CUBE Technologies

PHILOSOPHY
Cube
COMMITMENTS
CUBE TOMORROW
Cube histoire

BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY continuous innovation

CUBE conceives and sells intelligent systems entirely dedicated to controlling electrical distribution in exhibition spaces as well as in tertiary and industrial premises.

These connected systems, which we first developped 15 years ago, answer an increasingly important need to save time and optimize working conditions in an industry that seeks to improve its economic, environmental and societal performance.

CUBE’s credo is collective intelligence: many of our developments are the fruit of close collaborations with major business actors, partners or clients. This method of co-development enables us to optimize the product or service solutions we offer thanks to an ongoing dialogue between the various parties involved.

Cube Profils

Thanks to the multi-skilled profile of each member of our team, CUBE develops all our products, services and solutions internally.

The company controls every stage of our products' design cycle, from different parts' CAD data to developing the software applications included.

Internally we manage:

Programming embedded software
Programming back office – business software
Handling the complete development chain (circuit boards, plastic tools, sheet metal)
Managing suppliers and logistics
Overseeing a quality process
Managing certifications
Realizing special pieces and accessories

François LAURENT CEO

Vincent RUBY Technical director

Laurent DEVILLE Software R&D manager

Christophe BRIEL Product & purchasing manager

Samuel GAILLARD Software Developer

Ryan CHINGWAY UI UX developer

Marion FANJAUD UI UX Programmation

Jean-Gabriel GUERRY Production & maintenance manager

Stéphanie CASATI Administrative and accounting assistant

Gabriela KÜNZLI International Development

CUBE commitments

RSE bv CUBE

CSR by CUBE

CUBE continually improves the processes and technologies it offers without succumbing to the idea of programmed obsolescence. The embedded electronics that evolve with each innovative step are transmitted into already-existing systems to guarantee compatibility between CUBE’s different systems and also our earlier generations of products and solutions.

For example : in 2014, CUBE implanted a recognition and dialogue solution using TAG NFC (a no-contact technology implanted in smartphones) in all KEOPS V321R cases OR boxes produced in 2009, making them completely “up to date”.

Design & eco-conception by CUBE

CUBE has made an ambitious commitment in its positioning : design a radically innovative product offer and services to minimize the carbon footprint during a product’s life cycle !

There are two choices to reach our objective: Mobilize internal resources and through our choice of suppliers.

Our internal resources :
CUBE is equipped with important means (CAD tools, softwear developed for specific tests, …) before and after production that lets us to master the entire production chain.

Our suppliers:
CUBE recruits local players who are implicated in the R&D process as true partners.

This double mastery allows us to find manufacturing sites near key exhibition centers, while continuing to assure quality control and guarantee the protection of our patent rights which have international value.

CUBE TOMORROW

New ventures for the future:

A digital service provider:
You'll be able to reserve and modify your booth's energy consumption like booking a train ticket in the future! KEOPS EXPO is already working towards this with QR code and NFC Tag technology included with our terminals.

Tracking to boost sales:
Exhibitors in the future will have complete control over their consumption. This means we need to be able to offer them a range of different types of energy (green energy, blue energy and grey energy), at different rates. KEOPS EXPO solutions offer detailed tracking, booth per booth.

Diversify to optimise our services:
Integrating KEOPS EXPO terminals in an intelligent monitoring system designed to adjust the level of lighting during the day is a technological feat and represents a major challenge within CUBE's expertise: save energy, reduce environmental impact and keep costs down!

Distribute to balance energy consumption:
Events currently use an unlimited supply of energy. In the future, energy providers will be required to limit the amount of power they supply for large events. Reducing consumption means organisers will have to distribute the energy available depending on each exhibitor or stakeholder's level of need (e.g restaurants, activities etc.).
This will require a dynamic configuration system to control the distribution of power available in real time.

Cube histoire

2022 CUBE ACCESS, a new, easy to use solution

Two years of brainstorming, designing and software development! The ACCESS product line is our latest solution for equipping medium-sized venues, especially convention and conference venues.
This solution has been designed around two strong ideas:

Quality of service:
To offer exhibitors switchboards that are 100% integrated into the structure of the stand, without cables on the floor but with maximum available connections.

Quick and easy implementation:
Whether it's installing the electrical boxes or controlling them via the new ACCESS software suite developed by CUBE's programming teams, everything is designed to save time. The splitter, for example, allows up to six single-phase switchboards, whose maximum power is programmable in 100 W increments, to be supplied from a single three-phase power supply.

In addition, the software enables control in the vicinity of the boxes via Bluetooth, so that no connection to the Wi-Fi network of the respective location is required. The ACCESS solution is therefore also ideal for electricians working at different locations.

