At Engmotion, we pride ourselves on delivering engineering support that extends well beyond traditional industrial applications. Recently, we had the pleasure of collaborating with Andrew Wells from 3W Architects, a London-based practice known for its creative and forward-thinking approach to architectural design.
The project centered on the development of a high-end speaker system, designed with three distinct material layers. Our contribution focused on the production of the aluminium component, manufactured entirely in-house at our CNC department. From the early stages, we worked closely with 3W to refine the geometry, ensure accurate model definition, and support the client in achieving the desired balance between aesthetic appeal and technical performance.
Directly from the words of its designer, we hereby share some insights about this special speaker system:
"The speaker" - says Andrew Wells - "is a 3-way audiophile speaker. The form of the speaker is taken from the profile of The Hancock Tower in Chicago. This form was chosen as all its sides are none parallel. This helps diffuse the sound waves inside and prevents standing waves. The volume of each box that houses the woofer (low frequencies), midrange (mid range frequencies)and tweeter (high frequecies) have been calculated using each drivers VAS (Volume of Air/Equivalent Compliance Volume) this represents the size of an imaginary air-filled box that provides the same restoring force as the speaker's suspension. The choice of materials for each box were selected based on the resonance requirement for low, medium and high frequencies. Carbon fibre clad 21mm birch plywood, 10mm aluminium plate and 10mm clear perspex.
This material choice also clearly identifies each separate enclosure and breaks down the visual mass creating a unique aesthetic which responds perfectly to the functional and technical requirements to create an outstanding sound stage."
Our involvement went further than machining: we carried out prototype assembly, testing, and finishing, ensuring that the final result delivered both the visual impact and the engineering precision required.
We are sincerely grateful to Andrew Wells and 3W Architects for placing their trust in Engmotion. This collaboration highlights our commitment to supporting clients across diverse technological and creative fields, proving that precision engineering is not only essential in industrial and biomedical sectors but also a key enabler in projects where design and aesthetics are crucial.