Livspace becomes a unicorn with a USD $180 million Series F investment led by KKR
Livspace, one of Asia’s largest omnichannel home interior and renovation platforms, and KKR, a global investment firm, today announced a US$180 million Series F fundraising in which KKR will participate as the lead investor. The Series F round also witnessed participation from existing investors such as Ingka Group Investments (part of largest IKEA retailer Ingka Group), Jungle Ventures, Venturi Partners, and Peugeot Investments, among others.
Anuj Srivastava, Co-Founder and CEO of Livspace, said, “We are honored to collaborate with KKR in our next phase of growth and for the trust expressed by our existing shareholders. Their deep understanding of global markets, strong brand name and proven expertise in partnering with new age digital brands will help us scale our business 10x in the coming duration. Our business is growing exponentially in both India and Singapore and we aim to replicate this playbook, launch new solutions and accelerate our launches across new markets with operations across APAC, MENA and Australia.”
To support its ambitious expansion plans, Livspace will launch in new markets, double down on brand building in India and Singapore, continue investing in its pioneering platform technology and digitally integrated supply chain; and hire, develop and nurture talent across the board to support both new and existing businesses. The funds will also be channelled towards strategic investments into innovative companies to help them scale and grow even faster. The Company recently acquired a majority stake in Qanvast, a Singapore-based home remodelling and design platform connecting homeowners and trusted home professionals.
Gaurav Trehan, Partner and CEO of KKR India, said: “We are pleased to invest in Livspace, a unique, tech-enabled business with terrific growth potential. Our investment in Livspace extends KKR’s long-term commitment to Indian consumers made through our growth technology strategy in India. Anuj and Ramakant have been leaders in evolving the home renovation industry, and KKR looks to draw on our deep technological and operational expertise, as well as our regional and global network, to support Livspace’s continued growth.”
KKR is investing Livspace from its Asia next-generation technology strategy. Livspace is KKR’s latest growth technology investment in Asia and adds to other recent investments in the region including Lenskart, an omnichannel eyewear retailer in India, moody, a tech-enabled eyewear company in China, Adopt A Cow, a digitalized, direct-to-consumer dairy company in China, GrowSari, an e-commerce platform serving micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines, and KiotViet, a merchant platform for MSMEs in Vietnam. Additional details of the transaction are not disclosed.
Founded by Anuj Srivastava and Ramakant Sharma in 2015, Livspace has become synonymous with end-to-end seamless home interiors and renovation services.
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Dubai Chamber series highlights global connectivity role of Expo 2020 Dubai
Alex Lecanuet, Regional Manager of Accenture Middle East, shares his expectations for Expo 2020 Dubai, as well as the company’s contribution to the mega-event.
Expo 2020 Dubai, as one of the first global events to be held in the Covid era, creates an exceptional opportunity for people around the world to experience the latest in virtual reality, and connect and collaborate at the hybrid mega-event, Alex Lecanuet, Regional Manager of Accenture Middle East said in a message published as part of the En Route to the Expo video series.
Part of Dubai Chamber’s Business Connect, the video series features industry leaders discussing the array of business focused programmes, services and experiences that Expo 2020 Dubai offers the private sector, governments and individuals around the world.
Developed in collaboration with Entrepreneur Middle East, the En Route to the Expo series provides a platform for public and private sector stakeholders to share their thoughts on what they are expecting from the mega-event, as well as their own contribution to the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region.
“I would tell them to come – as simple as that. Come because you have the opportunity to experience the largest post-pandemic hybrid event, combining physical and digital experiences. Come because you will see the world in one incredible destination. This is the first Expo with so many countries represented physically and digitally. Dubai is now the melting pot of the world – this is a unique opportunity to experience the post-pandemic world,” he said.
As part of its role as Official Business Integration Partner for Expo 2020 Dubai, Dubai Chamber is running a series of commerce and trade initiatives throughout the event, including three of its flagship events held as part of its Global Business Forum series, namely GBF Africa, GBF Latin America and the inaugural GBF ASEAN. During the mega-event, the chamber will also co-organise the 12th World Chambers Congress, which is the largest event of its kind, bringing together chamber leaders and representatives from around the world.
