Osram initiates sale of its luminaires business
(Germany) – As Osram looks to increase focus on growth markets in high-tech fields, it is to divest its luminaires business.
The management board of Osram has announced its decision to divest its luminaires business.
As part of the manufacturer’s strategic realignment, Osram is refining its positioning with an increased focus on the growth markets in high-tech fields.
“Thanks to numerous measures, the earnings position of the Lighting Solutions business unit has stabilised significantly, therefore allowing us to initiate an organised sales process,” said Osram CEO Olaf Berlien. “This will result in a more strategic focus with regards to applications with high growth potential.”
The company says that talks will be held with interested parties for the luminaires business, and the management board will provide an update on the progress of strategic plans for the company at the Capital Markets Day in November.
The move comes after the company saw a slump in its semiconductor segments Opto Semiconductors (OS) and in the Specialty Lighting (SP) segment in the third quarter of the fiscal year – brought on by the general economic slowdown and weak demand in the automotive industry, the company said.
Osram also cited the trade tariffs in the USA, more stringent emission tests in Europe and lower production expectations from premium manufacturers that caused more uncertainty, alongside project delays in business with mobile devices and horticulture applications, and a continued slowdown of the general lighting market.
Alongside selling its luminaires business, Osram management is looking at measures to rectify the current market situation, including streamlining the global administration, and the implementation of several structural and operational programs. The company will also look to improve the efficiency in R&D, in the supply chain, and in the German factory allowance, and is expecting that these operational programs should add up to €140million in savings by 2020.
Chauvet appoints new European Marketing Manager
(France) – Alain Minet, formerly of Serge Ferrari and Philips, joins the entertainment and architectural lighting manufacturer as European Marketing Manager.
Chauvet has named Alain Minet as the new Marketing Manager of Chauvet Europe. Minet, who joins Chauvet after successful tenures as a marketing executive at Serge Ferrari and Philips, will work out of the company’s recently opened Paris office.
“We have enjoyed exponential growth in Europe,” said Albert Chauvet, CEO of Chauvet. “Our French and German offices, which opened in January, have both been off to incredibly fast starts, while our UK and Belgium facilities have been growing at a rapid pace. Given this growth, we needed someone who could oversee our expanding marketing efforts. Alain fits this need perfectly.”
Prior to joining Chauvet, Minet directed corporate communications and marketing at Serge Ferrari. Before that, he was segment manager at Philips Office, Industrial and Healthcare Lighting. “Alain brings a wealth of experience to his position,” added Michael Brooksbank, European General Manager at Chauvet. “His knowledge, experience and passion for excellence will make him a valuable addition to the Chauvet team.”
Alain Minet will be heading the European marketing of the entire family of Chauvet brands, which includes Chauvet Professional, Chauvet DJ, architectural lighting brand Iluminarc, and Trusst. He will report directly to John Castelino, Global Vice President of Marketing at Chauvet.
“Our entire marketing team is excited about Alain joining Chauvet,” said Castelino. “As an organisation, we thrive on innovation. Our growth has been built on new ideas, and I am confident that Alain’s contributions will only make us stronger.”
For his part, Minet is eager to build on the success Chauvet has enjoyed in Europe. “This is a wonderful opportunity,” he said. “Chauvet has established itself as a leader in our industry. The company has a well-deserved reputation for quality and for advancing technology in new ways. I am excited to be part of a team that places such an emphasis on innovation.”
Signify and BRAC distribute solar lanterns in Bangladesh
(Netherlands) – Signify and BRAC supply families with solar lanterns in Bangladesh to improve safety for women and children at night.
Signify and BRAC, an international non-governmental development organisation, will distribute Philips LifeLight solar lanterns to families who have been sheltering in makeshift settlements across Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh.
The solar lanterns will significantly improve the safety and security of women and children at night. So far, 22,495 families have received lanterns, reaching 132,720 individuals, of which 66,360 are children.
Prajna Khanna, Director of the Signify Foundation, said: “Lighting is a key enabler to create safer spaces. Especially in refugee camps where women and children are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, lighting can make a real difference. Our continued collaboration with BRAC leverages the strengths and resources of both organisations to deliver interventions like these.”
Previously, the camps have been pitch black at night making basic activities near impossible. Furthermore, there were immediate concerns about the safety and security of women and children moving around the camps at night. Lighting was needed to increase security and support their basic needs.
Senior Director, Strategy, Communication and Empowerment at BRAC and BRAC International, Asif Saleh, said: “These clean solar powered lights will make the camps a much safer place at night, and are therefore making a much-needed contribution to the lives of people who are spending days in unimaginable difficulties. We hope this partnership with an organisation like Signify will be another step towards making lasting impact.”
