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Recast of WEEE regs ‘a challenge’ for lighting

Proposed amendments to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations represent “a substantial challenge” to the lighting industry, according to lamp recycling scheme Recolight.

Osram debuts OLED light source

Osram Opto Semiconductors has launched what it describes as the “first OLED light source for premium quality functional lighting”. The Orbeos panel has a round lamp surface 80mm in diameter, is 2.1mm thick and weighs 24g. Efficiency is 25lm/W, better than conventional halogen lamps.

Cardiff lighting chief suspended in fraud probe

The head of public lighting in Cardiff has been suspended after allegations of corruption. Bryan Geeves, the city’s principal lighting officer and a prominent figure in industry circles, is to be investigated for fraud. He was reportedly escorted from Cardiff City Council offices by police officers.

Trade bodies agree LED spec

The UK’s major organisations have drawn up a set of guidelines for the specification of LED lighting products.
The PLDA, LIF, SLL, IALD, ILE and Hemsa have agreed to publish the guidelines, which cover issues such as LED measurement criteria, design data, photometry and performance metrics.

Philips takes the lead in race to make superbulb

Philips has become the first lampmaker to enter a complying entry into a global competition to create the lamp of the future. The US Department of Energy (DOE) launched the L Prize initiative to spur development of a high-quality, high-efficiency LED replacements for the 60W incandescent light bulb.

UPDATED: Bosses team up with Aurora to buy retail specialist Microlights

The directors of retail lighting manufacturer Microlights have teamed up with Aurora to buy the company from its current shareholders. Microlights managing director Chris Brown says the outcome is the “best possible solution” for all parties.

Design practices defy gloom with tranche of contracts

Lighting design practices have seen a sharp increase in interest and contracts in recent months, prompting optimism that the sector has turned the corner.

Bulb ban gives stockpiling a boost

The bulb ban on the 1 September has been hailed a logistical success for lamp makers and retailers after expected lamp shortages failed to materialise.

Poor lighting caused death at Debenhams, says judge

The death of a worker who fell down a staircase in a Debenhams department store could have been avoided if the stairs had been better lit, a sheriff has ruled.

Light Projects chief sets up design company

Designer James Wadsworth has set up a lighting design and supply company called Lightinc close to Tower Bridge in London.

£20m boost for organic solid state lighting

The UK Government is to invest a further £20 million in the Printable Electronics Technology Centre (Petec) in County Durham – raising the possibility that a pilot plant for organic solid state lighting devices could be set up at the site.

Abacus mourns founder and chairman

John (Jack) Pratt OBE, founder and chairman of the Abacus Group, has died aged 84 after a long illness. Mr Pratt founded Abacus in 1958 with just five staff on a site in Skegby, Nottinghamshire. The company now employs 170 people in Sutton in Ashfield and a further 100 at its Shanghai facility.

Design the lighting column of the future

Lighting and structural engineers are being encouraged to enter a competition to design the lighting column of the future. The Young Lighting Professionals (YLP) and sponsor Abacus have launched Bright Lights 2009 – a lighting design competition giving anyone in the lighting industry the chance to win a cash prize and have their winning idea unveiled at the Institute of Lighting Engineers’ (ILE) Conference 2009.

Industry has recycled 50m lamps

The lighting industry has recycled 50 million lamps in the past two years, it has been revealed. Recolight, the body created to manage the process, said recycling was a great success story for the sector, and that it is committed to exceeding the targets set for it by government.

Philips buys US light and energy controls business

Philips has acquired US lighting and energy control specialist Teletrol Systems and plans to add its combined lighting, heating and air conditioning control systems to its portfolio.

Zumtobel looks back on a year of two halves

Revenues fell by 8.4 per cent at Zumtobel in the year to April 2009, despite a strong first six months during which it appeared the lighting group would match its strong performance in 2007/08.

