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Louis Poulsen came to Idé-Pro with their OE Quasi project, designed by Olafur Eliasson – a sustainable prestige project that resulted in a showpiece lamp and exhibition for Milan Design Week 2019.
Louis Poulsen was looking for a supplier and manufacturer who could meet the technically complex requirements of their project. In addition, sustainability was an important factor for the designer, who wanted to make the lamp as environmentally friendly as possible. They had already been in contact with other suppliers, but they chose Idé-Pro because of our technical skills and the possibility of choosing a sustainable material.
and reduced the climate impact by over 80% from cradle to grave
The designer had a clear vision of the lamp's appearance. It had to look like something, you can find at the bottom of the sea or something coming from space, which required an organic and raw exterior. Therefore, the items had to be made from recycled aluminum to fulfill the designers' wish for sustainability and create the desired appearance. The material was a perfect fit for the sustainable vision behind the lamp and its look. Materials have a great influence on products' overall climate impact and Louis Poulsen's choice of recycled aluminum rather than primary aluminum reduced the lamp's CO2e emissions by over 80%*.
After the casting process, the items were stained and varnished with a clear lacquer to intensify the organic look that makes each piece unique.
The lamp has a complex geometric shape, which required items of high technicality and accurate tolerances. Therefore, our development department played a major role in the product maturation of the design to realise the project. After the development phase, we milled a casting tool for the prototypes in our tool factory. We conducted a successful test of the prototypes and were then able to cast the items for the final production of the lamp in a new production tool.
''We had a good dialogue in the development phase of the project, which is why we ended up with a product, that was successful at the first try."
Bjarne Hechmann Lagoni, R&D Manager, Louis Poulsen.
When it was known that the OE Quasi project was to be launched at Milan Design Week 2019, things had to be sped up. Just four weeks after we received the order, we were able to deliver prototypes to Louis Poulsen. Despite the technically difficult items, we had manufactured the right result on the first attempt. Therefore, the prototypes were of the same quality as series-produced items and could be used for the launch of the OE Quasi project at the Salone del Mobile design fair for Milan Design Week 2019.
We were able to meet the short time-to-market because we are a one-stop shop with an in-house development department, tool factory, and foundries. This ensures a short turnaround time on all projects.
Sustainability is highly prioritised by many companies and consumers. With more sustainable materials, you will be able to meet your customers' demands. Contact our Key Account Managers today, if you need to discuss your projects.
*Using our CO2e calculator, we can make estimates on products' sustainability and CO2e emissions from cradle to grave.