Padmanava Gupta, Managing Director at Signify's operations in Bangladesh said: “At Signify, our ambition is to create safer spaces for communities. We are honored that we're able to support this noble cause by donating our solar-powered LifeLight Lanterns to Rohingya families living in Cox's Bazar.”
BRAC will distribute the solar lamps through its network of offices, seed and agricultural staff and community health workers. It will provide detailed training on care and maintenance and how to get replacements under warranty. Each lamp will be accompanied by an instruction and information sheet in the Rakhine language and script. BRAC will also work with local solar companies and local companies in the Cox's Bazar area to install and maintain the LifeLight Home systems. These companies will be trained on the specific Philips-branded products and will provide technical support.
Issue 104
arc Jun/Jul 2018 – Issue 104
And now for something completely different. This year’s darc room and darc awards / architectural are ready to roll…
I am writing this (slightly fuzzy-headed) the day after an incredible night at the iconic Fabric nightclub in London where the darc awards / decorative, organised by our sister magazine darc, came to its triumphant conclusion. It was an unprecedented success and proof that our unconventional approach to events is what you want to see. With no time to rest on our laurels, this week saw the launch of darc awards / architectural, which this year will take place in December, and darc room, our two-day lighting exhibition in the heart of London’s Shoreditch design district, as part of London Design Festival in September.
The entry period for darc awards / architectural is now open and I hope that you will all participate. Our awards is the only industry programme that involves peer-to-peer voting so it’s a great way to get your projects and products the exposure that they deserve. This year’s event will take place on 6th December at MC Motors, London. We have all mourned the demise of the industry Christmas party so this year we decided to organise our own! As usual, all independent lighting designers who vote in the awards get a free ticket to come to the party. Suppliers have to pay a hefty fee so why not become a sponsor to really benefit from the exposure you get from creating your own installation with a top lighting design practice.
darc room was also launched this week with over 20 suppliers already signed up as exhibitors (see www.darcroom.com for a list of participants so far) and a great educational workshop and seminar programme being curated by our friends, Light Collective. This year we have moved the event to Shoreditch High Street in the heart of the Shoreditch Design Triangle and we continue to make lighting specification an integral part of London Design Festival.
It will be a two-day event on 19th and 20th September with social activities on both evenings. As with last year, every exhibitor gets the same ‘pod’ space so specifiers get to see products displayed in an accessible way.
Our events portfolio is proof that awards and exhibitions do not have to be dull affairs dominated by corporate suppliers. These events are for everyone and the invite is open for all of you to participate. Let’s have some fun!
Paul James
Editor
arc
Codega Award Committee announced
(Italy) – The Codega Award, held in Venice on October 19, will feature a committee of qualified experts from across the lighting industry.
Lighting designers, manufacturers and architects will meet at the beautiful Ca’ Zen in Venice, Italy on October 19 for the International Codega Award.
The Codega Award aims at spreading the culture of light and the related aspects of creativity and quality that are linked to smart lighting, recognising ‘Human Centric’ approaches towards wellbeing.
The Prize is promoted and organised by international associations such as Assodel (Italian Federation of Electronics Clusters), in partnership with IDEA (International Distribution of Electronics Association). Some of the candidates of the latest editions include: Acte Lumière, ACTLD, AF Lighting, Artec3, Arup, KSLD, LichtVision, Licht Kunst Licht, Pfarrè Lighting, Michael Grubb, Skira, NS Webb Australia.
The Codega Prize covers two categories; Lighting Design – to recognise the best independent lighting designers and professionals’ projects or installations, and Lighting Solutions – to recognise the best LED solutions/systems and luminaries.
Both categories underline the innovative dimension of lighting design, where there must be creativity but also technological research, development of customised solutions and positive results in terms of energy efficiency and human wellbeing.
The Codega Award committee includes qualified experts from lighting and electronics sectors:
- Silvio Baronchelli - President of Assodel
- Stefano Catucci – Director of Lighting Design Master at La Sapienza University of Roma
- Paul James – Editor in Chief of arc
- Francesco Iannone - Lighting designer
- Massimo Malaguti – former Director of Univeneto
- Fabio Peron - Teacher at IUAV University of Venice
- Thomas Roemhild - Professor at the University of Wismar, Course Director Architectural Lighting Design
- Maurizio Rossi - Director of Lighting Design & LED Technology Master at Politecnico of Milan
- Esther Torello – Editor of Lightecture
- Paola Urbano – Lighting Designer, Co-founder of APIL and Member of its Board
Charity provides support for lighting industry
(UK) – The Electrical Industries Charity provides help and support across the lighting, electrical, energy and facilities management industries.
An initiative from the Electrical Industries Charity (EIC) is offering support to those in the lighting industry whenever they or their families need help.