ILE offers bursary toward PLDC participation

The Institution of Lighting Engineers is offering five bursaries of £400 each toward the cost of attending the Professional Lighting Design Convention (PLDC) in Berlin in October.

UPDATED: Lighting engineers’ ire as SLL ‘torpedoes’ merger

The Institution of Lighting Engineers has reacted with anger and disappointment to the Society of Light and Lighting’s announcement that it was quitting unification talks.

‘We’ll cope with light bulb ban’ – GE

GE says it can cope with predicted market volatility after the first phase of the Europe-wide bulb ban is implemented in September.

Lamp recycling firm faces mercury charges

An electrical recycling firm charged with exposing employees to mercury will appear at Huddersfield Magistrates Court on 20 July. Electrical Waste Recycling Group, based in Kirkheaton in Huddersfield, is being prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive.

Councils warned on street light switch offs as OAP is killed

The move by local authorities to switch off and dim down street lights has been called into question after a pensioner was killed by a car in Buckinghamshire. Coroner Richard Hulett said he “strongly urged” Buckinghamshire County Council to review its policy during an inquest into the death of Margaret Beeson.

SLL rejects merger with lighting engineers

The Society of Light and Lighting has effectively pulled the plug on the proposed merger between the SLL and the Institution of Lighting Engineers. In a statement that will send shock waves through the industry’s institutions, the SLL said that a merger “would not achieve the overall objectives of successful unification of the lighting profession”.

Troubled lighting transformer firm IBL agrees deal with creditors

Troubled lighting transformer maker Intram Barwell Limited has entered into an agreement with its creditors under the Insolvency Act. The company has filed a company voluntary arrangement, which is designed to allow it breathing space to sort out its finances.

Powerlite bosses buy assets

The former bosses of Leeds-based manufacturer Powerlite – which went into administration last month – have bought the assets of the company. Directors Rob Fordham, Paul Rylatt, Alan Moss and Steve Thompson have formed a new company, Powerlite Lighting Solutions, that will operate out of Powerlite’s former factory at Royds Farm Road.

PLDA woos architects with high-profile campaign

The Professional Lighting Designers’ Association is launching a major drive to promote creative lighting design to the architectural profession. The LoveLight campaign is targeted at practices of all sizes, and aims to educate architects about the role and the potential of lighting in the built environment.

Lighting body to be ready this year, says Cibse boss

The new president of Cibse, Mike Simpson of Philips Lighting, has predicted that the industry’s umbrella body, the Lighting Council, will be up and running this year. The council is the fruit of discussions between the major organisations.

Power LEDs breach 100-lumen-per-watt barrier

Philips Lumileds has launched a power LED that exceeds the psychologically important output of 100 lumens per watt. The company says the Luxeon Rebel ES will make it easier to create solid-state systems that that is more efficient than conventional lighting in applications such as outdoor illumination and refrigeration.

Zumtobel and Philips sign lighting controls technology deal

The Zumtobel Group and Philips have signed a worldwide cross-licensing deal that covers patent rights for driver and control technology for changing intensity and colour of conventional and solid state lighting.

Shake up at moving lights expert Martin costs a dozen jobs

Martin Professional, the moving lights specialist, is restructuring its European operations in a move that will see 12 redundancies in the UK and the closure of its premises in Maidstone.

Philips lets Sylvania make Cosmopolis

Sylvania is to manufacture the highly successful Cosmopolis range of steetlighting lamps under licence from its inventor Philips.The deal means Sylvania can use patented processes to make CosmoWhite, the ceramic metal halide source launched in 2005.

Philips speeds up reorganising in wake of latest acquisitions

Philips is to accelerate restructuring in its lighting division throughout the second quarter in response to further contractions in the construction, automotive and OEM markets.

LEDs in vanguard of Toshiba’s push into Europe and the US

LED luminaires are to spearhead Toshiba’s new lighting systems business in Europe and the US. The company says the move was prompted by “the move towards more energy efficient lighting in these regions” and by European regulations that will phase out conventional incandescent lamps by 2012.

