Electrical Contracting News (ECN) September 2017 | Page 14

COVER STORY TOP LIGHTING TIPS Top tips on how to prepare for the new lighting season and ensure you’re ahead of the game. T he 2017/2018 lighting season marks yet another exciting transition for the electrical trade with many innovations being introduced to the market. With so much new technology coming to the fore it’s sometimes hard to stay apace with change and with the whole lighting industry going through an education process, it’s important to analyse what it means for you and your customers. Ledvance provides some tips to prepare for the season ahead, providing insights and recommending products to ensure companies stay ahead. 1. Take advantage of new lighting trends LED luminaires will continue to play a key role. They are long-lasting, energy efficient, include a rated lifespan of up to 50,000 hours and energy savings of up to 90 per cent. This year, product ranges such as the Ledvance Downlight Slim, being launched this October, provide homogenous light distribution due to edge lighting. The light guide for LED light panel (LGP) is made from poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) for longer life and the range has an integrated driver for easy handling and installation. A fast-connector-box with push button terminal and strain relief enables safe, fast and professional installation, in line with safety-regulations. These products are also thinner than other downlights with a 29mm built in height, which allows installation in shallow ceiling voids. 2. Check out the latest design ideas The latest design advice about lighting informs many of the trends that are seen in the trade. Look out for new industry updates during this lighting season in professional lighting industry media, or the Ledvance website, to keep abreast of what’s new and different. Outdoor lighting design, for example, is set for a new wave of products with the launch of Ledvance’s new contemporary outdoor residential designs this December. These areas will benefit from a range of warm white luminaires of up to 3,000k, lasting 50,000 hours and cased in an elegant aluminium die-cast housing with powder finish. 3. Keep an eye on quality Industry transformation and megatrends are drastically changing the international lighting market. The associated challenges influence the demands of 14 | September 2017 ‘The latest design advice about lighting informs many of the trends that are seen in the trade.’ professional users and therefore also affect electrical wholesalers. It’s key to keep up to date with industry technology and the latest developments. This is even more important considering the numbers of new entrants who have flooded the marketplace. Look out for safe and reliable products that not only go beyond industry standards, but add value. For instance, this December, the Ledvance Panel LED Value range will be launched, which has less than five per cent flickering – a crucial standard in an office environment. 4. Choose your manufacturer wisely With many sub-standard LEDs in the market, it is prudent to choose your manufacturer carefully. When electrical contractors were asked during an international study by Ledvance what their top priorities were for selecting an electrical wholesaler, 55 per cent said trust was the most important factor. Since Ledvance became independent last year, the company is expanding organically. It is therefore passionately focused on broadening and enhancing its expertise in all fields of the general lighting market. This includes the launch of the Ledvance Surface Compact IK10, a vandal and anti-theft proof range that’s aesthetically pleasing, as well as being damp proof and slim at around 56mm height! 5. Build your knowledge With such a radical transition taking place in the market, contractors must continue to build their knowledge, or they will fall behind the competition. Enhance your knowledge by using tools which have been developed with contractors in mind, such as: www. Ledvance.com/tools. They will facilitate professional recommendations based on credible technical data and measurements. Attending key events can help, including Light and Build 2018 where Ledvance will present its new Damp Proof Compact range, setting a benchmark for tool-free, easy to install, wide beam angle products. Other products include the High Bay – GEN II, new emergency luminaires and exit signs. Also visit the UK’s newest electrical design and install show, ED&I Expo, on 6 and 7 September 2017, to hear about some of the latest Ledvance luminaire product range developments. Ledvance will be exhibiting at booth 31 and 32. LED luminaires continue to play a key role in new lighting trends. ED&I EXPO Headline Sponsor Electrical Design & Install Expo | NEC, Birmingham, 6 - 7 September 2017 For further information from Ledvance visit: www.Ledvance.com Visit us on stands 31 & 32.