Chelsom Launches Decorative Touchless Switching
17th March 2022Chelsom regularly pushes the boundaries when it comes to product design as they seek to continuously inspire and influence some of the finest interior designers, lighting designers and architects across the globe. Ongoing product innovation and a willingness to redefine their standard lighting collection every two years has earnt Chelsom a hugely strong reputation throughout the company’s 75year history. A jewel in the crown of their recent collection, Edition 27, was LED EYE, a totally original and state-of-the-art headboard reading light which earned Chelsom a Red Dot Award for product design in 2021. Alongside their standard collection, Chelsom’s capabilities in custom product design continue to evolve with more focus than ever on technology, sustainability and UK manufacturing than ever before.
Chelsom’s latest offering is a Decorative Touchless Switching (DTS) system which they are offering as a customised accessory to be built into any of their standard or bespoke lighting products. Most likely to be used in a table lamp or wall light application the innovative system has been developed in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, as the hospitality and marine sectors have constantly sought to reduce touchpoints in hotel and cruise ship accommodation. As with many things that Chelsom do in product design, the DTS system fuses the latest technology with striking aesthetics so that function and beauty can co-exist.
The DTS technology comprises a decorative Infrared sensor to detect a human hand and trigger the switch. A hand simply needs to pass over the sensor from a distance of 5cm and the switch is activated to turn the light source on and off. The switch can be mounted within a table or desk lamp base, as well as within the backplate of a wall mounted sconce or reading light. The DTS technology can operate across a wide range of voltages, from 100 to 240VAC, and is fully compatible with both conventional and LED light sources, making this a suitable switching solution for all global markets and product designs.
A knurled metal collar encases the sensor and can be plated or powder coated in an array of finishes to include brushed brass, black bronze, antique brass, brushed nickel, satin black and many others. The decorative nature of this switch makes it stand out from anything else in the marketplace and gives both lighting designers and interior designers the opportunity to blend both practical and aesthetic product design needs.
Managing Director, Will Chelsom, commented, “We are fully aware that there is a demand in the market for products that can help to minimise the spread of bacteria and viruses, not least of all Covid-19. Although this switching solution will never totally stop the future spread of such things, it will significantly reduce touch points in places such as hotel guestrooms and cruise ship cabins, where regular light switching can cause multiple touchpoints in a room. We wanted to go further with the touchless technology by making it beautiful as well as practical so that interior designers can get excited about using the system from an aesthetic perspective.”