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Technomad Makes Loudspeakers with Heat from the Sun

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Vernal and Vienna

Technomad says they've redefined sustainable AV with a new partnership that brings solar technology to its already-green plastic loudspeaker manufacturing process.

Technomad recently teamed up with LightManufacturing LLC, which developed a unique patent-pending method of molding plastic with solar heat. The company’s unique Solar Rotational Molding (SRM) systems eliminate greenhouse gasses associated with traditional rotational molding while reducing manufacturing costs -- an unusual combination in a world that equates 'green' with unaffordable.

The move slices production costs up to 30% while reducing the company’s carbon footprint -- and claims to introduce a revolutionary process to the professional AV space.

LightManufacturing now molds most of Technomad’s Vienna and Vernal loudspeakers at its California facility, with larger models to follow last this year, says Technomad.

LightManufacturing’s SRM process uses computer-controlled mirrors to concentrate heat from the sun onto a mold 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 molding, with typical savings of 10-30%. The nearly silent SRM systems use no natural gas or external AC power and the hardware costs less than traditional rotational molding systems.

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