BIM is the new way of planning and implementing construction projects and interior designs, enabling a more efficient construction processes where selection of methods, materials and products can be evaluated at the design stage.
By creating a virtual 3D model of the construction project, you get a tool that rationalizes the project, improves the budget and significantly reduces the risk of mistakes and additional costs. The 3D model can be used for simulation and verification and before the actual building process has begun.
The virtual 3D model is filled with BIM-objects, advanced data files based on real products and constructions. The BIM-objects are provided by manufactures from various industries involved, like building elements, windows, plumbing, kitchens, flooring, coating, furniture and lighting.
FAST GROWING TREND
”Planning with BIM-objects is a strong international trend, today companies as well as governments are implementing BIM-strategies in order to improve quality and effectiveness within their building processes. In Great Britain BIM is legislated in public procurement and we expect followers”, explains Magnus Karlsson, business developer at BIMobject.
BIMobject is a Swedish company providing a global platform for BIM-objects, helping producers to market their products to architects, construction engineers, consultants and other important decision makers. Today BIMobject has approximately 1.2 million professional users all over the world.
CONTENT IS KING
”Our ambition is to help our clients to establish a dialogue with the architect in an early stage, by providing relevant and detailed product knowledge of premium technical quality. You see, a BIM-object is not only a 3D model. The BIM-object also contains all imaginable information about the product and its properties. The platform even allows the architect to have direct contact with the producer. If you are an architect working in Germany you can get direct access to the company’s German representative ”, says Magnus.
The BIMobject platform works as a community where producers are offered help with developing and publishing content and quality verifications. For architects and other professional users, the membership is free at the moment.
The BIM-objects at BIMobject are offered in different file formats like ArchiCAD, Revit and/or other-files according to the producers’ standards.
Download track controls also ensures that users get information when or if products have been updated or discontinued.
"You see, a BIM-object is not only a 3D model. The BIM-object also contains all imaginable information about the product and its properties. It is the buildings digital twin." Magnus Karlsson, Business Developer BIMobject
THE BUILDING’S DIGITAL TWIN
Magnus Karlsson predicts an even closer cooperation between providers and architects as the BIM revolution facilitates technical dialogues in an early stage.
”Content and communication will have equal importance as price and delivery in planning and procurement. The BIM 3D-model and its objects will also facilitate facility management when the project is completed. The model is the buildings’ digital twin, offering information about all its components, and how they are to be served and maintained. For example: If you need to change a light source in a luminaire, the electrician doesn’t have to check it out IRL, the information about the light source is provided by the BIM-object within the model.”
According to Magnus, BIM is a powerful way of working that will change the construction industry in its core.
“We are experiencing an exciting time of advanced digitalization and in the long run, there are no options – you have to jump on the BIM wagon.”
FACTS: HOW TO WORK WITH FAGERHULT AND BIM
To facilitate and offer improved effectiveness in large scale construction or renovation processes, Fagerhult offers BIM-objects for all major luminaire series – for example the new Dwide range.
The BIM-objects are available for download at the BIMobject community. The objects are presented as Revit-files with information about versions, dimensions, materials, colour and other product properties. You can also get information about lighting properties, installation and inspiring application suggestions. Fagerhult’s BIM-objects do not include ies-files, however these can easily be imported when visualizations are needed. For download please visit bimobject.com or fagerhult.com.
Related News
Fagerhult sets new industry standard: switching to the latest LED technology
Fagerhult is setting a new standard in the lighting industry and switching to the latest LED technology in its luminaires. One outcome of this is that the operating time is being doubled from 50,000 to 100,000 hours. “We want to make it easy for our customers to make the right choice, both for their wallet and for the environment,” says Marcus Fagerlind, Technical Manager for Smart Lighting at Fagerhult. Fagerhult is now taking the next step in the evolution of lighting technology. Going forward, the luminaires will be supplied with the latest generation of LEDs featuring Flip Chip technology. For our customers, this means lighting that offers higher energy efficiency, lower energy consumption and superior light quality – while also doubling the operating time. “Flipped” technology Flip Chip is a premium-segment LED chip that is based on proven technology. The thing that sets Flip Chip apart from standard LEDs is its design. Image gallery: LED-chips Section: Flip chip headline “An LED chip is made up of several different layers of material that determine the light’s wavelength and properties. A traditional standard chip is built like a cake with multiple layers, which the light shines up through from the bottom. Electrodes are attached at the top of the ‘cake’ and connected via gold or silver wires. Since these contact surfaces are located at the top, they also block some of the light, which affects the light output and, consequently, energy efficiency. These metal wires are also subjected to ‘stress’ in the event of temperature changes, making them a potential source of failure that can affect the working life of the LED chip,” explains Marcus Fagerlind: Marcus Fagerlind, Technical Manager for Smart Lighting at Fagerhult, at the Experience Centre in Habo, where lighting solutions are explored and demonstrated. In a Flip Chip, the cake is simply turned upside down, with all the contact surfaces at the bottom of the chip. This allows the light to flow freely, and the chip operates more efficiently without interference. Placing the contact surfaces at the bottom also helps avoid potential sources of failure in the connecting wires. As a result, the Flip Chip technology delivers a product that is both more efficient and more robust. Significant energy savings Equipped with the latest generation of Flip Chip LEDs, Fagerhult’s luminaires will increase energy efficiency by 5–10 percent, depending on their previous configuration.An efficiency improvement of this magnitude naturally has a significant impact on energy consumption and operating costs, but also on the system’s climate impact.