“As the first World Expo be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, Expo 2020 is an ideal platform to see the latest innovations and solutions addressing global challenges in the Covid era, while it also offers a glimpse into what business will look like in a post-pandemic world,” said Hassan Al Hashemi, Vice President of International Relations at Dubai Chamber.
“As the official business partner to Expo 2020 Dubai, Dubai Chamber will play a pivotal role in creating new connections and fostering cross-border collaboration. The Chamber will provide an ideal platform for UAE companies and their international counterparts to network at its dedicated on-site facility at Expo 2020. In addition, it will host and support several high-profile events during the mega event, which aim to expand Dubai’s economic cooperation with promising markets around the world,” Al Hashemi added.
Videos released as part En Route to the Expo and Business Connect series, can be viewed here, or on the websites and social media channels of Dubai Chamber and Entrepreneur Middle East.
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New video series puts the spotlight on Expo 2020 Dubai’s innovative business offering
A new video series, launched by Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Dubai Chamber), showcases the impactful ways in which it will connect local and global business communities at Expo 2020 Dubai.
The next World Expo will bring together more than 200 participants, including 190-plus nations, as well as businesses, multilateral organisations and educational institutions, to form innovative partnerships that can access exciting new markets and help deliver meaningful and measurable global change.
Dubai Chamber, the Official Business Integrator of Expo 2020 Dubai, will play an essential role in catalysing partnerships for the global business community throughout the six-month mega-event.
The “En Route To The Expo” series focuses on business leaders from the UAE, sharing their thoughts on what they are expecting from the mega-event, as well as their own contribution to the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region.
The video series – developed in collaboration with Entrepreneur Middle East– reflects the dynamism and resilience of Dubai and its business community, as well as the unprecedented opportunities presented by Expo 2020 Dubai.
The first instalment featured an in-depth interview with Expo 2020 Dubai’s Chief Experience Officer Marjan Faraidooni, who highlighted the vital role that Dubai Chamber is playing as a strategic partner supporting the event.
“Expo 2020 Dubai and Dubai Chamber are rallying the local and international business community to connect, network and together find cutting-edge solutions to encourage global partnerships and FDI flows in a post-pandemic world,” said Ms. Faraidooni.
“The Chamber is also playing a very important role in the development and delivery of an unmissable schedule of world-class business programming. For example, together with participating countries and partners, we are designing and curating a series of thematic business forums across the six-month event, most of which are related to specific sectors posing challenges and opportunities for both the local and global business community. The Chamber is also bringing on board three of its flagship global business forums – the Global Business Forum Africa, Global Business Forum ASEAN and Global Business Forum Latin America,” she added.
Commenting on the video series, Hassan Al Hashemi, Vice President of International Relations at Dubai Chamber, said that business in Dubai is set to undergo a quantum leap with the city hosting Expo 2020, adding that the mega-event will highlight the economic potential of the UAE and other markets of opportunity.
“Expo 2020 Dubai will be a hugely significant mega-event that will showcase innovations from around the world that address new challenges created by Covid-19, and help businesses prepare for the post-pandemic era. It will be the first major global event that uses technology and a hybrid format to navigate the obstacles presented by a situation that is unprecedented in modern times,” Al Hashemi said.
“Dubai Chamber is fully committed to ensuring that business functions run smoothly at Expo 2020 Dubai, which will serve as a prime example of how major international forums can be held safely and successfully in the post-pandemic era. We are looking forward to finalising our preparations for Expo 2020 and ensuring an ideal platform for local and international businesses to network, connect and collaborate,” he added.
As a new project presented under the banner of Dubai Chamber’s “Business Connect” initiative, the “En Route To The Expo” series can be watched on the websites and social-media channels of Dubai Chamber and Entrepreneur Middle East.
Running from October 1, 2021 until March 31, 2022, and coinciding with the 50-year anniversary of the founding of the UAE, Expo 2020 will bring the world together, creating an open, global dialogue that looks to the future. Millions of visitors from across the globe will be invited join the making of a new world, as they discover life-changing innovations that will have a meaningful, positive impact on both people and planet.
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The Designers’ Studio hosts a series of student workshops
UAE-based interior design institution, The Designers’ Studio is hosting a series of student workshops. Toni Snyder, design consultant and founder of Colour Swank will share her expertise within the fields of colour and design until June 10, 2021.