2020 THE CUBE KEOPS, a brandnew design

Based on its expertise, CUBE is developing a new enclosure for three-phase switchboards.
THE CUBE, this new model, is initially destined for the Viparis exhibition venue at Paris, Porte de Versailles.

It is made of polyethylene and manufactured by rotational moulding. Its design and robustness meet all the requirements of the Expo.

Easy to transport and store, the power distributor has been designed so that the exhibitors' single-phase and CEE sockets can be integrated in the depth of the enclosure. The distributor can thus be placed against the partition wall without additionally obstructing the exhibitor space.

2017 KELIPSE MULTI, evolution of the original concept

The original concept of KELIPSE has been revised to simplify the use of the switchboards.

The KELIPSE MULTI series consists of a 'master' switchboard with CUBE electronics and two 'slave' switchboards. It is the ideal solution for venues that want to equip themselves with enclosures with a new look and at the same time precisely control the power distribution on each stand or square.

The switchboards can be installed in the corners of traditional stands with partitions, but are also ideal for stand-alone use in expo or networking areas designed without partitions.

2014 KELIPSE, new cutting edge innovation

KELIPSE combines design, usability and performance to offer a solutiont that meets the needs of site managers, organisers and exhibitors.

After many years of developing tailored solutions to meet the overall constraints of each system, CUBE TECHNOLOGIES offers a new radical innovation: KELIPISE is an electrical distribution platform for electricity networks that can be integrated in all widely used modular booth structures.

The KELIPSE platform is located at the intersection between partition walls and supplies 2-4 stands with up to 6 kW of power and an Ethernet connection for each booth.

KELIPSE combines a radically innovative design with an intelligent solution to meet the needs and expectations of events professionals. The product offers innovative services for all stakeholders in the value chain (site managers, organisers, service providers and exhibitors), guarantees traceability and transparency and also reduces the environmental impact of events.

KELIPSE won the 2015 Design Observer Award (French design award).

2012 Remote metering platform

After developing three KEOPS solutions: INFRA, DISTRI and TERMINALS, specifically designed to manage booths' energy consumption, CUBE TECHNOLOGIES focused on the management of building's electricity supply networks.

Our first finding was that most sites did not have sub-metering in place. Organisers were billed for energy consumption based on general meter readings, or in the worst case scenario, using ancient calculation methods that no one knew the origins of!
Our second finding was that electricity networks on sites were not monitored, despite the multiple opportunities for saving energy involved in controlling daily distribution.

Using the experience and expertise gained thanks to KEOPS solutions, CUBE TECHNOLGOIES launched a remote metering and monitoring platform called e-cube in 2012.
The first site to benefit from this solution was VIPARIS, Porte de Versailles, with no less than 500 energy meters (lighting, HVAC and exhibitor power) monitored and controlled in real time.

Thanks to e-cube, the site now receives precise and reliable readings and controls energy distribution per space and per use at all times, helping to facilitate its relationship with third parties: service providers, organisers etc.

2011 New revolution

2009 is a pivotal year wedged between the 2008 crisis and new economic uncertainties. In order to meet the new demands of the clients and especially the smallest exhibition centres, CUBE TECHNOLOGIES begins from 2010 a new revolution of its original concept.

The target is this time to give access to the KEOPS Solution to all venues that do not wish to change their material but simply to complete it with the smart and communicating part.

CUBE TECHNOLOGIES invents then a new solution called KEOPS DISTRI based on the concept of a shared intelligence able to control several outputs.
Main advantages of the solution, it can receive the existing electrical boxes of the venue and make them intelligent and communicating at a cheaper cost.

2010 New concept

Until 2009 , CUBE TECHNOLOGIES has proposed a solution called «KEOPS SOLUTION » built around the monitoring software KEOPS MANAGER, linked to the KEOPS electrical boxes.

In 2010, Geneva PALEXPO wishes to use the concept and the advantages of the original KEOPS Solution, but into a different environment. The requirement is to settle elements of the solution inside the infrastructure of the venue, in close proximity to the main transformer.

After a year of development, a new KEOPS Solution is born and called KEOPS INFRA. It includes ICM and AM entirely reviewed to match the venue requirements.

Moreover, a new software module, Infra, is added to the existing KEOPS MANAGER software with numerous functionality entirely dedicated to the monitoring of electrical infrastructures, such as for instance the control of the network load in real time.

2009 The outcome

The concept of smart and communicating electrical box reaches a full maturity in 2009. With a production of more than 3000 units, CUBE TECHNOLOGIES still improves its version of V321R and equips it of the KEOPS ICM and AMxx components.

