Zumi Copter In-Track
The Copter In-Track from Belgian manufacturer Zumi is equipped with a 359-degree rotating strip, meaning that light can be directed from the profile onto any desired location, to cast the most light. Incredibly versatile, the fixture allows for two or more ‘Copters’ to be placed next to each other, without interfering with one another. Its slimline linear profile is available in either white or black, with an opal diffuser, while the ‘in-track’ adapter makes it appear as if the luminaire sticks to the ceiling.
Delta Light Hedra
Hedra is a series of pendant, spotlight and wall mounted luminaires, available as a full LED solution or for retrofit bulbs. Hedra adds refinement, finesse and colour to the existing Delta Light product portfolio. Characterised by an atypical hinge, a design element that not only catches the eye, but also serves as storage for technical parts within the luminaire. Aside from black and white, Hedra is also available in the new Gold Champagne and Black Bronze finishes. The faceted design of Hedra captures and reflects the ambient light with an ever-changing look as a result.
Flos Zero Track
A surface installed track with minimum physical size, the Zero Track from Flos Architectural allows for the insertion of a variety of dimmable fixtures for accent or general lighting. For a diffuse light, Piero Lissoni has designed Atom, a rectangular or round luminaire available in three different sizes according to the amount of light needed, and an accent element for a direct effect. Also on show was the Find Me spotlights by Jorge Herrera, applicable for a direct lighting beam.
XAL Unico
Unico represents a truly unique level of flexibility. The downlight offers the right solution for every requirement. Architects and lighting designers can choose between two mounting options (trim or trimless), seven design shapes, nine light insets, three colour temperatures and three control options, all of which can be individually combined. The micro-faceted reflector technology combines precise light control with a high level of efficiency and excellent glare reduction.
Modular Lighting Systems Pista
Pista is a thin and slim magnetic track rail system that is customisable in both length and configuration. With Pista you can combine linear LED, for general lighting, and spots, for accent lighting. Twin Bracket enables designers to use two parallel rails to create symmetrical or asymmetrical configurations, while Night Light is a light fixture in disguise: when the light is on, the black diffuser creates a soft glow. When off, it looks like an elegant black accent.
DIAL DIALux evo 8.1
With DIALux evo 8.1 DIAL has developed a new version of its lighting design software, which is now available for download free of charge. With this update the software is not only faster but also offers many new features, which make the user’s work easier. Among the new features are a help function, an assistant for importing DWG plans and documentation for zones extending over several floors.
LEDVANCE Spot Vario
The Spot Vario provides the ultimate flexibility in retail lighting installations. This recessed spotlight can be used as a classic downlight or as a wall washer. As a result, retailers can reconfigure their installation according to need, using accent or general lighting to illuminate temporary displays and promotions to best effect. Spot Vario is easy to install because it is connected to an external driver with a bayonet connection. The luminaire and the ECG can therefore be easily separated to allow DALI or DIM devices to be connected.
unonovesette Slash
Slash is designed for outdoor in-ground or surface mounted applications. It is available with different optics including wall washing and wall grazing. The internal optical system is tiltable +/- 20° from the outside of the fixture with a dedicated knob to minimise light pollution and optimise the light effect. Glare control is further enhanced by the unique linear anti-glare louvre, which is especially designed for wall washing and grazing applications providing exceptional uniformity.
Arcluce Krane
Krane combines unique and innovative design to solidity and elegance. It is available for pole installation in single or double application, both provided with a linear soft optic for high visual comfort without glare and no light pollution. In an elegant and solid extruded aluminium body, Krane finds its natural position in the most modern urban areas, it is the ideal solution for lighting business districts, new town squares and prestigious parks.
Nexoluce Omnia Series
The Omnia series by Nexoluce features uplights, downlights and projectors that are able to supply up to 24W, with a sleek body starting from 10.8cm in diameter and 7.5cm in depth. The COB version of Omnia hosts a new generation of Bridgelux LED and reaches 160lm/w with a variation of narrow, medium, wide and asymmetric optical systems. The other option of the product hosts CREE Power LEDs PCB with either three or nine units. The light beam angle ranges from 3.5 to 86 degrees.
Acclaim Lighting Flex Tube Pixel SE
Flex Tube Pixel SE is a flexible, side-emitting LED strip that features RGB control of every 3.27-inch section for virtually any exterior or interior lighting application. IP68-rated and submersible to three feet, Flex Tube Pixel SE has a highly durable, impact-resistant, PVC body that can be ordered to length to suit project requirements for customised lighting applications. Flex Tube Pixel SE provides a 160-degree beam angle, operates off of 24-volt DC power and produces 90 lumens per foot.
David Morgan Review: Applelec OLED Panels
David Morgan takes a closer look at the expansion of Applelec’s ventures into the world of OLED technology and its various applications in the industry.
It is ironic that OLED, one of the most recently developed light sources, is being marketed in the UK by a company that started life as a traditional metal fabricator. Applelec celebrates 20 years in business this year. Over this period it has developed first into illuminated signage, then into LED lighting panels and now into OLED panels.