“In an uncertain world, with energy crises following hot on the heels of each other, it has become even more important to accelerate the green transition – and to ensure that energy efficiency, economic considerations and environmental concerns go hand in hand. Every kilowatt-hour counts,” says Marcus Fagerlind.The operating time is also being extended – from 50,000 hours to 100,000 hours. A doubling of the working life, in other words, which makes Fagerhult’s luminaires a safe and profitable investment for the future. All upgraded luminaires will also have a constant light output, providing secure, stable, high-quality light throughout their working life. Extended lifetime from 50,000 to 100,000 hours, with stable, high-quality light throughout. New industry standard The switch from standard LEDs to Flip Chip covers the majority of Fagerhult’s Indoor range. Luminaire models that already feature Flip Chip will be upgraded to the latest generation of Flip Chip, as will all models that were previously equipped with standard LEDs. This change can improve the energy efficiency of the luminaires and reduce electricity consumption, meaning that with a small amount of effort, it is possible to achieve a very big impact.That sounds like a major change, doesn't it? “Absolutely,” says Marcus Fagerlind: “But this approach – daring to take the lead and make the tough decisions needed to bring about change – is very much part of Fagerhult’s DNA. We have never compromised between ergonomics and energy efficiency, choosing instead to drive our innovation efforts to find new solutions. This is an obvious step we have to take, not least for the sake of the climate. We want to take our share of the responsibility. This ought to be the industry standard.” Platinan in Gothenburg features 12,800 luminaires in one of Fagerhult’s largest innovation projects - demonstrating how the latest LED chip technology supports improved light quality and energy efficiency. Does this mean that the luminaires will become more expensive?“That’s exactly the point. We don’t want our customers to have to choose between what’s good and what’s actually even better. We also don’t think they should have to choose between strong finances and climate considerations. The cost of the upgrade will not be passed on to customers in the form of more expensive luminaires, but will be financed through the logistical benefits that the change will bring. With our pricing model, our customers gain access to the latest technology – at the same price as before.”
Innovation in every fold – Wrapped exceeds in engineering brilliance
As sustainability is no longer a choice but a necessity, innovation must begin with the question: What if we did things differently? For Fagerhult’s R&D team, that question became the spark behind Wrapped, the world’s first pendant luminaire made of cardboard. Traditionally, pendant luminaires are built with metal frames, which is a durable, familiar, and safe method. But the team behind Wrapped wanted to explore another path. Together, they decided to find out if they could create a luminaire that not only performed at a premium level but with minimized environmental impact. After thorough consideration, Solid board – a renewable and recycled cardboard material that had previously only been used in hidden components – now plays the leading role. Wrapped is more than a luminaire, it’s an exploration of forward-thinking and creativity. With no ready-made solutions to lean on, the design team had to start from scratch. Every element, from the construction to the mounting, was looked into and the result is a luminaire that’s both technically solid and environmentally conscious. Gallery: Wrapped details The luminaire body is made of up to 65% recycled cardboard and folds together with high precision cut-outs that fit perfectly. Engineering elegance Wrapped’s body is composed of two primary parts: the inner body and the outer body, both designed to work in harmony for strength and stability. The outer body is held together by a rib made of 75% recycled post-consumer aluminium, locking the folds in place and ensuring shape retention. Its end caps are made from 100% recycled post-consumer plastic and snap into precision-cuts, securing the structure without the need for screws. The junction box is snapped into place and the driver is mounted using small clips, made from recycled post-consumer plastic. The LED board is mounted onto the lens, protected by a cover of Solid board, and the entire light module is locked into place with a louvre. The result is a seamless, screw-free construction that embodies thoughtful design. Design with purpose Fredrik Beckius, Design Engineer at R&D, reflects on the journey:“The challenge was working with a material that we had never used for a pendant luminaire before. We couldn’t mount components the usual way, so we had to find alternative solutions.”Martin Gustafsson, also a Design Engineer, adds:“We had to find a way to produce the luminaire cost-efficiently, both for us and our suppliers. Every design component had to serve more than one purpose.” This dual-purpose thinking is evident throughout Wrapped’s design. It’s not just about aesthetics or sustainability – it’s about engineering brilliance and making every part count. Quote: Martin Gustafsson Sustainability without compromise Wrapped is manufactured in Fagerhult, Habo, using locally sourced recycled and renewable materials. It’s a product born from Swedish innovation, rooted in the legacy of previous sustainable designs like Multilume Re:Think and Kvisten. Unlike many eco-conscious products, Wrapped is quietly confident – and sustainable in its DNA. With high-precision cut-outs, a stable construction, and rigorous testing throughout the process, Wrapped meets all quality standards without compromising its environmental ethos.