Helios
Branding / Graphic Design / Engineering / Production
For professionals in the vehicle maintenance and inspection industry, having proper, hands-free illumination directly translates to improved safety and efficiency.
Helios by Uberlux is a low-profile work panel featuring the latest in LED technology for use in under-vehicle maintenance, inspection, and decorative illumination. Helios has a wide variety of applications in the automotive maintenance, military, and government industries.
DCI Lighting came to us with detailed working prototypes of the Helios concept, requesting design for manufacturing support to help move it to production. We provided a range of design and manufacturing services, ultimately helping them deliver a consistent, high-quality and well-branded product ready to make market waves in the extreme environments for which it was built.
With key performance indicators top of mind (impact and fluid resistance plus the ability to support 15 tons of pressure), we embarked on our rigorous risk evaluation process. We found ways to make the unit more robust and reliable by reconstructing the light lens for safer compression and reconfiguring the seals for better fluid resistance and serviceability.
Key design elements to communicate a brand’s story. With some forethought, this can be done without adding significant cost to the product. Graphic identity, badging, packaging, and IFUs convey quality, value, and connect with a consumer on an emotional level.
While engineering testing was underway, our brand team was able to look at the overall visual identity and suggest ways to improve strategic messaging. We developed a brand hierarchy, logos, badging, packaging, and marketing collateral that aligned with the product’s value proposition.
As we moved closer to product launch, digital material, website, e-commerce, and social media became key deliverables, centered around the positioning statement “Lighting Reinvented from the Ground Up.”
The product was officially unveiled at the 2018 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, with a custom trade-show booth designed to immerse visitors in the context and environment of a professional garage, featuring a full-size display of the undercarriage of an automobile. Looping videos with early end-customer research further enhanced the Helios story.
As a design-focused company, we want the line to be as innovative as the product we are building. Always focused on staff safety and ergonomics, lines are designed and organized for the proper height, optimal reach with minimal movement, and, of course, ample lighting. This also ensures that we consistently and efficiently produce a high-quality product.
For this line, we used sleek black work surfaces with modular aluminum structures. Production fixtures were designed to quickly maneuver between both sides of the light panel. We developed a solution that resembled an industrial Belgian waffle maker that allows access to the panel’s top and bottom while compressing the components as they are fastened together. Additionally, we built custom ergonomic tools to make fastening motions safer and easier for production staff.
With the line and assembly details squared away, we implemented quality control measures and finalized logistical and distribution support. This allowed DCI Lighting to hit the ground running with seamless integration for e-commerce orders.
Helios won a Global Media Award at the PRI Show in 2018 and has been featured on MotorTrend TV, MAVTV, and Rev’n.
