Ai Weiwei Embraces Amsterdam Light Festival
(Netherlands) – World-renowned Chinese artist Ai Weiwei makes light object that connects all artworks.
World-renowned Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei will make a special debut at the upcoming Amsterdam Light Festival with a light object that connects all the artworks with each other.
This artwork, titled Red Line, is the linking thread that connects the Water Colours boat route. With the artwork, Ai Weiwei hopes to confront visitors with metaphorical and literal boundaries. Land borders, language barriers, but also personal boundaries and limitations of possibilities. At 7.5 kilometres, the artwork is the longest object that has ever been presented during the festival.
According to curator Lennart Booij, this is the first time that there is one artwork that functions as the connecting thread of the festival. With his object Ai Weiwei depicts the festival theme of the Water Colours boat route for 2017 – Existential. Red Line does not let go of the visitors during the boat route; it is an illuminating border as connection.
“With Existential we want to positively stimulate visitors to think about what unites people and what role light plays in this,” Booij explained. Because Ai has created an object that connects all other artworks with each other, Amsterdam Light Festival has assigned him with the special status of art ambassador.
www.amsterdamlightfestival.com
Targetti Under New Ownership
(Italy) – Targetti Sankey S.p.A is now under the ownership of IDeA Capital Funds SGR.
Targetti Sankey S.p.A has announced that it is under the new ownership of the IDeA Capital Funds SGR. In addition to the new ownership, the Fund has appointed Italian native and industry veteran, Piercarlo Gramaglia, as the new CEO and Massimo Manelli, former CEO of Artemide, as President.
"Targetti is a perfectly aligned brand with the philosophy of the Fund, which identifies companies that have a strong growth potential for brands around the world,” remarked Francesco Gori and Vincenzo Manganelli, Managing Directors of the IDeA Capital Funds.
IDeA Capital Funds SGR acquired 100% of the company in February 2017. In order to accelerate the international growth of the Company, new investments are expected over the next several years. Dedicated resources will go to research, product innovation and a range of new product introductions, while large investment is aimed at accelerating the path of international development over the next several years by enhancing the important technological and design know-how and heritage of this historic Italian brand.
"60% of our production revenue can be accounted from our international exports with France and the U.S. as major contributors," reported Targetti’s new CEO, Piercarlo Gramaglia. "We have placed a great emphasis on the continued development in America, where Targetti recently opened its subsidiary in 2015. We want to also concentrate on new growth markets such as Asia.”
Steve Barlow Rejoins Lumileds as SVP of Illumination
(USA) - Lumileds has appointed Steve Barlow as Senior Vice President of its Illumination Business.
Lumileds has announced the appointment of Steve Barlow as Senior Vice President (SVP) of its Illumination Business, effective May 22. Barlow rejoins Lumileds from Cree, Inc., where he served as SVP of Sales and Business Development, responsible for the lighting division products, channels and revenue growth.
Barlow has more than 25 years of sales, marketing and business development experience in the semiconductor and LED lighting industry. Barlow first joined Lumileds in 2003, helping to build its LED lighting business. He then served as the Chief Commercial Officer at Intematix Corporation, where he was responsible for all commercial functions including global sales, marketing, application engineering, customer service, business development and distribution.
“We are excited to have Steve back at Lumileds. He has an outstanding track record in the lighting industry, where he has demonstrated strong leadership, technology vision and customer relationship building skills,” said Mark Adams, CEO of Lumileds.
“Lumileds has created a unique position in the marketplace by offering differentiated lighting solutions. The company’s intellectual property, comprehensive product portfolio and deep customer relationships will be the cornerstone of our continued success,” added Barlow.
The Nuckolls Fund Passes $1Million With 2017 Awards
(USA) - The Nuckolls Fund for Lighting Education gave more than $1million in grants and awards to institutions and individuals across North America at its 2017 Awards.
The Nuckolls Fund for Lighting Education in 2017 marked its twenty-eighth birthday by surpassing $1million in grants and awards to institutions and individuals in North America. This year’s distribution of $60,000 – $40,000 in grants and $20,000 in awards – brought the total to $1,055,000 awarded for the development and implementation of lighting instructional programs.
"When a foundation to support lighting education in memory of Jim Nuckolls was first introduced by Lesley Wheel, she never could have imagined that one day we would have presented the sum of $1,055,000 in grants and awards," said Nuckolls Fund president, Jeffrey A. Milham.
“When we give a grant to allow an educator to create a new course in lighting, it is never possible to determine how many students are eventually affected by that grant,” Milham added. “Typically, the course continues beyond the grant period.”
