Category: industry updates

This forum granted attendees access to the latest industry developments with engaging discussions and networking opportunities. With the comprehensive programme the day included essential technical updates on compliance, competency, and legislation among other topics. The line-up of expert speakers ensured a day filled with knowledge and practical advice, tailored to help delegates stay ahead in the sector by sharing their insights, inspiration and experiences with the audience.

Speakers included the LIA’s CEO Ayça Donaghy, Commercial and Training Manager Teresa Beazley, and Technical Operations Manager Dan Griffiths, providing information on how The LIA can best support its members, recognising that competency is a journey, and technical organisational updates.

An incredible lineup of guest speakers included Peter Thorns, Head of Strategic Lighting Applications at Thorn Lighting, who sits on several LIA committees and chairs Building Regulations Technical Committee, discussing Approaches to Effective Lighting Design and Dark Skies and Compliance. John Bullock, Editor at The Light Review shared his expert knowledge on The Science of Light. Paul Sargent, LIAQA and Overseas Activities Manager, and Andy Guest, LIA Membership Services Manager, highlighting the importance of Ecodesign and Energy Labelling. Neil McLean, Industry Relations (Europe and Asia), Lutron Electronics, and who chairs The LIA’s Sustainability committee, shared Sustainability Standards in relation to NABERS, BREEAM and WELL.

Key takeaways included John Bullock’s memorable quote from his incredible presentation the Science of Light: “Without light none of us are here; without light nothing is here.” During his talk he presented the view that the science of light is wrong, and it is the perception of light that is important.

Teresa Beazley, LIA Commercial and Training Manager, in her talk The Role of Training towards Competence, stated that true competence goes beyond the classroom, and it is not something to do alone, giving thought to the future collaboration of professionals in the industry. It was also demonstrated that there is still a lack of understanding for what is required from the Eco Design regulation, as covered in Andy Guest’s and Paul Sargent’s presentation, where they highlighted how we still have much to learn as a sector.

Feedback for the forum from peers in the lighting industry includes a comment from Shaun Lawry, Product Development Manager EMEA, Sylvania, who said, “A big thanks to The LIA for putting on a spectacular event.” Graeme Shaw, Technical Director at Zumtobel Group, added, If you want to know, this event will answer your questions practically.” Mike Edwards, Hispec’s Lighting Product Manager, commented, “There was a great mix of presenters from both The LIA and its members, making for an informative and engaging forum.”

While Jason Dwan of Ansell Lighting concluded, “The LIA’s Technical Forum was very informative; we especially enjoyed the discussions around Dark Sky and the keynote speaker who added a very new dimension to lighting. My team and I thoroughly enjoyed the event. It was great to see the restructure and new focus The LIA have in terms of promotion from within and structuring the new leadership team to focus on member support and driving the industry forward.”

Ayça Donaghy, CEO of The LIA said “It was a pleasure to host another successful, and well attended LIA Autumn Tech Forum covering the industry’s hot topics.

We have had some great feedback from those attending – huge thanks to all of the speakers for their expertise, and our members who joined us for the day.”

The Autumn Tech Forum resonated greatly with delegates, with the positive responses about the day reflecting that. Attendees had the chance to engage with respected speakers in their field throughout the day while demonstrating The LIA’s focus on Quality and Compliance for the future of the industry.

Pharos Architectural Controls has announced it will be marking the end of its 20th anniversary year of celebrations by exhibiting at LiGHT 2024 in November.

The Pharos team will return to stand U40 at the Business Design Centre in London to welcome a host of familiar faces from the lighting industry who have extended their warmth and support for the year-long celebration of the controls specialist, which has included an in-depth series of podcast interviews with eminent figures in lighting.

As well as heralding the close of the anniversary celebrations, the Pharos team will also be highlighting the benefits of some of its newest products, including the RIO G4 4-port DMX gateway, which provides cost-effective Ethernet-distributed DMX ports. Visitors to the stand can also see the RIO D4 4-port DALI device, which provides a convenient and scalable way to control DALI fixtures and ballasts from Pharos Designer controllers and receive DALI commands.