Philips acquires architectural lighting specialist Selecon

Hot on the heels of last month’s acquisition of Australian lighting controls specialist Dynalite, Philips has announced that it has bought New Zealand-based Selecon, a global designer, manufacturer and distributor of architectural and theatrical light fittings.

Government orders probe into light spill

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has commissioned sustainability consultant Légiste to study complaints about artificial light nuisance. Légiste, based in York, will be assisted by lighting design consultant Carl Gardner of CSG Lighting Consultancy.

Lighting designers ‘cautiously optimistic’, survey shows

Lighting designers are ‘cautiously optimistic’ about work prospects, a survey has revealed. A poll of members by the International Association of Lighting Designers revealed a mixed outlook with as many feeling cautiously optimistic as those who are experiencing difficulty.

Councils hit out at ‘myth’ that Part L is not enforced

Local authority building control departments have conducted a survey that they say refutes the accusation that council surveyors are not enforcing Part L of the Building Regulations.

Philips acquires Dynalite lighting controls

Philips has acquired lighting controls company Dynalite of Sydney, Australia and made it part of the lighting electronics business in Philips Lighting.

Lighting Design Awards 2009 winners announced

Three innovative products and 11 outstanding projects were the winners of this year’s Lighting Design Awards, held at the London Hilton Hotel on 12 March.Projects were as diverse as they were distinguished, with a sublime cathedral and an urban gym sharing the laurels with a glistening 50m-wide spider’s web and a luxury apartment on the Strand in London.

End of era as England’s last lamp plant closes

Lamp production will come to an end in England after 128 years this summer following Havells Sylvania’s decision to close its CFL factory in Shipley, Yorkshire with the loss of 200 jobs. Production is gradually being transferred to India, where Havells has extensive light source-manufacturing operations.

Philips axes 1,600 jobs as key markets collapse

Philips Lighting is to axe up to 1,600 jobs globally as key market sectors across the world – including retail, automotive and OEM – show steep slowdowns.

BAG snaps up Hüco to bolster gear operation

German luminaire giant Trilux has bought specialist lighting control gear manufacturer Hüco. The vendor is the venture capitalist Landesbank Rheinland-Pfalz Capital, the private equity arm of the German Landesbank Baden-Württemberg.

DW Group sales sparkle despite tough markets

DW Group has reported an impressive proﬁt margin of 7.4 per cent for the year to 30 September 2008, comfortably ahead of the 5.6 per cent margin achieved in the previous year.

Zumtobel implements £45m cutbacks as economy slows

Austria-based lighting giant Zumtobel Group has conﬁrmed a £45 million cost savings drive after warning of a sales downturn during the second quarter in its interim report for the six months from May to October 2008.

LDA shortlist announced

The judges of this year’s Lighting Design Awards have completed their deliberations and prepared the shortlist of companies that are in contention for one of the coveted prizes.
The awards are a celebration of the industry’s best, giving designers the opportunity to attain the highest recognition for their skills, and rewarding innovations in lighting technology.

Hoffmeister conﬁrms closure later this year

Loss-making German architectural lighting manufacturer Hoffmeister is to close its operations in the second half of the year with the loss of the majority of its 140-strong workforce.
The decision to stop production at its Schalksmühle headquarters later in 2009 was ﬁnally conﬁrmed just before Christmas after owner Philips Lighting had exhausted other possibilities to continue trading.

Slump hits Philips’ Lumileds business

Philips has reduced the book value of its Lumileds high-power LED and solid state lighting subsidiary, citing poor short-term demand and an “uncertain outlook”.
The Dutch electronics giant will reduce the value of Lumileds by £220 million, a move that it hinted at during an investor and analyst day in December last year.