The charity, a national organisation for the electrical, electronics and energy industries, provides support through its Practical Participation Programme (PPP) – a scheme that harnesses specialist skills in terms of time, equipment and materials, providing practical help where it is most needed.
PPP is part of the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) which offers a wide range of exclusive support services, complex case management and makes a significant contribution to improving the lives of apprentices, employees and their families, right through to retired colleagues.
Alongside this, the charity runs its own powerLottery – a monthly initiative that offers industry members the chance to win one of fifteen cash prizes worth up to £1,000 through the EIC powerLottery app.
For more information on EIC, contact Vicky Gray at vicky.gray@electricalcharity.org.
Rosco Laboratories announces global gobo design contest
(USA) – Rosco Laboratories has announced the opening of The Rosco Gobo Design Contest, giving designers the chance to win a place in one of the largest gobo template catalogues.
The Rosco Gobo Design Contest is seeking designs to join their catalogue of gobo patterns and give designers the opportunity to gain further recognition in the lighting community.
The grand prize winner will have their winning design in the Rosco Gobo Catalogue as well as receive a copy of their winning gobo and a Rosco Image Spot LED gobo projector.
An international judging panel will decide on the finalists, judging the entries on the usefulness of their designs. The panel includes:
- Herrick Goldman – lighting designer for theatre, dance, events, and architecture. Credits include Off-Broadway and regional shows, Madame Tussauds, and Saxony Nightclub in Miami.
- Anne Militello – lighting designer and fine artist with a career spanning all aspects of creating with light. Credits include Broadway, regional theatre, touring concerts and international opera.
- Declan Randall – London-based lighting, set and projection designer whose work has been seen in all genres of live performing arts including theatre, dance, opera, and musicals, as well as architectural lighting designs.
- Tapio Rosenius – Finnish designer, innovator, artist and an entrepreneur who works with light as a medium for architectural collaborations, digital interventions, product innovation and art.
- Koert Vermeulen – Founder of ACTLD who creates lighting, set, video and content designs for large-scale events, sound & light shows, theatre and music productions
- Phil Widmer – Gobo expert who used to work at GAM. Currently he is the lighting designer for “LIVE with Kelly and Ryan” as well as The New York State Lottery Games.
Submissions are currently being accepted and will close on August 17 at 12pm PDT. Finalists will be notified in mid-September and the overall winner will be determined by public voting.
For more information and to enter the contest, visit: www.rosco.com/gobo-design-contest
We-ef Lighting appoints new MD in the UK
(UK) – David Woodcock joins We-ef as Managing Director, replacing the retiring Colin Barson.
We-ef Lighting UK has appointed David Woodcock as new Managing Director.
Woodcock replaces Colin Barson, who is retiring after eight years with the company and 25 years in the lighting industry.
“It feels the right time for someone else to take the company on the next phase of its journey” said Barson. “I can foresee great potential for We-ef now being part of the Fagerhult Group of companies and expect to see the company go from strength to strength in the future.
“I have enjoyed my time with We-ef, working with some great people, with key specifiers, and on some very prestigious projects throughout the world. However, all good things come to an end and I am very much looking forward to retirement and doing all those things that I’ve never had time to do before! It is also good to know that I am leaving the UK operation in such capable hands.”
Woodcock has 30 years’ experience in the electrical and lighting industry, both within the UK and internationally. “It’s a great time to be taking the reins of such a forward-thinking company that has a reputation for quality, style and technical excellence with key specifiers in the UK,” he said. “We have a number of new initiatives to further raise our profile together with a variety of new products to help take us to the next level of development.”
Selux Group to undergo strategic restructuring in Europe
(Europe) – Selux Group is looking to move into smart lighting in the European market, discontinuing its interior range and concentrating on its exterior lighting.
Selux Group is to discontinue its interior range in Europe in order to focus its activities on the exterior applications range, the company has announced.
With around 500 staff members across thirteen countries, and production sites in Germany, France and the USA, the move will not affect Selux Corporation in the USA, which will continue unchanged with its activity in interior and exterior lighting.
The focus on exterior lighting will see Selux move into the emerging world of smart lighting for the smart city applications of the future. At the heart of this restructuring will be the intelligent networking of urban lighting as an open, modular infrastructure.
“Our modular products are ideal for the integration of smart functions, which we implement both professionally and in a future-compatible manner,” said Ralf P. Knorrenschild, Executive Board Member of Selux AG.
The Nuckolls Fund distributes a record $90,000 for 2018
(USA) – The Nuckolls Fund provides financial support to lighting design programs and students across America.