Synder said: “I’m very excited to be able to share my passion and know-how for the ‘art of colours’ with aspiring designers. It is essential to understand the essence of how colour can make a world of a difference when it comes to designing homes and commercial spaces with different moods.”
Fully immersive KHDA-approved institute, The Designers’ Studio offers exceptional accredited interior design courses combined with flexibility to provide students with the opportunity to work at their own pace around their busy schedules. Whether students take up interior design as a new hobby or to start a professional career, The Designers’ Studio caters to a variety of individuals’ needs.
Where: The Designers’ Studio, The Courtyard, Al Quoz 1
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Ideal Standard inspires bathrooms of the future with premiere of unique event series
Ideal Standard has launched the first in a unique series of theatrical events, merging design, art, and architecture. Taking a creative and thought-provoking approach, the event in Milan on the April 21, 2021, encouraged attendees to consider the impact that interior design has on modern living.
The Together World Tour, created by Ideal Standard, is an event series linked to six iconic cities. Each destination provides a unique visual and cultural backdrop for the launch of a new product collection from the brand. Through an intriguing, cinematic digital format, each event in the series takes a unique approach to combining cultural and lifestyle trends with architecture and design.
Speaking about the Together World Tour Series, Torsten Tuerling, Chief Executive Officer at Ideal Standard said: “We wanted to create an immersive experience for our customers that really challenged and inspired the way we think about bathroom design. We are proud to have a long legacy in driving design innovation in the bathroom industry and the Together World Tour takes a unique, theatrical format to bring to life some of our latest ranges. These new lines combine modern design principles with inspiration from some of our most iconic pieces, to create aspirational products that are helping to shape bathrooms of the future.”
“Together World Tour is a dynamic experience enabling us to explore the values of our brand in the MENA region and resulting in what we believe to be a journey of unforgettable moments of inspiration and delight.” added Ahmed Hafez, Chief Executive Officer at Ideal Standard MENA.
A tribute to the Linda collection created in 1977, by A. Castiglioni, the new collection, Linda-X, designed by Ludovica + Roberto Palomba, proudly takes inspiration from the original piece, celebrating the brand’s cultural heritage, while incorporating modern influences to create a contemporary collection which reflects the future of bathroom design.
“This collection stems from the desire to pay homage to Ideal Standard’s DNA with an eye to the future” – said Roberto Palomba. “For us it meant studying the historical collection and rethinking the design with an updated vision. When you choose a model to inspire you, you also take on the values it represents, not just the physical design. We strongly believe that the foundation for timeless design is grounded in values, rather than trends, and this was an important consideration for us when it came to Linda-X.”
Architecture, design, technology, and environmental awareness are the guiding principles of this collection. Comprising a range of basins and an elegant bath tub, the Linda-X collection stands out for its super-light design, which is minimalist and clean, but designed to have a dramatic impact.
One of the key visual elements of this collection is the ultra-thin edges of the basin. Linda-X is made with unique ceramic blend Diamatec®, which not only results in a fine ceramic which is visually appealing, but also guarantees extra durability, as well as reducing the use of raw materials in its production. The result is a piece that meets the expectations of modern-day design: sustainability and grace.
The platform on which the basin stands is a key part of the design, which gives the visual impression the basin is almost weightless and ‘floating’, while also creating a space-conscious solution for the needs of modern lifestyles, as it means you can place the basin on narrow furniture.
Linda-X basins are available in 5 sizes (45 to 75 cm) and two finishes (glossy white and silk white).
The perfect match to Linda-X is the Joy taps collection, also designed by Ludovica+Roberto Palomba.
Joy has a very different but equally striking look. The design stems from the desire to create a smooth and continuous surface, resulting in a clean and modern singular piece of brassware. This product was designed to be versatile, as it suits both square or round ceramics. It’s a piece that adapts perfectly to different environments. Its four finishes (chrome, silver storm, brushed gold and magnetic grey) each reflect the form of the tap and its intention to create a strong visual statement. The neat design is complemented by a water saving feature, the Eco Flow regulator, which reduces the water consumption down to 5L/min.