Colleges and universities have been recipients of $730,000 to develop and expand lighting design education. Instructors in lighting have received $170,000 to improve their teaching ability. Students who have shown outstanding performance in an academic lighting design programme have received a total of $155,000.
This year’s winners, who were selected from proposals received and evaluated by the Fund’s Board of Directors, include one $20,000 grant, two $10,000 grants, and four $5,000 awards.
“I’m so proud of The Nuckolls Fund’s commitment to lighting education,” said Paul Gregory, Founder and President of Focus Lighting, and a Nuckolls Fund Board member. “It is the only organisation I know of that has given such a substantial amount of resources to improve and develop architectural lighting design education.”
Fund president Milham reaffirmed the goal to support the development and expansion of programmes in architectural lighting design education in North America. He said: ”In 2019, the Fund will be celebrating its thirtieth year in operation, and the board is actively involved in preparing a long-term strategic plan for the Fund’s future.”
Cree Europe Joins Major Industry Association LightingEurope
(Europe) – Cree Europe has reflected its commitment to expanding its European presence by joining LightingEurope.
Manufacturer and marketer of lighting products and lighting-class LEDs, Cree Europe has joined the European industry association, LightingEurope.
Cree Europe’s lighting products enable applications from outdoor street lighting, urban, area and large areas as well as petrol, industrial and indoor lighting. Cree’s European headquarters are based in Florence, Italy and last September, the company opened its first office in the UK, reflecting its commitment to expand its presence in Europe.
Nick Farraway, Vice President and General Manager for Cree Lighting EMEA said: “It’s a very exciting time to be a part of the European lighting market. We see real growth potential here, and as more and more aspirational and forward-thinking innovations enter the market, our membership with LightingEurope will ensure that we can assist in driving forward the important mandate of raising awareness of the breadth of benefits that LEDs offer.”
“LightingEurope warmly welcomes a global player like Cree,” added Ourania Georgoutsakou, Secretary General of LightingEurope. “With their outstanding material and technical competence, Cree will help drive our new strategy for the EU lighting industry which seeks to move the policy agenda forward, moving from pure energy efficiency towards increasing the value of lighting to society.”
LightingEurope is an industry association of 34 European lighting manufacturers, national associations, and companies producing materials. LightingEurope members represent over 1,000 European companies, a majority of which are SMEs; a total workforce of over 100,000 people in Europe; and an annual turnover estimated to exceed 20 billion Euros.
Inter-Lux Expand The Team
(USA) - Inter-lux announce two new appointments as plans for expansion continue.
As suppliers to the North American market for high design and high quality lighting products and services, demand is high for lighting manufacturers Inter-lux, and thus they have announced two new members to the team this month to aid in this product expansion across the company.
Their newly appointed Vice President of Manufacturing is Robert Davis. With an early career beginning in design engineering work, product design, order processing and manufacturing, Davis has quickly worked his way up and made a name for himself in the design industry as a design engineer and department manager over the last seventeen years.
The next step in his career will see him managing all aspects of order fulfilment, utilising brand new ERP/MRP manufacturing software. Working with existing line managers, they will work to improve efficiency in the production lines as well as work closely with the Engineering Department to implement new products and processes.
Mark Zaroogian, Chief Operating Officer, comments: “We have grown our revenue significantly over the last three years, and in 2016 we invested significantly into the infrastructure necessary to attain the next level of services to our representative network and to deliver the best of class and product and services to our customers. Robert is exemplary of the quality and experience we are adding to our team and we are very excited to have him among us.”
The second addition sees Jim Toole stepping into the role of Chief Business Development Officer. As a consummate lighting professional, Toole has successful experience in product development, design, application, sales and management.
Toole’s career started with an education in industrial design, which led him into product development and thus growing into product and design management. He has an extensive career past in sales and general management for high design architectural and performance lighting brands over the last fifteen years.
In terms of management for Inter-Lux, Toole will be in charge of New York City, Boston and surrounding market areas. He will be working closely with Marketing Managers to continue with the expansion of sales and marketing campaigns as well as working with management to direct the Inter-Lux brand.
COO, Mark Zaroogian states: “We are very fortunate to welcome Jim Toole into our company, and to make him available to our Representatives and Customers. As our business grows, we are able to attract top talent into our organisation that can immediately impact our culture and our product. Jim is certainly a prime example of the type of person that will make a significant and positive impact. We are all looking forward to having Jim on the Team”.
www.inter-lux.com
SGM Launches Architectural Division
(Denmark) - SGM Light announced the launch of a new Architectural Division at Prolight + Sound in Frankfurt.
