October 25, 2021 – Eaton reports it was awarded grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) to develop an automated design method and local manufacturing approach for industrial lighting that leverages digitalization and additive manufacturing.

“The DoE is helping accelerate innovation and commercialization of breakthrough manufacturing approaches essential to reducing the carbon footprint of industrial manufacturing operations,” said Eaton’s Charon Morgan.

The company is partnering with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Synopsys on the project, and development work is based in the company’s research labs in Southfield, Michigan.

The automated process Eaton is developing aims to mass-produce customized industrial lighting that achieves higher energy efficiency, better lighting quality, reduces costs and compresses lead time compared to traditional manufacturing methods.

This new manufacturing model has the potential, says Eaton, “to replace vast industrial lighting inventory with customized designs made locally”.