Additionally, the Pharos team will be showcasing the next generation LPC X S3, and updating visitors on the latest developments with the VLC+ M.

The stand will also play host to some in-depth Pharos software demonstrations, from Designer DMX Record, which combines multiple recording and Designer’s override effects together in the LPC’s powerful playback engine, to the very latest updates in Expert, including the free mobile app for iOS and Android, which allows any touch device on the local network to host beautiful, automatically generated pages for project control over Wi-Fi.

Ryan Sainsbury, Regional Sales Manager for the UK and Northern Europe at Pharos, said: “We are excited to share key updates and innovations in our hardware and software ranges with stand visitors and look forward to meeting with some familiar faces as the lighting industry comes for what has become an important event in the sector’s calendar. As well as demonstrating our products, we’ll also be taking the opportunity to celebrate our milestone 20th anniversary on the stand, which has been an important part of our year in 2024.”

As this year’s edition of Nobel Week Lights takes place, Fagerhult continues its Principal Partnership of the Nobel Prize Museum’s growing light festival. The event is a tribute through the art of light to the Nobel Prize laureates and their contributions to the greatest benefit to humankind.

Nobel Week Lights is open to the public and takes place at sixteen locations around central Stockholm from December 7th through 15th. The partnership between Nobel Week Lights and Fagerhult links our solid shared passion for light, science, and innovation.

“The light festival has quickly become a very popular event that attracts Stockholmers and international guests during Nobel week. We are delighted to offer this opportunity to experience fantastic light art and be part of celebrating this year’s prize winners,” says Erika Lanner, head of the Nobel Prize Museum, which presents the festival with several partners.

The light festival showcases the creative interpretations of Swedish and international artists, each offering a unique perspective on illuminating the December darkness of Stockholm.

“This is our second year of partnership, and we are glad to continue exploring light taking shape through art. To us, the connection between light and human interaction is significant. It is an honor to be a part of such an insightful event where we all can experience and learn more about how light makes us feel,” says Henrik Clausen.

One of this year’s highlights is the Danish art collective Vertigo’s “The Wave” installation. This interactive journey through light and sound, located along Norrbro just outside the Swedish Parliament, invites visitors to become part of the art. The immersive nature of the installation allows visitors to walk through and around the construction, influencing the audible and visual content. The art piece, standing 3.6 meters tall and 80 meters long, is a testament to the power of human interaction in shaping the experience.

“To us, light and research are closely connected. We lean on each other as we explore new technology together with human interaction. Light has unique properties when it comes to connecting people,” says Henrik Clausen.

About Nobel Week Lights

Nobel Week Lights is open to the public and attracts a large international audience. It offers 60 guided tours to experience large-scale public light art around Stockholm.

Nobel Week Lights was initiated and produced by Annika Levin, Alexandra Manson, Lara Szabo Greisman, and Troika AB. The festival is part of the Nobel Week program. It is presented by the Nobel Prize Museum and with the support of the City of Stockholm, Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, Fagerhult, FAM, Grand Hôtel Stockholm, Einar Mattsson AB, Erling-Persson Foundation, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, and numerous other partners.

Ely Cathedral has been awarded the prestigious gold Eco Church Award by the Christian conservation charity A Rocha UK in recognition of their dedication and commitment to taking action on climate change. Ely Cathedral is part of a national community of over 7,500 churches and cathedrals addressing the environmental crisis using the scheme, becoming only the 3rd Cathedral to achieve this award.

The Cathedral’s recent Annual Report demonstrates 2023 as the lowest year in carbon emissions, a reduction of 42% from the peak in 2019. Ely Cathedral’s community environment group, RENEW, was formed in 2019 and joined forces with the Cathedral Chapter’s Environment Working Group in 2021 to use the Eco Church framework strategically and methodically to get as close as they can to ‘net zero’ by 2030.

