2014-2015
Viloc markets a solution to manage tools on construction sites. Smart tags are attached to tools, like pneumatic drills and concrete grinders, so that a construction company always knows which tool is on which site. We were asked to design the smart tags and the base unit housing.
We designed and developed the smart tags. It was essential that these tags could protect electronic components from the day-to-day abuse that construction tools suffer. They also needed to be vandalism-proof.
ECO-DESIGN
Next to that, we designed the base station housing, which had to meet the same tough requirements. In traditional industrial design such housing would be a combination of metal, joints and mounting elements in plastic, or a combination of different injection-molded plastic parts. Chances are there was heavy-duty glue involved in the mounting as well.
For Viloc, we changed the classic material choice to a different, sustainable and highly functional option. We designed an enclosure made of expanded polypropylene, which is tough foam that looks really cool and can handle a shock.
It is chemically inert, lightweight, and even better, it is a recyclable material that comes out of a single mold that doesn’t require any assembly. Recycling for end-of-life is just as easy: slide the top off and lift out the electronic board. That’s it.
Viloc is rolling out its solution on many construction sites. The smart tags and base stations have proven to withstand not only the natural elements, but also the daily wear-and-tear of the construction business.
DESIGN AS A DRIVER FOR SUSTAINABILITY
As the world population grows, we are all putting more pressure on our environment and natural resources. It is clear that designers have a major role to play in the creation of sustainable and recyclable cradle-to-grave products, like the one we made for Viloc.