The Nuckolls Fund for Lighting Education has named eight winners of grants and awards for 2018 totaling $90,000, the largest annual distribution in its 29-year history. This year’s total brings the Fund’s support for lighting education since its founding to $1.145 million.
“The Fund’s Board of Directors felt that because more proposals submitted for 2018 demonstrated significant merit, the decision was made for an increase in the number of grants that were given,” said Fund president Jeffrey A. Milham. Submittals were received from lighting educators in colleges and universities throughout North America.
A $20,000 Nuckolls Fund Grant was given to the University of Minnesota to assist in the development of a Lighting Design Minor, plus the introduction of a new advanced lighting course titled Lighting Design Innovations and Technological Advances, to be offered by the University’s College of Design. Abimbola Asojo will be the Principal Investigator with Mary Guzowski as the Co-principal Investigator for this grant.
A second $20,000 Nuckolls Fund Grant was awarded to the University of Oregon for the development and delivery of a new course, Virtual Lighting Design. Siobhan Rockcastle, Chair of the Baker Lighting Lab, will be the Principal Investigator with support by a team comprised of Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg, David Grigsby, Zachary Suchara, Nathaniel Jones, and Naomi Miller.
The University of Cincinnati received the Fund’s $20,000 Lesley Wheel Introductory Lighting Program Grant for its proposal for Establishing Cross-disciplinary Architectural Lighting Education. Julian Wang will serve as Principal Investigator, responsible for creating the new architectural lighting course to be offered to upper level undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the University’s three current programs of Architecture, Interior Design, and Architectural Engineering.
Seunghae Lee from Oregon State University will apply her $10,000 Edison Price Fellowship Grant to pursue a summer internship with the lighting design firm of Lam Partners in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The $5,000 Jonas Bellovin Scholar Achievement Award was given to Dixon Stein from the University of Colorado at Boulder, while the recipient of the $5,000 Jules Horton International Student Achievement Award was Archanaa Pradhapan, a native of India now studying at Pennsylvania State University.
Two $5,000 Designers Lighting Forum of New York Student Achievement Awards were presented this year. Winners are Riley Johnson from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, and Joanna Filter, attending the Parsons School of Design in New York City.
The Nuckolls Fund was established to honor the late lighting designer and educator James Nuckolls. “Since its founding, we have grown our annual support for the development and expansion of programs in architectural lighting design education in North America,” says Milham. Submittals for financial support from the Fund’s three ongoing programs are judged annually.
“In 2019, the Fund will celebrate its thirtieth year in operation. Our past winners have been responsible for many notable advancements made in the lighting profession,” Milham added. “We look forward with pride to the continuation of the great work by educational institutions and individuals through lighting education.”
The deadline for receipt of applications, grants and awards for the 2019 Nuckolls Fund is November 30, 2018. Distribution to winners will take place in New York City at LEDucation on March 12-13, 2019, at the New York Hilton.
Nulty launches Studio N in UAE
(UAE) – Spin off studio launches to service smaller budget projects.
Nulty founder, Paul Nulty, noticed a growing need for a flexible business that can service creative interior and landscape design projects that have smaller project fees – Nulty’s new sister-brand, Studio N, is based in Dubai but offers the entire Middle East market this value proposition.
“Studio N is a creative design and supply studio with a focus on excellent design that simplifies the lighting design process, while retaining quality of service,” says Nulty. “Top calibre staff nurture client relations and deliver projects efficiently and on tight budgets. Studio N creates beautiful lighting schemes and luminaire solutions that provide excellent value for money.”
The company has a direct line to Nulty’s long-standing relationships with lighting manufacturers, ensuring fair prices on products.
“We interpret the client’s brief then offer up the best creative solutions and deliver them quickly and efficiently, making the whole experience as streamlined as possible”, adds Nulty. “Studio N takes the concept, sorts out the technical bit then delivers the results. Simple.”
Studio N’s clients already include some of the UAE’s top interior designers, small architectural practices, restaurateurs, hoteliers, retailers and garden designers.
Harvard Technology announces appointment of new CEO
(UK) - Harvard Technology, specialising in smart wireless lighting solutions, has appointed Gary Lynch as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Lynch joins Harvard Technology in its 25th year following renewed investment and brings a strong history of experience to the post, having previously held senior roles with ICL, Celestica, Glen Dimplex, Nikon Metrology and GE.
Lynch said, “I am delighted to become a part of this pioneering and highly regarded company. Harvard Technology’s R&D investment has enabled it to remain a market leader for so many years as it continues to launch state-of-the-art products. We will build on this reputation going forward, as we continue to create innovative market-leading solutions.
“Our team has the ability to offer customers a full package of leading edge technologies, so I am looking forward to getting to know our customers and share our vision for the future, as we continue to re-focus on our core values and our acclaimed brands.”