One of the key upgrades made to the Cathedral was to replace the existing lighting system with a more energy-efficient LED system, to reduce energy usage and lower the building’s carbon footprint. CBG Consultants offered a comprehensive lighting design service with a focus on sustainability and energy management to aid Ely Cathedral in meeting their award goal. The upgraded lighting scheme uses high-quality LED light sources with smart controls, which allows the lighting across the whole Cathedral to be pre-set and changed to meet the needs of various worship services and events.

Ely Cathedral has achieved gold standards across all areas of the Eco Church survey, but they have also implemented initiatives that demonstrate their creativity and forward-thinking approach, including cutting paper use by adopting downloadable service sheets, regular litter picks, an innovative approach to food waste and engagement with Fareshare, a national charity that turns food surplus into meals.

The magnificent land and gardens around the Cathedral are being managed to respect the surrounding nature, including recently planted hedgerows, a release site for rescued hedgehogs and plans to plant an orchard. The lighting design is considerate of the impact on the wider environment, reducing unwanted light spills and pollution to be sympathetic to local wildlife and residents.

Bruce Kirk Director from CBG Consultants said, “We are extremely proud of Ely Cathedral for achieving this rare Gold status and showcasing their commitment for taking action on climate change. We were thrilled to support Ely Cathedral’s journey through our expertise and passion in promoting sustainable design. Our rigorous design standards and years of technical expertise mean that we strive to mitigate the negative impact whilst maximising the benefits of good lighting design to meet best practices. This has brought positive changes to the Cathedral and helps them to improve their carbon footprint moving forward.”

The Very Revd Mark Bonney, The Dean of Ely, added, “We want to say a huge thank you to CBG Consultants for supporting us in our journey to achieving the gold Eco Church Award. The LED lighting solutions and thoughtful design have ensured that the lighting uses less energy and produces a reduced carbon footprint while still providing the high-quality illumination we require for our services. It is enormously gratifying that our care for God’s creation and respect for the natural world has been recognised in this way. This award is a fantastic recognition of all that we do – and will continue to do – to create a sustainable future for this world.”

“Studio N has been shaking up the lighting industry in UAE with its agile and accessible approach to design, so we feel the time is right to bring this vision to the UK. We’ve stripped everything back to the essentials to give smaller projects, interior design studios and architecture practices exactly what they need — great lighting design and personal relationships. Simple.” Paul Nulty, Founder, Studio N.

After a commercially successful six years curating a unique service offer for interior, architecture and landscape schemes in the MENA region, Studio N expands its operation and officially launches in London – following a steady stream of project work in the UK’s private residential and F&B sectors.

The London studio will be headed up by Managing Partner Greg Lobina, who joins the team from John Cullen Lighting where he was responsible for growing project work and nurturing collaborative relationships within the interior designer and architect community. He brings over 25 years of experience to the business, having previously led business development for leading international brands such as DELTALIGHT, Artemide, and Philips.

Greg will be supported by Amy Weatherly, one of Nulty’s most talented lighting designers, to forge a dynamic, forward-thinking team. A trained lighting designer and product designer with cross-sector experience, Amy has been an integral part of the London studio for the past five years and will draw upon this wealth of project expertise to deliver inspirational lighting schemes for Studio N’s clients.

Leading lighting solutions provider LITE is encouraging clients to consider the impressive results that could be achieved for mapping projects by using gobos.

Having partnered with trusted gobo manufacturer Goboservice at the start of 2024, LITE has been overwhelmed with the capabilities of their solutions. Goboservice, by Sunland Optics, is a trusted manufacturer of high-definition, low-power projectors that illuminate buildings, streets, and businesses around the world and custom gobos.

Awareness has been growing of the solutions and what the technologies can offer, and LITE is keen to share the incredible results that can be achieved through the use of Goboservice’s gobos and projectors.

To achieve stunning visual effects, the projector works in harmony with the gobos. The term gobo is an acronym of “goes on before optics” because of its placement and is a glass disc laser-engraved at a definition up to 4000 dp, allowing for more detailed and colourful projections. Once this is in position, the light passes through it or reflects off it, projecting the image onto a surface.