Applelec was started by two boyhood friends, Ian Drinkwater and Paul Stothers, who first met at the age of 13. Ian was employed in his father’s metal working company and Paul joined as an apprentice in his early 20s. Ian is now the MD of Applelec, looking after business development and strategy, with a passion for innovation and R&D. Paul is the Production Director.
Applelec were early adopters of LED light sources as a way of replacing fluorescent lamps for illuminated signage. After seeing Korean-made side-illuminated prismatic panels at a lighting show in Hong Kong that had been originally developed for use with LCD TVs, Ian realised this would be an excellent back light source. He recognised it would work for not only signage, but also for general architectural and retail lighting. Marketed in the UK under the LED Light Sheet brand, the material has been enthusiastically adopted by architects, interior designers and lighting designers for use in a wide variety of applications. Applelec has been awarded the UK licence to the three patents covering the construction of LED Light Sheet.
Notable projects that Applelec has supplied LED Light Sheet for include back lighting the windows of the Tardis in Dr Who and integrated into New Dawn, the contemporary light sculpture celebrating Women’s Suffrage by artist Mary Branson, situated at the Houses of Parliament.
The latest venture for Applelec into the world of lighting materials has been to distribute OLED panels from both LG Display and OLEDWorks to complement their existing LED Light Sheet business.
I reviewed the OLED materials from LG Display for arc magazine in 2016 and it seems that full scale production of their range was delayed for a couple of years while a new production facility was built. The LG OLED products are now in production and marketed under the Luflex brand name. The Luflex range now includes nine different OLED panel products, including both rigid and flexible panels with their largest size flexible panel at 300mm x 300mm, the largest available in the market. The company’s main business is producing display components and systems for TVs, mobile phones and other digital devices.
While OLEDs for display use and for lighting applications share the same basic technology and science, it is not clear how much crossover there is in the production details of the two types of material. The most impressive applications for AMOLEDs (Active Matrix Organic LEDs) to date are the flexible displays being proposed for flip phone designs, and in huge screen TVs including the 88-inch LG TV. This size has been shown in prototype form this year at various trade shows. The TV application is a high volume use for OLED materials and presumably helps to provide the commercial support for products to be used in lighting applications.
The second OLED brand being marketed by Applelec in the UK is from the US company OLEDWorks. OLEDWorks purchased the Philips OLED business Lumiblade at the end of 2015 after Royal Philips decided to exit the lighting industry by floating the lighting division as a public company with a new brand name.
OLEDWorks, based in Rochester NY, was formed in 2010 and the management team includes John Hamer, who was responsible for commercialising OLEDs at Kodak in the late 1990s. OLEDs were invented at Kodak in the late 1970s and AMOLED displays were used in early Kodak digital cameras.
The OLEDWorks flexible panels branded LumiCurve Wave (Applelec brand it the Ripple) are based on the super thin Willow glass from Corning. This material is only 0.05mm thick, incredibly flexible and provides a better hermetic seal for the panels than polymer materials leading to a longer working life and lower lumen depreciation. Apparently, this glass is produced in roll-to-roll process, which opens the possibility for a lower cost continuous OLED production at some point the future. One downside to the use of Willow glass is that the Ripple panels are quite fragile and need careful handling during assembly and a protective cover when in use, which will increase the overall thickness of the luminaire.
Applelec presented OLED panels from both brands side by side at the recent darc room exhibition and some differences in output and light quality were evident. The OLEDWorks panels appear to be more powerful than those from LG currently and seem to provide a more attractive lit appearance.
The Lumiblade Brite 2 FL 300 L is the brightest warm white OLED panel available, providing up to 300 lumens from a panel 220mm x 46mm wide and 1.4mm thick, with a surface brightness of up to 7,000 cd/ mtr2 ( Nits ).
With an efficiency of 60 lumens per watt with 3,000K 90 CRI and lifetime of 10,000 hours to L70, these sources are an improvement on previous OLED panels but the overall performance will need to improve to compete with panels based on traditional LEDs.
It is exciting that the long-promised flexible OLED panels are now in production and available for use by luminaire manufacturers and lighting designers.
The LG website features a small number of completed projects in Korea where their OLED panels have been used, including task lighting for university reading rooms, and in the Seoul Palace Museum display cabinets. Applelec has recently supplied OLED panels for use in a duty-free cosmetics display project and also for use in decorative pendants, indicating that there is a potential market for this technology.
OLED panels have a number of inherent benefits over conventional LED side lit or back lit panels. These include a completely dot free and even lit effect, low levels of blue light in the spectrum, broad spectrum and mechanical flexibility. However, at the moment the efficiency, life expectancy and lumen depreciation are worse than conventional LED panels while the cost is higher. If OLED technology and production processes develop to overcome these limitations then larger volume applications could emerge in general lighting. Incorporating flexible LED panels into automotive applications may be one of the higher volume markets to develop in the medium term.
For Applelec the addition of both OLED brands to their existing portfolio of lighting panels is a great opportunity to gain from the marketing activity surrounding the technology and to be in a position to offer the most appropriate lighting solution for any project. Applelec foresees growth in the OLED market and have a long-term commitment to both partners.