Frankfurt’s Marriott Hotel played host to this years Prolight + Sound event in April. Just prior to the opening of this event, Danish lighting manufacturers SGM announced their launch of an Architectural Division. Participants of the event were introduced to the new division through SGM’s Architectural Strategy, which outlined, in depth, the reasoning why and how such a division will impact SGM Light’s and their global presence.
With such a great turn out and immediate response from audiences, it was clear the division was very well received. SGM Light is already well established with IP66-rated LED products, which are designed for permanent outdoor installations (POI’s), and are continuously expanding.
CEO of SGM Light, Peter Johansen said: “I truly see SGM as a global market leader not only in the entertainment industry, but also within the emerging architectural market for LED dynamic lighting. The fast growing demand for SGM POI products already speaks its own language, substantiating our decision of establishing a dedicated SGM Architectural Division”.
The new SGM permanent outdoor installation products contain very similar features to current standard SGM fixtures, such as the same optical performance and electrical components, the same brightness and power in colours, but all have been optimised with a resilient housing to protect them against the outdoor elements. They have been engineered against some of the harshest Danish weather conditions, from icy winters, dusty winds, extreme heat and salty seawater spray. Despite their weather protective housing, SGM have managed to ensure they continue with the Danish product design and lightweight construction to accommodate the high aesthetic demand from designers and architects.
Gooee Joins Philips SR Certified Partner Program
(USA) - Smart lighting firm Gooee has joined Philips Lighting's Sensor Ready certified program.
Smart lighting start-up Gooee, creator of the first ‘full stack’ cloud-based ecosystem that connects lighting manufacturers to the Internet of Things (IoT), has joined Philips Lighting’s SR (Sensor Ready) certified program.
The program lists companies, components, sensors, and control systems that are certified to work with Philips Xitanium SR driver. Partnership in the SR certified program is open to sensor manufacturers and network application providers who meet the SR criteria.
Gooee joins other program members on a growing list of building management systems, city management systems and sensor and control manufacturers, including TVILIGHT, Telematics Wireless, Steinel and Magnum Energy Solutions.
Jon Couch, Senior Vice President of Connected Devices at Gooee, said: “Gooee continues to develop its partnerships to share the strengths, knowledge and expertise required to enable rapid advancement and success in enterprise IoT connected lighting, the new generation of communication.”
Phil Cross, OEM Commercial Director, Philips Lighting UKI, added: “The Philips SR Certified Partner Program gives our OEM partners a clear path into the dynamic and rapidly growing world of connected lighting.”
Schuler Shook Expand Melbourne Team With Appointment of Nicolò Brambilla
(Australia) - Nicolò Brambilla appointed to Schuler Shook's Melbourne office as Senior Lighting Designer.
Schuler Shook has announced the appointment of Nicolò Brambilla to its Melbourne office as Senior Lighting Designer. Nicolò is expanding Schuler Shook’s award-winning specialty lighting services to Australia, where Schuler Shook currently provides theatre planning and AV design.
Nicolò has nearly fourteen years of experience in the lighting industry, and has worked both in Australia and internationally in Milan, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, China and Southeast Asia. His specialty lighting design work for the past seven years in Melbourne has encompassed a range of project types including hospitality, retail, worship and sport.
Nicolò believes in designing lighting that is well integrated with the architecture, and he is motivated by the impact of light on emotion and on the human being as a whole.
Schuler Shook’s Melbourne office comprises a group of creative, well-respected designers, including Jim Hultquist, ASTC, LEED AP, Senior Theatre Consultant; Simon Austin, AV and Theatre Systems Consultant; and now Nicolò Brambilla, IALD, as Senior Lighting Designer.
Recent and current projects in the office include Sydney Opera House Concert Hall Renewal, Hamer Hall, Cairns Performing Arts Centre, Bunjil Place Theatre, Sydney Lyric Theatre, and Her Majesty’s Theatre in Adelaide.
Occhio Kicks Off Growth Plans With EMH Partners
(Germany) - Occhio GmbH introduce private equity firm EMH Partners as a new partner.
Occhio GmbH has kick-started a new phase of growth with the introduction of Munich and London-based private equity company EMH Partners as a new partner.
EMH will invest growth capital running into the tens of millions, and has acquired a minority share of 44%.
Axel Meise, founder and CEO of Occhio, believes that this new partnership will help elevate the firm to the next level. “We are among the fastest growing companies in the lighting industry, but we are nowhere near having exhausted our potential yet,” he said.
“With EMH Partners, we have gained a strong partner that does not just bring along capital, but also an entrepreneurial mindset, and will actively help us to continue expanding.
