Manufacturers Showcase Innovation in D.C.

Walking the show floor in the brief time alotted by this year's convention host (just 10 am to 4 pm on the first two days) it was clear that companies are raising the bar on their offerings to comply with increasingly stringent sustainability and energy requirements—not to mention the high performance and aesthetic expectations of architects. Incorporating cutting-edge technologies, some of the highlights include: a modified, sustainable wood with improved durability and dimensional stability fromAccoya; Silverback, a new ceiling/wall light fixtutre from

Louis Poulsendesigned by KiBiSi (a new Danish design company founded by Lars Larsen, Bjarke Ingels Group and Jens Martin Skibsted); Jelly Bean-hued and ultra-low-iron glass fromBendheim, and a rather beautiful forced entry system from

Cambridgein satiny stainless steel.

In addition HPintroduced a range of new and updated mobile and cloud-based, large-format printing solutions: a new ePrint & Share mobile application for Android smartphones and tablets, so more users can access, view and print drawings on the go; upgraded features for HP ePrint & Share, including the ability to print PDF files directly from e-mail and optimization for Apple iPad; and cloud printing directly from Autodesk AutoCAD WS with HP Designjet web-connected printers.

photograph of HP Designjet T1300 ePrinter courtesy HP

courtesy HP

Tile of Spain presented a trend update by association spokesperson Ryan Fasan that showcased the universal material's present and future potential with new products such as TAU's S3 Ceramic Wall system that conceals and supports electrical and plumbing equipment and devices much like raised flooring; and Apavisa's Archconcept indoor/outdoor series of dimensional formats that mimick concrete, stone, or metal.

photograph of TAU S3 Ceramic Wall courtesy Tile of Spain

photograph of Apavis Archconcept courtesy Tile of Spain

Lucifer LightingCompanyis expanding its LEDX downlight family with the Y Series of 4.5-inch aperture, adjustable downlights engineered to deliver from 1300 (17W), 2000 (35W), and 3000 (53W) lumens from as high as 30 feet.