The Fold, by Ori

Installation day is always an exciting event for the Ori team and our developer partners. After the test fitting, planning, installation schematics and manufacturing, it's finally time to see it all come together.

The installation process is quicker than you might think—installation times vary by product and total number of systems being installed, but typically each Ori system can be installed by our certified technicians in less than a day, and in less than 4-5 hours for some products.

“Our team has installed Ori products all over the country, in new buildings and old buildings, big projects, small projects—we’ve seen it all,” says Robin DePesa, service and installation manager at Ori. “Our goal is to deliver an experience that is as good as our amazing products -- to make the process as simple and smooth as possible.”

As the big day approaches, here’s what you can expect.

Shipping Logistics

Ori partners with a third-party logistics (3PL), warehousing and distribution company that has a nationwide network of facilities located in or near many major cities. Your order is shipped out to these facilities in preparation for last-mile delivery to your building.

Shipping is made easy due to Ori products’ modular design. Each product is flat-packed, with many components and panels “nested”. Each pallet is hand-picked by our supplier partners and carefully packed to ensure every piece arrives in mint condition.

On installation day, the pallets are moved from the local warehouse to the project site. Our team coordinates with the building staff to ensure smooth unloading via docks and freight elevators where available—although we’ve worked with walk-up buildings as well (nothing like some extra cardio in the morning).

Each Ori product is staged in its corresponding apartment unit for the installation technicians to begin. With all the hardware they’ll need already pre-packed, the installers only need a few hand tools, a drill and the installation manual (at least for the first one or two installations).

The key to a smooth installation is access. “Access is everything,” says DePesa. “Making sure the installation team has access to the loading dock, freight elevators, and the units themselves helps the whole installation process run like clockwork.” Having someone from your team available on installation day to assist with any access or with any issues that may arise is key.

It’s also important to share relevant hallway, elevator, and doorway dimensions with the installation team. This way, the team can prepare properly ahead of time and bring the right dollies and equipment to transport the Ori products from the delivery truck to the individual units.

Certified Installers

We design Ori products to be modular, all our products come with a comprehensive installation manual, and we have developed a set of step-by-step assembly/installation videos. Still, Ori systems require professional installation, so our team trains and certifies each installation team to make sure they are completely comfortable with the products and proficient with the process.

The installation teams we work with come from a mix of local and national companies trusted by top brands and vetted by us to deliver at the quality and speed we require. Before starting any project, we ensure that all of our installation teams carry all the insurance necessary to perform work in your building.

“We make sure that all technicians on-site are insured, bonded, and trained. These are professional installers,” says DePesa. “We’ll work with your building to make sure that any specific insurance requirements are met prior to installation so there are no concerns when it comes to standards of expected professionalism.”

Unpacking and Building

Once staged in the unit, installation crews begin the process of unpacking and assembling the system. This is where things get exciting—and it can move quickly.

Before getting started, the units should be cleared; then, once the boxes are delivered to the units, the components are unpacked, packing materials are removed, and components organized so it’s easy for the installers to get right to installation. Depending on the size of the project, some rooms may be staged and left for later installation.

Installation times vary depending on the product, but every Ori product can be assembled in less than a day. Smaller systems like the Pocket Closet can be completed in as few as three hours.

For horizontal track-based systems—the Pocket Closet, Pocket Office, and Studio Suite Slim/Original—installation begins by placing the track on the ground using industrial tape. After that, the mechanical components and chassis—including the wheels and motor that move the system—are assembled. From there, furniture panels are installed onto the chassis, followed by furniture accessories including the doors, interior shelves, and hardware.

Finally, the electronic components are attached to the system’s computer board that controls the Ori, and the iconic Ori Square—the user interface on each product—is attached to the system.

For vertical systems—the Cloud Bed, Sofa Edition and Cloud Bed, Table Edition—installation begins by assembling the frame and then adding drywall anchors for stability (no need to go into studs). The frame is then leveled and the base furniture components are added. Next, the canopy is installed, followed by the bed structure. As the bed is built, weights are added to the counterweight box that helps the bed move safely and efficiently. Finally, electronic components are installed, the back panels put in place to cover the counterweights and the Ori Square is attached.

Testing and System Setup

After each Ori product is assembled, the team will put each system through a thorough testing phase during which it is moved through its operational cycles to ensure everything is working properly, and then will set the position and pre-sets of each system to provide the best experience for the resident (these position pre-sets can easily be changed to a tenant’s preference). Each system contains sophisticated, self-learning firmware, or embedded software, that continuously monitors, measures and calibrates weight, distance, movement, floor undulations, and many other conditions in order to optimize its performance.

“We run each system between 10 and 20 cycles to make sure everything is working and so the software can map the movement path,” DePesa explains. “Ori systems use laser guidance to move, and this laser is initially calibrated by moving the system back and forth repeatedly.”

Installers have a multipoint QA/QC checklist to complete for each system. Besides testing the movement, installers test to make sure every drawer and door moves smoothly, outlets are functional, the lights are working, and numerous other items. They also will check for any dings or scratches that may have occurred during installation and make any necessary cosmetic repairs.

As a finishing touch, assembled Ori systems are wiped down to remove fingerprints or smudges from the installation process and the room is cleaned. Your installation team will then take all packaging materials and dispose of them according to your maintenance team’s procedures.

Next Steps

Installation may now be complete, but your Ori experience is just getting started! Our marketing and leasing support teams onboard and support your onsite building teams, training them on the installed Ori products and ensuring that your entire team is familiar with not only the operation of the systems, but with the whole experience of living with Ori.

And then for the best part of all: happy and excited residents get to enjoy the amazing experience delivered by you (with a little help from Ori).