Registration is now open for the next stop on The Together World Tour in Berlin on June 16, 2021, which is followed by appearances in London, Paris, Dubai and Shanghai. Each event, will be streamed on the digital platform www.togetherworldtour.com, where it is possible to watch past events, register for upcoming ones and also access exclusive, inspirational content around each destination of the journey, and the new collections.
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Ideal Standard has announces Together World Tour and a series of hybrid events
Ideal Standard has announced a unique series of hybrid events, the Together World Tour, blending an innovative digital format with the attractions of a physical event location.
What do Milan, Berlin, London, Paris, Dubai, and Shanghai have in common? Those cities are iconic capitals of the world and also the bases for Ideal Standard’s innovative hybrid event designed for the international Architecture & Design community. The Together World Tour will address this global audience through an innovative fusion of digital content and physical interactions across these key locations.
The event will unveil exclusive world-premiere product launches, dwell deeply into the design culture of each of these world capitals and offer a series of “unforgettable moments”. It aims at combining the best of the two worlds, digital and personal. Its ambition is to inspire and entertain.
Hearst Global Design have been chosen as strategic partner for the launch, with the exclusive involvement of Elle Decoration – the largest and most influential design title in the world; present in 28 countries, with 25 editions. The media partnership distinguishes itself through an integrated approach across all media channels and presents significant promotional opportunities thanks to its global reach. By supporting the campaign with a schedule of content across both print and web editions, social media networks and magazines, Hearst’s input will stimulate far-reaching awareness and engagement.
“The Together World Tour begins in Milan, the capital of design and home of the Global Design Centre of Ideal Standard. This city for so long has been the source of our inspiration. The event will be an energetic story bringing to life the fashion and lifestyle inherent to Milan” says Ideal Standard’s Chief Design Officer, Roberto Palomba.
Promising to inspire and delight, the tour will give a global audience of architects and designers, the trade and business community and design lovers of all kinds a front row seat to the launch of stunning new collections.
Ahmed Hafez, Chief Executive Officer of Ideal Standard MENA, explains why he believes this approach is the future for the brand and for the industry: “The pandemic has changed the rules for traditional physical events. Rather than simply offer an online showroom, we have invented a new way to connect with our customer base all around the world, digital and personal, a dynamic experience enabling us to explore the values of our brand and resulting in what we believe will be a journey of unforgettable moments of inspiration and delight.”
The first event of the Together World Tour will be held on April 21st, 2021. It begins in Milan and will then continue throughout 2021 and into 2022 visiting 6 global capitals including Dubai. The event day will be packed with a mixture of live and streamed content, simultaneously translated into several languages. The interactive experience encourages participants to engage with the live event, click to discover new collections, or zoom in on a location to unlock exclusive content.
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Think Big, Print Easy with the new HP DesignJet Studio Series
With the world becoming increasingly more innovative, it is essential that designers and architects recognize the importance of implementing new innovative technologies within their businesses.
To cater to this, HP has released it’s new innovative DesignJet Studio Printer Series that stands out with high-speed & high quality printing.
For those who aim for the highest standards of design, HP DesignJet Studio Printer Series is your perfect partner. These printers are the world’s first large-format plotters which combine industry-leading performance, precision and quality with a high-concept design and a high-tech look. Their design simplicity extends to the user experience with a uniquely streamlined and intuitive print process.
Easy-to-use, HP DesignJet Studio Printer Series is ideal for creative firms where practitioners are often working on the move, between the studio, work sites, clients, and other locations.
Aesthetics
Is your office a design-led space?
For many creative professionals, their office is an extension of their and their brand identities — which makes it all the more important every item fits the design ethos
Form, according the classic essay by American architect Louis Sullivan, should follow function. But what if part of the function of an object is simply to be visually appealing, to delight, to enhance the built environment with its presence?
The question is of special relevance to design professionals such as architects, engineers, and product designers. Their work environment can be an extension of their identity and professional ethos – and acts as an advertisement for their creative brand.
The importance of aesthetics in design-led businesses
Design thinking is now a respected philosophy and a problem-solving approach. It involves taking the principles of design — solving problems with reference to the challenge, the user experience and the available materials, then iterating your way to a solution — and applying them to a whole range of challenges in different areas of life.
