In an era where technological advancements often outpace the lifespan of products, Prolojik grapples with the challenge of managing sustainable technology evolution.
Enter the innovative solution – the aptly named Hermit Crab initiative from Prolojik – “Never waste a perfectly good shell.” This ingenious approach ensures that our lighting control products, designed to endure two lifetimes, not only remain aesthetically pleasing but also incorporate the latest technology without discarding the existing infrastructure.
We first launched the Hermit Crab initiative last year and wrote about it at length in a previous blog post.
At the heart of the Hermit Crab initiative is a commitment to best-in-class materials and a design philosophy focused on life-cycle maintenance through backward compatibility. This unique approach allows our clients to embrace cutting-edge technology while reaping the benefits of their initial investment.
The Hermit Crab Process: Turning Challenges into Opportunities
The process begins with the recovery of legacy hardware from client sites, facilitated by electric vehicles or transportation companies with demonstratable carbon-neutral credentials. We take pride in transporting our legacy Lighting Control Modules (LCMs) in reusable crates, eliminating the need for single-use packaging and reducing environmental impact.
Upon reaching Prolojik’s UK-based factories, the LCMs undergo a meticulous disassembly process by our trained and experienced engineers. Enclosures are inspected for structural integrity, damaged elements are replaced, and cases are prepared to accommodate new, current-generation electronics.
Our commitment to a consistent form factor for over twenty years pays off, allowing new Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) to be seamlessly mounted inside legacy enclosures. This approach not only ensures common connection locations but also enables the retention and reuse of existing cabling infrastructure, contributing to positive environmental outcomes and cost savings for clients.
After reassembly, products are relabelled to adhere to current regulatory standards and undergo rigorous electrical and functional testing. The LCMs are then packaged into reusable cartons for return to clients, where they are reinstalled and commissioned by Prolojik’s engineers.
The journey doesn’t end there. Specialist subcontractors meticulously break down returned electronics. Elements that cannot be reused, such as legacy PCBs, are recycled in line with Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directives, maximising the recovery of raw materials.
More from the Prolojik Blog: Prolojik’s ‘Mission M’: A Blueprint for Sustainability
Unlocking Potential: Environmental and Cost Benefits
We are proud to be currently deploying Hermit Crab on a major upgrade for a blue-chip client, anticipating a substantial reduction of over 2500 KgCO2e compared to traditional upgrade methods.
This figure excludes the potential benefits of recycled material reuse and the ability to repurpose existing cables, connectors, and infrastructure – aspects often discarded in conventional upgrades.
Hermit Crab, coupled with our commitment to the latest technology, backward compatibility, and local manufacture, positions the company as a crucial ally in supporting customers’ aspirations for cutting-edge spaces without compromising sustainability goals.
Through Hermit Crab, Prolojik paves the way for a more environmentally conscious and technologically advanced future in the realm of lighting controls.
Get in Touch Today
If you’d like to know a little more about our innovative Hermit Crab initiative, or our continued commitment to sustainability, please do drop us a line at [email protected], or call us on (01494) 515100.