Herman Miller eyes electical revolution

Convia Inc., a new Herman Miller company, strives to revolutionize how power is delivered in the workplace with the debut of its signature product, the Covia Programmable Infrastructure.

Convia Programmable Infrastructure is a modular and programmable electrical infrastructure that delivers "plug-and-play" power virtually anywhere within a commercial space, making hardwiring of devices or switches obsolete.

“In today's fast-paced marketplace, companies are constantly up- or downsizing,” said Convia President Randy Storch. "Renovating space can be a headache for all parties involved, from tenants and building owners to operators and contractors. With Convia, electrical reconfigurations that could take days or even weeks to complete with traditional hardwiring can be performed within minutes at no cost.

“Convia offers the next generation in electrical to accommodate the advances we've made in the past six decades," Storch added. "The beauty of Convia is that this 'next-generation' functionality is delivered at a fraction of the cost of today's alternatives.”

Using infrared technology passed through a remote control "wand," Convia offers programmable electricity and allows anyone to install, upgrade, or relocate any electrical device (lighting fixtures, security cameras, electronic displays, thermostats, speakers, etc.), switch or sensor in moments.

Using the wand, which was developed by Grimshaw Industrial Design, any off-the-shelf electrical or electronic devices that are plugged into the system’s connectors can be "programmed" and grouped with each other via a communication and control network, regardless of what electrical circuit they are connected to.

With Convia, the need for expensive and time-consuming electrical modifications, construction and labor is dramatically reduced, according to a company press release.

What's more, Convia is environmentally friendly, enabling customers to boost energy efficiency. The product also uses completely reusable components, eliminates the need to landfill traditional electric infrastructure as buildings are in the future.

Source: Herman Miller, http://www.hmconvia.com/

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