“We want to make the unique possibilities of lighting design that Occhio offers accessible to as many people as possible – because quality of light means quality of life.”
EMH Partners is an entrepreneur-led private equity firm that invests in fast-growing SMEs. The company is pursuing a long-term ‘build and scale’ strategy, and assists its portfolio of companies with the internationalisation and digitalisation of the entire value chain.
“We are delighted that we will be able to contribute to writing the next chapters of Occhio’s success story,” said Maximilian Kuss, Managing Partner of EMH Partners.
“With its strong brand, its consistent design concept and innovative lighting and control technology, Occhio is an exceptional case in the lighting industry. We will be assisting in the company’s expansion domestically and abroad, above all with our expertise in digitalisation.”
As part of its new partnership with EMH Partners, Occhio will expand its brand presence, continue increasing sales via selected partners, invest in complementing its product portfolio and continue to digitalise the value chain, while pushing ahead with plans for internationalisation. In the long term, the company aims to generate more than half of the group’s sales outside of Germany.
Philips Lighting Launches New Wireless Connected Lighting System
(USA) - Philips Lighting launches new wireless connected lighting system for global office lighting systems market.
Philips Lighting has launched a new wireless connected lighting system aimed at today's global office lighting systems market, worth more than $5billion.
The Philips InterAct Office system enables building managers to reduce energy use by up to 70%, optimise operations and create a more comfortable environment without major office renovation. Available first in the US, it targets the 15 billion square feet market for existing offices in North America. The system, with lamps and luminaires equipped with sensors, is installed and operated by Philips Lighting as a managed service, dispensing with the need for customers to make upfront capital investments.
The network of sensors triggers the system to switch or dim the lights and gathers granular data, such as energy use and room occupancy, and this information is displayed on a user-friendly dashboard. If all offices in North America were updated by 2030 with this technology it could save businesses a collective $6.4billion on energy, equivalent to the output of 36 medium-sized power stations or CO2 emissions of 44 million tons (US).
"Our new system delivers instant energy savings and requires no upfront investment from customers, who pay an easy monthly payment funded by the savings," said Emmanuel Sabonnadiere, CEO of Philips Lighting's Professional business.
"However, energy savings are just the tip of the iceberg. Our 'Light as a Service' model frees customers to focus on their business, while information from sensors in the luminaires gives them unique insights into the use of energy and office space to enhance operational efficiencies."
With Philips InterAct Office, real estate owners don't have to rip and replace existing cabling. The system uses wireless gateways that connect the lamps and luminaires. Information acquired by sensors in the luminaires (such as light level, occupancy and energy consumed) is encrypted, then processed and stored securely in the cloud and presented to customers in a simple intuitive dashboard. Being cloud-based and modular, the system is highly scalable and can serve multiple locations worldwide.
The wireless Philips Interact Office system is available now in the US with other markets following later this year.
Japan Lighting Fair 2017 - A success
(Japan) - Japan Lighting Manufacturers Association proclaim 13th Lighting Fair exhibition a success.
The Japan Lighting Manufacturers Association and Nikkei Inc. held their 13th international lighting exhibition, Lighting Fair 2017, from March 7th to March 10th this year at the Tokyo Big Sight International Exhibition Hall.
The four-day event saw great success with an attendance of over 70,000 people from various industries spanning architectural design, electric work and installation, retailers, distribution, manufacturing, and more.
Exhibits included work from 212 Japanese and international companies and organisations comprising 712 booths in total.
There were numerous announcements made over the course of the event including the latest lighting products, systems and components.
Along with the variety of displays provided by the exhibitors, visitors appreciated new lighting tech added by semiconductor lasers and natural light LEDs. The Japanese International Association of Lighting Designers also showed off collaborative projects from major Japanese lighting manufacturers and designers.
The event played host to a number of courses and talks for attendees. To kick things off, audiences were introduced with event talks from sports promotion leader, Saburo Kawabuchi and internationally acclaimed Japanese lighting designer Motoko Ishii. Following on over the next four days, there were 50 courses on offer, covering a variety of themes including International Lighting Design Seminar, and co_re_ca_light Stage and Studio – the most the event has ever accommodated in previous years to date. The co_re_ca_light Booth tour (covering the inside perimeter of the exhibition hall) and the co_re_ca_light After Dark Tour (covering the exterior) proved to be the most popular with participants, with the designers as guides to the venue, holding both.
All in all, the event was a success for both designers and exhibitors with satisfied audiences leaving with an abundance of information on new and current lighting products and future concepts to come.
www.messe.nikkei.co.jp/en/lf/