Marshall-Tufflex solves historic museum’s exhibition challenge

When Cambridge’s historic Fitzwilliam Museum required a flexible power delivery system for temporary exhibition galleries it turned to cable management solutions manufacturer Marshall-Tufflex and its MT32 prefabricated modular wiring system.

The Fitzwilliam Museum, founded in 1816, is the principal museum of the University of Cambridge and a leading centre for art historical research and conservation. In addition to permanent galleries, the museum has two galleries for temporary exhibitions. With each exhibition requiring a different display layout, power supplies have to be regularly reconfigured.

Previously the museum’s in-house facilities team hardwired power cables to plug into floor sockets using extension leads, a costly and time-consuming process. The museum needed a flexible power delivery system that avoided trailing extension leads. Identifying the need for a plug and play, pre-wired underfloor distribution system to supply power, Marshall-Tufflex’s MT32 system ticked all the boxes.

“We looked at a few different plug and play systems but none of them were flush enough to the wall for the display cabinets to be positioned,” said Darren Potter, Chief Technician of Facilities at the Fitzwilliam Museum.

“We also wanted a simple system in order to adjust the lids to correspond with the plug-in-lengths with ease. We have experienced one change of exhibition so far and ordered extra lengths for this purpose. It’s early days but we are happy with the result and in the longer term we hope to save money as well as time.”

The museum also required trunking that would not only match the light oak floor (the trunking sits on the floor at skirting level within the gallery) but would also meet Historic England approval as the building and its galleries are Grade I listed.

“Marshall-Tufflex’s Sterling Profile in Light Oak was the closest match. We also chose Sterling Profile 3 as it had square edges rather than bevelled ones, making it easier for us to fit the trunking flush into the skirting void behind the wall,” said Darren.

The completed installation complied with the strict specification requirements of the Fitzwilliam Museum and Historic England, providing a cost-effective solution for future layout changes.

Marshall-Tufflex’s MT32 power delivery system and Sterling Profile 3 in Light Oak were supplied by Newey & Eyre, Cambridge.

www.marshall-tufflex.com