Most clients today arguably expect the workspaces of their creative agencies and professionals, whether minimalist offices or bare-brick loft spaces, to reflect their aesthetic ethos and design-led skills.
Indeed, the growing prominence of disciplines such as design-led thinking makes it even more important certain for design professionals to live up to their customers’ aesthetic expectations. It’s a matter of branding and brand advertising.
“Our research shows design professionals want the things they use in their professional lives to fit in with their aesthetic ethos,” said Colin Easton, Large Format Printing Channel Manager at HP UK. “That’s why we’ve created the HP DesignJet Studio Printer Series, which is designed specifically for creative professionals who need everything in their office or workspace to meet the highest standards of design.”
A new range of printers created for design professionals
The HP DesignJet Studio Printer Series are the world’s first large-format plotters which combine industry-leading performance, precision and quality with a high-concept design and a high-tech look. Available in two models — 24- and 36-inch — the new printer series is compact by design, so models easily fit into smaller offices and home offices.
Able to print an A1 page in as little as 25 seconds, the new printers are also the first carbon-neutral large-format plotters from HP. Their design simplicity extends to the user experience, with a uniquely streamlined and intuitive print process. With a single click you can print multiple files. And new, auto-sensing media-handling capabilities allow you to print files to different paper sizes without having to get up and manually change the settings.
Also, because you can print from any connected device, anywhere, the HP DesignJet Studio Printer Series is ideal for creative firms where practitioners are often working on the move, between the studio, work sites, clients and other locations. Need to amend your designs on site, print on the go and grab the files when you quickly swing by your office? With these printers, you can.
Intelligent Workflow
Is there really one part of the design workflow you can’t streamline?
You can batch-process design files, automate manual tasks, switch to additive technologies for prototyping and use AI to simulate stress testing — but what about printing?
Increasingly, the best CAD design tools have built-in artificial intelligence which helps designers, engineers and architects find the best forms for their intended purpose, helping shortcut the design cycle. This is just one way in which design professionals are finding new and innovative ways to streamline their work, cut out unnecessary iterations and get to the result the client needs, faster.
Whether it’s 3D printing for faster prototyping, gathering data on designs in their environment with augmented reality or using BIM to turn schematics into ever-evolving datascapes, designers are constantly finding new ways to make their work more efficient and intelligent.
But what about printing?
Printing roughs, client presentations and blueprints often feels like the one part of the design workflow that can’t be accelerated, except by simply making the print engine faster. So, is this really true?
Building intelligence into the large-format print process
In reality, improving the speed at which the physical parts of the print engine — the latest HP DesignJet plotters print an A1-size design in as little as 30 seconds — is just one aspect of making printing for designers faster, and more integrated into their workflow.
“One of things we saw clearly in our own design process,” explains Colin Easton, Large Format Printing Channel Manager at HP UK, “was that professionals were working in increasingly diverse ways with their projects. They might want to print the same file, or batch of files, at different sizes for different purposes or audiences. They might also want to work on a file on site and then print from the taxi to the next job. Yet their print workflows didn’t allow them to do that, without a huge amount of manual configuration and troubleshooting at the very least.”
To overcome these challenges and meet customers’ evolving needs, HP has released the new DesignJet T200, T600 and Studio Printer series. All three new product ranges are built specifically to help design professionals accelerate their workflows and eliminate unnecessary production overheads.
Simplicity that integrates seamlessly into your work routine
One of the most effective, and deceptively simple workflow optimisations on the new models is simplified multi-size printing. Without manually switching the media source, you can print files at any size from A0 to A3, at the click of a mouse.
Print submission have also been simplified overall, allowing you to print multiple files with a single click. And print times for multiple files are up to 2 times faster than they are for comparable printers from competitors.
Another key innovation is the ability to print from any connected device, anywhere. Not only does this allow your staff to print from on site or when they’re in transit, it makes it easy for partners and clients to print files, either remotely or when they are visiting your offices.
In the new, and flexible workstyle of the post-COVID world, this helps you collaborate effectively, smoothly and at speed — keeping your workflows moving.
