Light + Building 2008: 'tune the light' - efficient visual comfort and scenographic light

ERCO presents new indoor and outdoor lighting tools for architectural lighting at the "Light+Building 2008"

Lüdenscheid, 6 April 2008 - Energy efficiency is a central theme at this year's Light+Building, the international trade fair for architecture and technology held in Frankfurt from 6 -11 April. At Stand A11 in Hall 3.0, ERCO will be presenting its latest innovations based on its principle of "tune the light": new technologies, six entirely new product lines for indoor and outdoor use, and a wide variety of interesting new products and additions to existing ranges. The focus will be on developments which increase the efficiency of lighting technology, lamps and control gear to optimise the efficiency and lighting quality of the luminaires and thus, the visual comfort. "We use new technologies to combine efficiency, a careful use of the resources, and visual comfort to produce a synthesis - goals that were considered difficult to reconcile in the past," says Tim H. Maack, ERCO management spokesman, summarising this year's presentation.

This ideal combination of efficiency and visual comfort is obvious, for example, in the new ERCO Spherolit reflectors: due to the individual shaping of the spherolites, the reflector characteristic can be controlled within a wide range - from narrow spot to wide flood. Even asymmetrical light distributions are possible using the wallwash version of the reflector. The different reflectors can be exchanged in next to no time. All characteristics have a common factor - a light quality of the highest standard. The beams are exceptionally uniform, without streaks and have a neat, slightly soft edge.

Tools for effective lighting design
All the spotlights in the new Emanon and Cantax ranges from ERCO, as well as the recessed ceiling luminaires Compar and Compact HIT, introduced at the "Light+Building", have Spherolit reflectors. Emanon was devised by Yves Béhar (fuseproject) to combine the lighting technology and control gear in one flowing form. A special addition to the Emanon spotlight range is the version with DALI-controlled Goborotator - the first of its kind worldwide. The use of independently rotating gobos, lenses or colour filters, produces fascinating projection effects. The Cantax spotlight range appearls through its minimalist design. Devised by Naoto Fukasawa, the shape uses the basic geometric shapes of cube and cylinder - it has won the "Design Plus" award, by Messe Frankfurt. With the, as yet unparalleled, variety of seven different light distribution patterns, the Compar recessed ceiling luminaire can be effective for the most complex lighting tasks. For equally brilliant and economical ambient lighting, ERCO now offers Compact HIT - a range of downlights designed exclusively with metal halide lamps and all have Spherolit reflectors.

Visual comfort in outdoor areas
The high standards that ERCO sets for efficiency and light quality have been applied to both the new and the extended ranges of outdoor lighting tools. The new Kubus range, for example, carries the ERCO principle of "light, not luminaires" to a new plane. Designed as ultra compact, discreet cubes and equipped with fully integrated lighting technology, the range extends from floor washlights to façade luminaires. Whether fitted with metal halide lamps or LED lamps, they provide exceptional visual comfort and clear orientation. The bollard luminaires of the new Midipoll series are efficient instruments used for the glare-free illumination of areas and pathways. Their discreetly illuminated, cross-shaped tube profile, serves as a space-dividing and structuring element.

Wallwashing up from the floor
The established Tesis range of recessed floor luminaires in protection mode IP68 for use in outdoor areas has now been extended to include versions with square front lens and new wallwashers. These now allow lighting designers to meet even wider requirements and provide more architectural solutions. The ERCO Nadir recessed floor luminaires, in protection mode IP67 for indoor areas, has been completely redesigned. The range now includes round and square designs with complete glass covers, producing a variety of lighting characteristics from a range of lamps: from the new grazing light wallwasher to diretional luminaires to the LED varychrome luminaire with diffuse light emission. The new, exceptionally shallow recessed housings are designed for screed-covered installation. They avoid sound bridges and allow for the subsequent height of the luminaire to be adjusted after installation.

Intelligent light systems with DALI
To control innovative luminaire functions such as colour change or the Goborotator, ERCO is commited to DALI to the point where its own lighting control system, Light System DALI has been enhanced. This now includes new functions in the integrated Light Studio software and features additional system advantages such as further options for sensor connection. The entire ERCO program increasingly incorporates DALI-compatible luminaires, known as "Light Clients" - these now include DALI-controllable spotlights with metal halide lamps. Now, the ERCO lighting systems give architects, engineers, lighting and landscape designers even more scope to form their creative ideas into effective and economical lighting concepts.

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About ERCO
ERCO Leuchten GmbH, Lüdenscheid, is one of the leading companies in the luminaire industry. The family business founded in 1934 now operates with over 60 subsidiaries, branches and agencies all around the world. Working together with internationally renowned designers, lighting engineers and architects, ERCO develops hardware and software for all areas of architectural lighting: luminaires and lighting systems for indoor and outdoor areas, as well as lighting control and software for scenographic lighting applications. In keeping with the corporate philosophy of "Light not luminaires," lighting equipment is not offered simply as furnishing for rooms, but rather luminaries are offered as instruments of lighting design. Many demanding architectural projects are illuminated using ERCO equipment, including the Berlin Reichstag, the Louvre in Paris and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. In 2007 ERCO's ca. 1100 strong worldwide workforce produced sales of 163 million euros.


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

		Image 1 1202 x 1800 pixel 439.19 kb At the Light+Building 2008, ERCO is using the motto “tune the light” to present the latest indoor and outdoor lighting developments and innovations.
		Image 2 1699 x 1800 pixel 86.75 kb Compact HIT downlights combine lighting efficiency, shallow recess depth and visual comfort with a high level of cost-effectiveness - ideal for the brilliant illumination of prestigious rooms both in the retail sector and in administrative buildings. The high light intensity emitted by wide flood Spherolit reflectors is produced solely with energy-efficient 20 to 70W metal halide lamps.
		Image 3 1699 x 1800 pixel 101.70 kb Compar recessed ceiling spotlights have been specially developed for the many different requirements of retail lighting. The combination of Spherolit reflector, display lens or Spherolit wallwash reflector results in Compar recessed ceiling spotlights providing an unparalleled variety of seven different light distribution patterns.
		Image 4 1699 x 1800 pixel 75.26 kb Its elegant installation detail and round or square cover glass make Nadir recessed floor luminaires an ideal design component - even if the floors are of high-quality material.