These products are ideal for bringing the dynamics and impressive effects of architectural lighting to events and stunts, exhibitions, and the entertainment sector.

LITE’s Managing Director Steve Hainsworth said: “LITE’s partnership with Goboservice is proving to be a real asset to the lighting sector, and LITE clients can now access their exciting solutions that offer a wealth of opportunities.

“We’re looking forward to showcasing these solutions and more next month at LiGHT 24 – the UK’s only exhibition dedicated to high-end lighting specification. Spanning the 20th and 21st of November at the Business Design Centre in London.”

Giuseppe Dedola International Sales Director at Goboservice added: “At Goboservice, we are dedicated to providing high-quality, energy-efficient projection solutions that transform spaces into captivating visual experiences. Our partnership with LITE ensures that clients benefit from tailor-made lighting effects for any event or project.”

Partnering only with a number of market-leading manufacturers of dynamic LED and controls, LITE’s clients are assured they have access to the best-in-class lighting solutions.

House of Gods are a hotel chain based in the North of England. They are renowned for ambient, luxurious interiors that require high quality lighting.

Our client was looking to create natural daylight within their subterranean rooms that was still in keeping with the aesthetics of the sleeper train themed decoration.

We supplied 20 Dynamic White LED light panels at custom sizes to fit the varying window sizes within each room. The LED lighting system was equipped with DMX drivers that allowed full lighting control. Dynamically setting the lighting to replicate the time of day.

Following the success of the Edinburgh hotel, House of Gods Glasgow opened its doors in 2024. We have once again supplied the LED Lighting system.

The Lighting Industry Association (LIA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ayça Donaghy, our CEO, to the Board of LightingEurope.

With over 15 years of experience in the electro-technical sector and an Executive MBA from London Business School, Ayça has shown exceptional leadership at The LIA. Her initiatives have focused on sustainability and addressing skills gaps within the industry, coupled with her continued advocacy for comprehensive regulations in the UK. Recently, she was recognised in the ’40under40′ competition, highlighting her impactful contributions and strong communication skills within the industry.

Ayça Donaghy’s appointment to the Board of LightingEurope benefits LIA members in many ways. With her experience and voice on a broad platform, LIA members gain a strong advocate for their interests, particularly in shaping regulations that impact the sector, and this involvement opens up new networking opportunities for member organisations with key stakeholders across Europe.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ayça to our Board,” said Elena Scaroni, Secretary General of LightingEurope. “She will bring strong value to our mission with her commitment to innovation and the skills gap.”

Ayça commented on her new role “I am honoured to join the Board of LightingEurope and to represent The Lighting Industry Association in this role. Together, we can drive innovation and tackle the pressing challenges our industry faces, particularly in alignment with Europe and sustainability. I look forward to collaborating with my fellow board members to advance our shared mission.”

Heritage lighting specialists William Sugg & Co will be exhibiting for the first time at the prestigious Historic Buildings, Parks & Gardens Event (HBPGE), taking place at The QEII Conference Centre, London on the 12th November. Exhibiting on stand C14 the William Sugg team will be showcasing a curated collection from their heritage range, which offers traditional craftsmanship and design paired with modern technology to provide authentic lighting with outstanding performance.

As one of the key gatherings for professionals in the heritage, restoration, and conservation sectors, the Historic Buildings, Parks & Gardens Event provides a unique platform for William Sugg to share its latest contributions to the preservation and enhancement of historic sites, landscapes, and architecture. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about how the company’s heritage lighting solutions support the conservation of heritage assets while addressing modern-day challenges.

Suppliers of decorative heritage gas and electric exterior lighting for over 175 years, William Sugg’s team of skilled artisans design, handcraft, reproduce, refurbish and refit heritage lighting for a range of projects across the country and around the globe. The company’s extensive expertise in historic buildings, parks and gardens is renowned, and includes projects at Buckingham Palace, in Hyde Park and the Houses of Parliament, for organisations such as English Heritage and the National Trust, and for projects with historical significance such as the Bluebell Railway. The company was also commissioned to provide an eye-catching heritage lighting feature for the gold-medal winning garden at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, designed by Robert Myers. The company’s historical Grosvenor lantern design was specified to take centre stage in the arresting entrance archway, reminiscent of the gateway leading to the churchyard of St James’s Piccadilly.

