Company portrait: ERCO - The future of lighting designLüdenscheid, 23rd of April 2006 - With its new approach of "Tune the Light", ERCO Leuchten GmbH, Lüdenscheid, has taken its corporate concept of "Light and not luminaires", perfected over more than 30 years, into a future-oriented vision. Founded in 1934, the family-owned business has now positioned itself as a specialist in software and hardware for architectural lighting. The concept of light as the fourth dimension of architecture remains a central theme: light makes interiors, buildings and urban spaces come alive, makes them visible and a defined experience. Beyond the role of a luminaire supplier, ERCO sees itself as a "light factory", as a thinking and communicating company. Innovative strength, service and quality are focused on the requirements of its customers in the global, contemporary environment of architecture and the building industry.
At ERCO, improving good architecture with optimal lighting effects is seen as a cultural contribution and the purpose of its business activities. Today, ERCO illuminates museums, universities, shop windows, churches, airports, hotels, chain stores, trade fair stands, administration buildings, private homes and much more. Irrespective of whether function or representation are important in the architectural concept, the aim is always to find a solution that gives consideration to the specific use and architectural features of each individual project. The ERCO indoor luminaires, outdoor luminaires and lighting control systems combine to form a comprehensive range of lighting tools for complete, integrated architectural lighting solutions. The luminaire is a lighting instrument, a lighting tool for a specific purpose.
"Tune the Light" - architecture as a dynamic lighting scenario
Light allows architecture to be continually reinterpreted. Controlling and designing such transformations with the inclusion of the time dimension is referred to as "scenographic light". Appropriate hardware and software tools allow light, space, time and atmosphere to be integrated into a coherent scenography.
The fundamental change being currently experienced in lighting technology through the new lamps, new optical systems, new digitally networked control gear and the appropriate software has led to a paradigm shift in lighting design toward scenographic thinking: instead of creating a specific lighting situation and being limited by the wiring installation in the room, the luminaires - referred to as Light Clients - are linked with DALI-standard digital control technology to form networks that set the stage for virtual architectural lighting. With "Tune the Light", ERCO has translated its vision of virtually limitless, individual adaptability of light into ready-to-use, practical product systems and incorporated the new technologies into every product group. The comprehensive interaction of control software and hardware and DALI-compatible Light Clients opens up new dimensions of design possibilities for lighting designers. These new tools allow scenographic lighting design to be implemented with greater ease and economy and makes them easier to operate than ever before.
Comprehensive and up-to-date online communication
In the area of information logistics, ERCO has set the benchmark in the luminaire sector: all planning and design tools are available with a unique depth of information. Under the premise of constantly accelerating development, planning and supply processes, ERCO is quick, flexible and up to date. Referred to as "Light Scout", ERCO's Internet site at
www.erco.com is the toolbox for information logistics. Here, the ERCO Program is provided, currently in 14 languages, with complete product specifications for all major markets in the world. Numerous cross references link the product information with reports on reference projects and with interactive knowledge modules relating to lighting design and application from the "Guide" section. With this offer, ERCO has demonstrably risen to the challenge of handling presales information and planning processes via online media in the future.
Strong position in the market
With more than 1,100 committed employees worldwide, around 800 of whom are employed at the Lüdenscheid location, the consolidated sales of ERCO in 2007 totalled 163 million Euro. The success of its over 60 subsidiaries, branch offices and representations operating on a global scale is seen in a continuously growing export share currently of 79 per cent.
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Press Contact:
ERCO Leuchten GmbH
Martin Krautter
Public Relations
Brockhauser Weg 80-82
58507 Lüdenscheid
Germany
Tel.: +49 2351 551 345
Fax: +49 2351 551 340
m.krautter@erco.com
http://www.erco.com