These features are in addition to the other improvements to the new HP DesignJet printers. They include the extreme simplicity — with an easy-to-use print driver and an improved “true print” preview mode — and the ability to manage your large-format printer from anywhere, using the HP Smart app.
“The new HP DesignJet T200, T600 and Studio Printer series are large-format plotters designed to produce the very highest quality output, and also to automate and simplify workflows, so design professionals can concentrate on their work, not getting the printer to work,” said Colin Easton, Large Format Printing Channel Manager at HP UK. “These new printer series are ideal for creative professionals – and prove that printing, with the right technology, is absolutely an area that can be streamlined to become even more efficient.”
Sustainability
Is your practice as sustainable as your principles?
Architecture, construction and engineering are some of the most environmentally conscious sectors — but can they apply their principles to their own working practices? They can now.
“The best way to predict the future is to design it,” said the ground-breaking American architect Buckminster Fuller. Today’s architects, product designers and engineers seem to have taken him at his word — and the future they are designing is a sustainable one.
In a recent survey, between 80% and 90% of architects said that sustainability was important in their work. And by 2021, almost half of all architects will be working on more sustainable than non-sustainable projects.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has worked with design professionals. Architects, engineers and designers tend to be highly engaged in promoting sustainability and incorporating it into their work.
But what about building sustainability into day-to-day working practices themselves?
This can be tougher. Any design-led profession requires cutting edge IT equipment such as servers and workstations. Unless all of these are the very latest and most sustainable models, it can mean higher than average energy bills.
Travel, often international, to and from sites also increases the business’s carbon footprint. The creation of scamps, scale models, draft printouts and other forms of rough work can be heavy on both labour and consumables.
So, what can design professionals do to make their businesses more sustainable?
More and more, all the time – is the answer.
Now is the time to make the change
In the first two months of the COVID-19 pandemic, just one video conferencing app saw its usage rise by 574%. Over the last few months, businesses in every sector — including designers, architects, civil engineers and other design engineers — have grown used to doing everything from internal meetings to business pitches through video.
And this growth in video conferencing has a potentially huge impact on reducing business-related carbon emissions. According video conferencing platform Zoom, the average business trip produces 168 times the carbon emissions of the same meeting carried out by video conferencing.
Another way to make your studio or practice more sustainable is to look at processes, such as printing, which consume energy and some form of raw material, such as ink or toner. If you can find a way to produce the same quality output while using less energy and raw materials, this can have a significant impact on how sustainable your business is to run.
New energy-efficient printers
To meet this demand from creative professionals for a new generation of more environmentally sustainable large-format printers, HP has released the new HP DesignJet T200, T600 and Studio Printer series. All three new product ranges are made with a high proportion of recycled plastic and are designed to be more sustainable across their entire lifecycle than other comparable products.
Ways in which the new large-format printers are more sustainable than the competition include:
• consisting of up to 30% recycled plastic
• emitting up to 7.3 tons less carbon a year than comparable large-format printers
• using up to 95% less ink for routine maintenance than comparable large-format printers
These printers are also ENERGY STAR® certified by the US Environmental Protection Agency, a recognition of their contribution to delivering features and performance which help consumers improve their energy efficiency.
Thanks to features such as automatic, multi-size printing with just a single click and easy job submission, the new HP DesignJet printer series also helps you cut down the number of prints it takes to get exactly the right look and feel. This reduces the time spent on printing and troubleshooting – and helps save ink and paper.
Additionally, the HP DesignJet printer series work with free, convenient HP ink cartridges, recyclable through the HP Planet Partners program, reinforcing HP’s commitment to sustainable ink innovation. The printers also use HP Bright Office Inks, and work with FSC®-certified papers, ideal for technical document printing, as they provide bright colour and bold image quality on plain papers.
This is how these printers help design professionals minimise their energy usage, cut their carbon footprint and reduce the amount of consumables such as ink which they use. All of which helps make your business more sustainable – and saves you money.
The world’s easiest plotter
Designed to fit the way you live, this plotter provides design that performs, in technology that stands out in the first net carbon neutral HP DesignJet plotter.
Extreme simplicity
Bring your master plan to life in moments and multitask with ease. Print multi-size A3/B, A1/D or A0/E, without manual intervention to switch the media source, with HP Click software.
