Let there be light. That can be easier said than done for product designers and engineers as devices become more compact and portable than ever.
A few months ago, we invited Mark Darby on our Better Product Solutions Podcast. Mark is the Vice President of Sales for Lumitex. We had an illuminating discussion on flexible light technology, which is a great solution for medical, medical devices, transportation, and many other industries.
Light can be a powerful feature for a product, whether it serves as the primary function or aids in the user experience. However, traditional lighting sources can be difficult or expensive to fit into tight spaces, especially when accommodating a power source. That’s why flexible light technology is a game-changer offering numerous potential benefits:
Flexible lighting is well-suited for a range of applications, although the possibilities are virtually endless:
Tapecon and Lumitex partnered on a backlit membrane switch for an IV infusion pump. The design challenge was that a thin (5mm) lighting solution was needed to backlight a large membrane switch overlay with a cut-out for an LCD screen. Due to the unique display design, the customer (a leading medical device and laboratory equipment manufacturer) found traditional lighting sources to be expensive, noisy, and not suited for their application. Using fiber optic lighting technology, Lumitex created a solution that was cost-efficient, provided uniform lighting to specific areas, and conformed to the specifications. Tapecon then provided printing and custom material converting for the membrane switch to create a user-friendly interface.
When solving complex design challenges such as embedded product lighting, collaboration is critical. At Tapecon, we recommend getting your lighting and manufacturing partners involved as early in the design process as possible. This helps us understand your specifications and make engineering and materials recommendations that can help you improve product quality, reduce costs, and accelerate development. If you’re interested in flexible lighting technology for your device, contact us for an on-site demonstration or to request samples.
With over 100 years of manufacturing experience, Tapecon works with product teams to solve challenges, create products, and enhance lives. Learn more about our custom material converting services.