribute.

The Result

The lighting industry is becoming increasingly conscious of energy efficiency, sustainability and the environment. LAPD has designed Liventy to take into account the complete product lifecycle - from manufacture to disposal. The design is simple and maintenance of the product is easy. Materials have been selected to ensure all parts can be recycled and at the end of its life, components can be easily separated.

The result is a product range of modular 600mm square luminaries that are innovative and efficient in their manufacture.

The range includes several organic shaped diffuser types whose soft lines add an "ebb and flow" to the office space. Available with or without louvers, each diffuser fits into a common body chassis. The variety within the Liventy range challenges client preconceptions, with totally diffused product offers and also products that pay homage to historic lighting practices with integrated louver solutions.

"LAPD is proud to have collaborated with Trilux and we are delighted with the results," concluded Simon Fisher, director. He continued: "Thanks to Solid Edge the digital design, engineering and fine tuning of Liventy was swift, accurate and easily conveyed".

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