Overview

Compact Syngas Solutions develops compact, standalone energy conversion units that transform waste biomass and feedstocks into usable power — technology with real potential for remote and off-grid communities in developing regions. When it came to selling that technology to international customers, however, the machinery's physical scale was near-impossible to convey through traditional means.

Animated Technologies our sister company had already produced a technical animation for Compact Syngas Solutions, but customers still struggled to appreciate how large — and how capable — the equipment really was. With global travel restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic, Refgas had no practical way to invite clients to see the machinery in person. They needed a better solution.

‍

‍The Challenge

Three problems compounded each other:

• Scale perception: flat animation and video couldn't communicate the true physical footprint of the machinery in a way that resonated with buyers.
• Remote sales barrier: international prospects couldn't travel to inspect equipment, and Refgas couldn't travel to them.
• Engagement gap: standard product presentations weren't giving prospective clients and investors the immersive sense of the technology they needed to make confident decisions.

‍

The challenge was to create an experience that placed people inside the product — without either party ever needing to leave their desk.

‍

The Solution

Drawing on the optimised 3D models already developed during the animation project, we built a fully navigable virtual reality environment scaled to real-world dimensions. Users can walk around the machinery at 1:1 scale, exploring its footprint and physical presence in a way that no flat-screen format can replicate.

Interactive hotspots throughout the environment highlight key components — explaining their function, their role in the energy conversion process, and the engineering decisions behind them. The experience doesn't just show the product; it explains it.

The standout capability is multiplayer: Refgas representatives and their clients can enter the same virtual space simultaneously, from anywhere in the world. Sales conversations, technical walkthroughs, and investor demonstrations can happen inside the product itself — no travel required.

‍

‍What We Delivered

• A 1:1 scale VR environment built from optimised animation assets
• Interactive component hotspots with descriptive callouts for key functional areas
• Multiplayer capability enabling Refgas and clients to share the same virtual space in real time
• A remote-first sales and demonstration tool deployable without travel or on-site logistics

‍

‍Why It Matters

For companies selling large-scale industrial equipment — particularly into international markets — the gap between a technical specification sheet and genuine buyer conviction is significant. VR closes that gap. By placing prospective clients inside a life-size, fully interactive version of the product, Refgas can now run effective demonstrations that build understanding and confidence without the cost or complexity of physical site visits.

This project also demonstrated how existing assets — in this case, animation models already developed for Refgas — can be repurposed and extended into new formats, compounding their value without starting from scratch.

‍