Fitzgerald Lighting faces break-up as buyers fail to emerge

Troubled Fitzgerald Lighting is set to be broken up this month because no buyers have emerged for the business.
The luminaire manufacturer has gone into administration, with the loss of 260 jobs.
But attempts to sell the Cornwall-based company as a going concern appear to have failed, and it faces break-up and a sale of its assets.

Lighting engineers act as fears grow that talks may stall

The Institution of Lighting Engineers has moved to inject fresh momentum into the Uniting for Lighting process as fears grow that the talks are in danger of stalling.
The ILE is in discussion with Cibse’s lighting division, the Society of Light and Lighting, over the creation of a new professional body, set to be called the Institute of Lighting.

University ready to launch BSc degree in architectural lighting

The University of Glamorgan looks set to create a BSc degree in architectural lighting design. If everything goes to plan the ﬁrst intake will be in 2010.
The degree will be offered by the Faculty of Advanced Technology and will in all likelihood be a modiﬁcation of an existing course, the BSc Hons in Lighting Design and Technology, which was set up in 2005.

260 jobs go after Fitzgerald Lighting goes into administration

Some 260 staff at Fitzgerald Lighting were made redundant last night as the ailing company was put into administration after months of struggling to balance its books.

Exit from interior fittings market is strategic, says Philips

Philips chiefs have moved to explain the company’s controversial exit from the interior luminaires market.
The Dutch lighting giant has announced that it is to quit selling indoor fittings in the UK to concentrate on LED products only. Facing the axe is the full range of fluorescent products as well as high bay and accent fittings.

GE Lighting sell-off on hold, says European chief

A senior GE boss believes the sell-off of the lighting division will be delayed until 2010. Phil Marshall – newly-appointed European chief of the consumer and industrial division, which includes the company’s lamp operation – says he expects it to be on hold until market confidence returns.

Makers of efﬁcient kit lose their online listing

The list of companies that make or sell lighting products efﬁcient enough to attract tax allowances has been removed from the internet.
The Carbon Trust, which promotes the Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) scheme for the Government, has removed the so-called Energy Technology List (ETL) from the ECA website and revoked companies’ permission to use the ETL symbol in marketing materials.

Equation merges with M&E practice

Independent lighting design practice Equation Lighting has merged with the lighting design arm of multidisciplinary consultancy GIA to create a new company, GIA Equation.
The merger of 24-year-old Equation, headed by Mark Hensman, and the three-year-old lighting department of GIA was sealed last month.

Osram agrees deal with Philips over CK patents

LED luminaire manufacturers will no longer have to pay license fees to Philips if they use Osram components after the German lighting giant acquired special rights from Philips.
Luminaire makers will not have to pay the costs outlined in Philips’ LED luminaire licensing programme (Lighting, August). The deal applies not only to patents held by Philips but also to those of Color Kinetics and TIR Systems, both of which were acquired by Philips last year.

Lamp makers respond to CFL ultra-violet scare…

Lamp manufacturers are seeking to reassure the public after the Health Protection Agency warned consumers that exposure to light from some compact ﬂuorescent lamps could expose them to ultra-violet radiation that exceeds recommended safety levels.
The warning attracted widespread interest from the mainstream media, although it applies only to single envelope CFLs for desk or task lighting.

…as Europe gets set to axe GLS in 2010

Incandescent GLS lamps are to be banned throughout Europe from the start of 2010, EU energy ministers have agreed.
The Council of Europe, at a meeting last month, said that the European Commission should submit a draft regulation this year that will “launch a gradual process of phasing out until incandescent lamps and all the worst-performing lights are banned”.

Controls specialist Leax bought from administration

Lighting controls and dimmer manufacturer Leax Limited has been bought out after it was put into administration. The company – which is believed to have experienced cash ﬂow difﬁculties – was put into administration by its invoice factoring company.
Now the assets have been bought by newly-formed company Mirabell and it is trading as Leax Lighting Controls. Leax Lighting Controls has assumed responsibility for and will honour Leax Limited’s ongoing sales and support contracts, warranties and work in progress.

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