Extended Reality at the Intersolar trade fair: How Bürkle is revolutionizing digital 3D product presentations with SmartVu

Intersolar Europe in Munich, with over 800 exhibitors and an exhibition area of ​​88,000 m², is the world's leading trade fair for photovoltaics. This was evident at the recently concluded event, which attracted more than 65,000 trade visitors.

Intersolar Europe 2022 – Image: intersolar.de / Solar Promotion

As every year, exhibitors presented numerous innovations again this spring. Among them was Robert Bürkle GmbH from Freudenstadt, which showcased a new lamination technology that, according to the company, has the potential to revolutionize the production of BIPV solar modules.

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), often also called BiPV, refers to the integration of photovoltaic modules into the building envelope. This integration aims to provide not only the classic energy generation (conversion of sunlight into electrical energy) but also additional functions. The "Photovoltaics in Buildings" working group, under the umbrella of the German Association for Building Systems (Bundesverband für Bausysteme e. V.), describes BiPV as the architectural, building physics, and structural integration of PV elements into the building envelope, taking into account the multifunctional properties of the PV module. These multifunctionalities can include weather protection, thermal insulation, shading, aesthetics and design, as well as privacy, sound insulation, electromagnetic shielding, burglar protection, and light control and transmission.

Interactive 3D with PV and glass laminators from Robert Bürkle GmbH – Image: Xpert.Digital / Vuframe / Bürkle

At the trade fair, Bürkle presented, among other things, the laminators required for the production of glass-foil and glass-glass modules. These machines, which can be used for small and medium-sized production runs up to large-scale series production, are quite large. Therefore, Bürkle faced the challenge of presenting these large-format systems to trade fair visitors in an attractive yet informative way within the limited space of their booth at Intersolar Europe.

The future of trade fairs: Interactive 3D product visualizations

With Vuframe, Bürkle has found a way to present its large machines and products to visitors comprehensively and in great detail at trade fairs. At Intersolar, the machines were not set up with elaborate technology or as mere dummies without technical content, but rather brought to life visually in 3D using an interactive touchscreen desk based on Vuframe technology.

The design, with its futuristic and innovative touch table, made a strong impression on visitors, immediately sparking their interest and leading to promising conversations with potential customers. Vuframe's 3D product presentation enhanced the experience with its diverse range of interactive 3D visualizations of Bürkle's machines. With a simple finger movement, interested parties could easily rotate or zoom in on the products to examine specific areas in detail.

The outstanding user experience was enhanced by the comprehensive informational elements of the Vuframe solution. This allowed for intuitive access to further data and information in the form of text, images, and videos whenever needed.

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In addition to the possibility of presenting even very large systems and products in a visually outstanding way with all their functionalities in the confined exhibition environment, the Vuframe technology offers another decisive advantage for visitors and exhibitors: a significant simplification of the post-fair follow-up.

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Visitors can easily download the application to an app and take the entire product catalog home in a digital, pocket-sized format on their smartphone or tablet. Exhibitors can also easily send the displayed simulations to interested parties via email, saving themselves the time-consuming manual compilation of viewing materials for customers.

Furthermore, the app makes it easy to schedule video calls to clarify any questions that may have remained unanswered during a trade fair conversation. This also significantly increases the chances of a successful business deal.

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The Vuframe solution clearly demonstrates that size isn't everything. On the contrary, a truly exceptional user experience doesn't need to rely on sheer size. Instead, it stands out from the crowd in the bustling trade fair environment by providing all the necessary information – in the form of text, simulations, videos, and interactive 3D/CAD product models – at a glance, even long after the actual trade fair has ended.

The technologies developed by Regensburg-based Vuframe GmbH thus represent the future of digital 3D product presentations. They elevate customer interaction to a completely new level by offering prospective customers a user experience that is both varied and informative – all at manageable costs, anytime and anywhere.