Absolute value.
Maximum performance.

By scrutinising our current portfolio and processes used to manufacture , could we start off on the road of creating a lower cost entry level arm. This exercise meant we could identify key areas to really focus on. From using an extruded aluminium for the post with only minimal post-processing and integrated features such as cable management, to encapsulated nuts in Lima’s arm that made it easy to assemble. Lima’s design process has used this absolute value approach to deliver maximum performance at an affordable price.

A world first in monitor
arm materials.

So why did we decide to use a composite polymer? As a material it offered the perfect balance of quality, performance with the minimal environmental impact, whilst helping us to hit the target price we’d set of Lima. This is all down to the way it is manufactured. A composite polymer requires less energy to manufacture it, needs less post-processing to reach the desired finish, and still offers the level of quality we pride ourselves on.

Push the button.

The connection between Lima’s arm and post is the key interaction point between user and arm, forming the primary focus for the early design concept phases. Over 20 different design concepts were explored drawing on inspiration from a range of existing designs that grip a post without using any interlocking features. This included tripods, pillar drills, bike seats, shower heads, clamping tools, and even Chinese finger traps! On Lima we’ve designed the button to be as large as possible and easy to access when a screen is installed. This helps to communicate to the user how to adjust the arm.

Effective. Simplicity.

A further set of refinements were made to hit a design for Lima’s gripper that used the minimal number of moving parts and materials, whilst still offering maximum usability. Through the grippers design process a discovery was made, the gripper only needed to attach to a small area of Lima’s post. Why was this so key? It opened the door to using tracks on Lima’s post so two Lima arms could be installed on one post independent of each other giving maximum user control over the separate heights of each arm.

Additional benefits.

Using tracks meant that only a small proportion of Lima’s post had to be used leaving a space at the back that formed the ideal channel for Lima’s integrated cable management. The geometry of Lima’s post meant that simple and intuitive clips could be used to hold screen cables in place.

From concept to commercialisation.

When examining the materials for Lima, the decision was made to revisit a material we’d previously discounted – a composite polymer which is a high-performance engineered plastic that uses glass fibre to increase strength and rigidity. To validate the material selection we used a prototype composite polymer Lima arm that was put through its paces by subjecting it to a huge load of 54kg. Performing exceptionally well under such a huge weight proved that as a material, a composite polymer would offer the level of performance expected of Lima.