All the latest innovations are gathered together in this version : reinforced handle with a stacking system on the removable free standing support.
Supplying a 32A KCS plug, a protective glass on the ICM in polycarbonate with a worked out shape to enable stacking of electrical boxes and then reduce the necessary room to stock them, etc.

2009 is also for CUBE TECHNOLOGIES the occasion to propose an innovative product Support and numerous services to Users like renting additional products with CUBE SERVICES.

2008 The accessories

CUBE TECHNOLOGIES teams do not only optimize the KEOPS terminal, they also think to its environment.

Quickly an issue is coming up concerning the upstream 32A electrical connector. Until now it was carried out with individual banana connectors having real problems of integration and security of use.

A work in partnership with operations teams gave the opportunity to define real specifications and to realise to first 32A connector specialised for exhibitions, called KCS meaning KEOPS Connecting System.

Among the characteristics of this connector; let us cite its flat shape to snake under partitions or its locking system to be used without a residual current device upstream.

2007 First revolution

At the end of a European tour of major exhibition centres with the green terminal, it has been established that its functionality arouses a clear interest but its look does not seduce : too big, too green, etc. The terminal has to change and to become “modular”.

In 2007, CUBE TECHNOLOGIES launches an ambitious R&D program of nearly 1 million Euros supported by OSEO Innovation for the design and construction of a new smart, communicating and modular electrical box, called V321R. The 3rd version of KEOPS is born during the second semester 2007.

This product delivered to the Palais des Congrès in Paris, answers to different restrictions of size, storage, electrical distribution and Internet access required by the operational teams of the venue.

2005 First monitoring

4 years later and more than 1500 products are in use, the adventure of the smart terminal continues with the creation of CUBE TECHNOLOGIES. The version 2 of KEOPS is imagined on the existing basis for the biggest exhibition centre in Paris: Porte de Versailles.

At that time, it was a technological challenge to control 3000 terminals communicating through WiFi and grouped together over 200 000 sqm. 2005 marks the beginning of developments for the WiFi and the technological challenge is real since nobody has ever controlled in real time so many terminals.

The adjust of this part has required the development of a special protocol between the software and the terminals in order to take into account all the restrictions of this kind of venue.

2001 Le lancement

The first green terminals are rapidly called KEOPS. They are tested and spread in EUREXPO in the course of 2001.

The first presented version (V1.0) can be fine-tuned from 0 to 20 kW. It has a smart card reader available for technicians and exhibitors.

Technicians can set up the terminal thanks to a special card and define the parameters of the exhibitors order form. Exhibitors also have a smart card to trade with the sales department to exhibitors.

The revolution is for everybody, they suddenly exchange their screwdrivers and the usual agreements for smart cards and a monitoring system. The jolt is violent and so are the reactions.

Any change leads to a certain number of resistant people who are all the more reluctant that they are used to make profit of it.

2000 Getting closer

Despite the hard work of everybody, numerous problems remain and the predicted launch for September 2000 must be postponed for several months.

The terminal, initially composed of existing components, finally requires developments of specific electronic cards. Time is not on our side and by the end of the year the first prototype and first designs are made in CAD.

The final terminal takes shape with the target to create a product with a design radically different from standard electrical terminals. "What is different inside must be visible outside"

1999 1er design

The original idea was rapidly considered as an obvious challenge. Challenge on technical aspects with a new product on the edge of existing systems. Challenge to schedule a project to realize within 12 months instead of the 3 years generally requested for such projects. Finally, financial challenge, implying costs objectives very far from usual practical industrial experiences.

A project, a meeting, it is often quite simply that unlikely projects can become a reality. KEOPS Story has been possible thanks to the confidence of a manager from a big industrial manufacturer of electrical components, leader in electronic products of measure and control.

Gathering rapidly his development teams, the project has grown rapidly and became a reality with the first studies as well as the first designs.

Numerous unseen projects have not been considered, such as this electrical box “robot” version inspired from science-fiction movies.

1999 The beginning

The story begins in 1999 inside ROIRET EXPO, regional company handling electricity services management for the EUREXPO Exhibition Centre in LYON.

The trigger of this adventure was the awareness of too many breakdowns on exhibition stands. Too many breakdowns => many people requested => many problems to handle and a weak profitability.

To give an economic reality to the project, the confidence of a client was necessary. In 1999, the managers in charge of operations in the exhibition venue of EUREXPO in Lyon are convinced by the potentiality of the project and give the financial resources to ROIRET Expo to handle the first developments.

The very first phase of R&D (Research and Development) was effected in partnership with LEGRAND design office, on the concept of an electrical box, kind of a portable socket outlet combination in rubber. This project came to an end considering delays and costs incurred.