Technomad has long been associated with sustainable manufacturing, producing durable, weatherproof MilSpec loudspeakers using recycled plastic. As a result, Technomad loudspeakers are often specified into AV projects with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) requirements.
Technomad recently teamed up with LightManufacturing LLC, which developed a patent-pending method of moulding plastic with solar heat. The company's Solar Rotational Molding (SRM) systems eliminate greenhouse gasses associated with traditional rotational moulding while reducing manufacturing costs - an unusual combination in a world that equates 'green' with unaffordable.
LightManufacturing now moulds most of Technomad's popular Vienna and Vernal loudspeakers at its California facility, with larger models to follow.
"Technomad is the first company in the professional audio industry to take advantage of solar thermal energy," said Rodger von Kries, vice president of Technomad. "We've always worked on the cutting edge of green manufacturing, being the first company to use 100 percent recycled plastic to make loudspeaker cabinets. The LightManufacturing partnership brings new advantages by reducing our costs while benefitting the environment."
LightManufacturing's SRM process uses computer-controlled mirrors to concentrate heat from the sun onto a mould and melt the plastic inside. The sun's thermal energy is used directly, avoiding the costs of making electricity with photovoltaic panels. The process delivers higher quality parts at a lower cost than traditional rotational moulding, with typical savings of 10 to 30 percent. The nearly silent SRM systems use no natural gas or external AC power, and the hardware costs less than traditional rotational moulding systems.
"This partnership shows that the solar moulding process can deliver high-quality, reduced-cost parts for manufacturers right out of the gate," said Mark Severy, a consultant at LightManufacturing. "Technomad came to us with a 15 year history of making world-class products. We met their requirements for outstanding quality, lower cost - and zero carbon emissions."
(Jim Evans)
