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When designing and producing the fixtures for Time Warner’s new prototype store, Winntech took a cue from the retailer’s new tagline, “Now anything is possible.” The retail design and store fixture manufacturing firm used innovative material applications to provide an uncommon retail experience while achieving long-term durability.
For consistency and seamless joinery as well as durability, many of the complex curvilinear fixture profiles were created using heat-formed solid surface material, which has been backlit. This unusual selection of material required the construction of “bucks” over which the solid surface material was heat-formed in ovens normally used for powdercoating. The pre-bent shapes were then milled to the correct shape using a 5-axis CNC machine prior to final fabrication and polishing of the finished fixture forms.
Other fixtures, as well as the customer service counters, use softly curved horizontal and vertical surfaces that were laminated using Lonseal sheet vinyl. This flooring material was chosen for the fixture surfaces because it can be formed around tight (3/8-in.) radii easily while providing durability and resistance to scratching or discoloration from long-term abrasion.
The fixtures combine education, product demonstration, and customer service in an easily approachable and engaging fashion. The lack of sharp edges contributes to the futuristic feel of the store.
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