Advanced lighting technology is changing the engineering sector

Over the last decade, we have witnessed some incredible innovations when it comes to industrial lighting systems, from the types of bulbs being used and the physical design of the systems, through to the technology applied to make them more user-friendly and cost-effective. There has also been a huge shift towards being more environmentally friendly.

In fact, lighting systems have become more high-tech, compact and energy efficient. They are also being engineered with convenience in mind, making installations quicker and easier for business owners, which saves on maintenance and operational downtime. So, what benefits do advanced lighting technologies, such as LEDs, have to offer the engineering sector?

Environmental impact

The first impact LED lighting has on any business within the engineering sector is on its energy efficiency. LEDs not only offer superior reduction in energy consumption, but the results can be immediate. LEDs use significantly less energy when compared to their fluorescent counterparts. In the case of our recently launched Protecta X, our LED system is 50 percent more energy efficient than the average fluorescent light. This means that that businesses are able to benefit from the same output for half the power, making it a sensible business decision from both an environmental and financial perspective.

Indeed, for luminaires, the input wattage and lumens are documented, and a calculation of lumens per watt acts as the efficiency metric. The most efficient lights will perform with a power factor (PF) above 95 percent and a total harmonic distortion (THD) below 15 percent. The drivers used to power LEDs have very high PF and low THD, fitting easily into these margins.

Such energy efficiency will not only impact on an industrial company’s bottom line, but will also support its wider sustainability credentials, and therefore its sales. This is because, at the end of the day, decision makers and consumers are increasingly seeing a brand’s sustainability credentials as a key deciding factor when it comes to purchasing a product.

Cost savings

LEDs are also impacting on  plant maintenance and repair bills. With the help of advanced technology in lighting, engineers no longer need to work with high intensity discharge (HID) lights and are now more widely using LED luminaires. By doing so, they are able to create better illuminations than conventional lighting yet use far less energy - less than half to be precise. Because the lifespan of an LED is more than 40 times that of an incandescent bulb and can last for more than 60,000 hours, engineers are faced with much lower maintenance and repair costs.

LEDs used to be at the top-end in terms of product price, making them accessible only to those who were willing to spend big. However, since their popularity has risen, LEDs are becoming the industry standard across most lighting environments and have become more affordable.

Greater control

Something that is often underestimated when it comes to adopting LED lighting is control. LED lighting allows a variety of controls to be incorporated, including motion sensors. This not only prolongs the life of the luminaire but also significantly reduces the amount of energy being used, utilising the light only when people are present.

In a similar vein, when used with photocells, LEDs are able to detect the conditions outside, so when it is daytime, the system will dim or turn the lights off as appropriate. It will also be able to do the reciprocal action when it is dark, turning the lights on or increasing the brightness to maintain sufficient level for workers. This way of working is beneficial for employees and also environmentally and monetarily efficient.

Safety

My last, but certainly not least important, point is about safety. Lighting safety, especially in typically dangerous environments, is something that needs a lot of planning because of the risks involved. Prior to the use of LEDs, a common problem with many lights was temperature control. However, LEDs are built to remain cool. They have effective heat sinking to wick and dissipate any generated heat into the air. This is important because if the maximum surface temperature were to exceed the rated temperature, it could lead to the ignition of any combustible gases and dust present in the environment.

Furthermore, the lights reduce the load on an electrical system, which in turn lessens the risk to workers. The lighting also operates spark free, again, important in hazardous environments.

In terms of safety from a quality and performance point of view, high precision tasks, which are commonplace in the engineering sector, must not be done in dimly lit conditions. Workplace safety can be improved with highly directional and uniform LED lighting that has good colour rendering credentials - colour rendering indicates the degree to which a light source shows the true colours of the object it illuminates. In fact, LED lighting has specialised optics which can deliver the output of a much larger linear light, generating a bright, white output over a desired area.

Although I have listed these safety attributes towards the end of this piece, for me, the safety of workers should always be the number one priority, no matter the financial ramifications. In the engineering industry the focus is often on the product (or service) but protecting people and assets should not be forgotten. After all, up to 40 percent of businesses never recover from major interruptions or disaster. Undoubtedly, LED lighting plays a crucial role in this safety agenda.

In the engineering sector, even the smallest of acts can have a far-reaching effect on a business’s ability to succeed and its bottom line. In the grand scheme of things, implementing LED lighting is only a small part, but it is one that allows a business to improve its financial and environmental standpoint and fulfil its health and safety obligations.

For further information on reviewing your lighting strategy, visit www.hubbell.com/chalmit/en/