Tailoring to the specific needs of each individual project, the company draws on the expertise and historical knowledge of Chris Sugg, the founder, William Sugg’s Great Great Grandson, its Historical Advisor and Honorary Director.

For almost 40 years, the annual event for historic buildings, landscape conservation and heritage sectors plays host to owners, guardians, volunteers, professional management staff and advisors from all three sectors. Featuring over 70 exhibitors from the historic buildings, landscape conservation and heritage sectors, the HBPGE will include live demonstrations, short talks and the opportunity to meet with industry experts.

Lucy Bubb, Managing Director of Wiliam Sugg & Co explains:

“As specialists in heritage lighting design and manufacture, the Historic Buildings, Parks & Gardens Event is the perfect opportunity for us to demonstrate our expertise, knowledge and craftsmanship. We’re looking forward to meeting with our peers in the industry, making new connections, sharing insights and exploring collaborative opportunities in the heritage sector.”

Ware – October 2024

Bangkok's Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge, a historic symbol, has undergone a
significant lighting enhancement as part of the city's celebrations for His Majesty the
King's 72nd birthday. In collaboration with Tasjinda Co, Ltd, CU Phosco has once
again demonstrated its expertise in delivering energy-efficient, high-performance
lighting solutions honouring Bangkok's rich heritage.

Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge, a century-old structure that graces Bangkok's inner
city, is a testament to the city's architectural heritage. Designed by Italian architect
Carlo Allegri and inspired by Paris's Pont Alexandre III, the bridge is adorned with
intricate steel frames and marble lamp posts. Inaugurated by King Chulalongkorn
(Rama V) in 1903, this bridge is a historical monument near the United Nations
offices in Thailand, Rajadamnern Boxing Stadium, and the Government House.

The bridge, which played a pivotal role during political demonstrations between 2010
and 2014, has now been modernised with a cutting-edge lighting solution provided
by CU Phosco. This project, executed as part of the broader "Celebrations on the
Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty the King's 6th Cycle Birthday Anniversary,"
sought to enhance the bridge's aesthetic appeal and safety while achieving
significant energy savings.

CU Phosco, through its local partner Tasjinda Co, Ltd, delivered a comprehensive
lighting solution featuring FL820 LED floodlights. Known for their exceptional
performance, durability, and energy efficiency, the floodlights were pivotal in meeting
the project's key requirements: increased lumen output, a cool white light, no light
pollution, and reduced energy consumption.

The project involved replacing the previous 36 metal halide (MH) luminaires, each
consuming 440W, with just 9 FL820 LED floodlights, each drawing 500W. The
FL820 floodlights, designed to replace traditional 1kW or 2kW systems, offer
superior luminaire efficacy of up to 154 lm/W and feature a low-glare design,
ensuring compliance with IESNA standards while minimising light spill into
surrounding areas.

The project also included replacing mast-mounted control cabinets, connectors, and
underground cables, all of which were completed within the 60-day timeframe.

Implementing CU Phosco's FL820 LED floodlights at Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge
substantially increased light output, making the area brighter, more appealing, and
overall safer, ensuring better visibility for drivers and pedestrians. The upgrade
reduced the total energy consumption from 15,840W to 4,500W, translating into a
remarkable 72% energy saving. This project highlights the bridge's architectural
beauty and reinforces Bangkok's commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency.
Pop Jindavanich, representative of Tasjinda Co, Ltd, commented, "The Makkhawan
Rangsan Bridge project showcases the impact of innovative lighting solutions in
preserving and enhancing the historical essence of Bangkok's landmarks. Having
been impressed with CU Phosco's results on earlier projects, the end customer was
eager to achieve the same level of efficiency and light quality in this prestigious
project. The significant energy savings and improved light quality result from our
commitment to delivering excellence."