Fits the way you work
Your office is wherever you say it is. With the HP Smart App you can print virtually from anywhere with your smartphone or tablet.
With design that performs and technology that stands out, the world’s easiest large-format plotters1 fit the way you live and work. Print multi-size projects automatically. Avoid waiting with high-speed printing as fast as 25 sec per A1/D plot.
Taqeef brings Midea’s ‘Ultimate Comfort’ AC series to the UAE
The latest ‘Ultimate Comfort’ air conditioner (AC) series by Midea is now available in the UAE, bringing a new standard of cooling to the market. The series features Midea’s latest innovations in the AC space, ensuring the even distribution of cold and clean air inside a room while producing almost no noise.
The series features the Midea ‘Inverter QuattroTechnology’ which is a high-frequency compressor that generates a strong flow of cool air within a matter of seconds. The AC’s optimised air outlet design enlarges the airflow angle by 110° together with a faster turbo fan speed, delivering a long-distance windblast of up to 25 meters. The Silky Cool feature, one of the key functions of the Ultimate Comfort utilises the innovative Coanda technology which guarantees an even distribution of cool air in a room by directing airflow up towards the ceiling. The air then evenly descends around the room, avoiding a direct blast of air on the body for the highest level of comfort. An integrated Wind Sprayer allows thousands of mini holes to transform centralised airflow into a gentle breeze for a more comfortable cooling experience.
“Our focus has always been to provide our customers with the latest AC technology to cope with the extreme climate in the UAE. Midea’s Ultimate Comfort Series is a fantastic addition to our product portfolio as it brings an innovative, high-quality and comfortable cooling solution to a market where cooling is considered a life essential,” commented Tariq Al Ghussein, CEO of Taqeef.
The Ultimate Comfort series also features ‘Innovated Air Magic’ which is an advanced sterilisation technology. Ions that kill harmful bacteria in the air are released while the AC is on. Dual filters in the ACs capture micro dust, and a self-cleaning feature keeps the unit free from molds and bacteria, making the AC units highly durable.
“Maintaining thermal comfort is one of the most important goals of AC, and this is now more significant than ever as we are spending more time indoors. Innovations in the sector have made it possible to ensure the highest indoor air quality, while also providing end-users with the ability to easily control temperature and humidity levels through a smartphone, adding a new layer of comfort and convenience to AC usage,” added Ghussein.
The Ultimate Comfort series is exclusively retailed by Taqeef, leading AC and cooling solutions provider, in the UAE and can be found at all Taqeef retailers, including Carrefour, Emax, Lulu and the Taqeef online shop. To find out more about the Ultimate Comfort Series and Midea’s latest products, visit taqeef.com/shop/
humanlumen launches the Clean Air Series, a range of UVC air sterilisation units
humanlumen introduces the Clean Air Series, a range of UVC air sterilisation units, providing a safe, reliable and sustainable solution for a safe ‘Return to Work’ for many employers and employees.
The Clean Air Series is a range of efficient UVC lighting devices that actively reduce the bacterial and viral charge of the air in closed environments.
This truly innovative design can provide fast sterilisation for offices, classrooms, hotel rooms, and healthcare environments.
The International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) believes that UV disinfection technologies can play a role in a multiple barrier approach to reducing the transmission of the virus causing COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2, based on current disinfection data and empirical evidence.
UVC air purification unit
The powerful UVC radiation is isolated inside the Air Filtration System (AFS) as exposure of UV light, of any type, in high dosage to the naked eye will cause potential long-term health issues.
The system draws in contaminated air and removes all bacteria through a series of integral filters and then delivers clean air back into space. Each unit cleanses up to 3000 cubic square metres of open office space and is a simple plug and play system with no integration into the existing mechanical systems.
The clean air units work like an air purifier, but instead of filters, it uses the UVC technology to eliminate the viruses. The fan located in the bottom of the fitting sucks in the air of the room and channels it through a series of UVC light canals that have the UVC lights. The UVC kills the viruses and the clean air is released in the room through a carbon filter.
The carbon filter’s main purpose is to clean the odours from the air, with an additional dust filter at the entrance of the fan, neither is essential to kill bacteria, this is the role of the UVC light.