Light + Building 2008: ERCO presents new technology - Spherolit reflectors with a variety of light distribution patterns

Perfect light quality for flexible lighting concepts

Lüdenscheid, 23 February 2008 - Presenting its new Spherolit reflectors, ERCO once again demonstrates professionalism in lighting technology. The new reflectors are designed predominantly for spotlights, but are used in downlights, to produce an exceptional light quality. The beam is extremely uniform, without striations and has a neat, diffuse edge - and all that while producing excellent brilliant light and a very high light output ratio.

The Spherolit technology is based on the division of the reflector into individual areas, known as spherolites. Unlike conventional facetted reflectors, however, the individual areas of the Spherolit reflectors, rather than being flat, have a three-dimensional, spherical curvature. Through complex calculations and computer simulations, they are arranged and shaped so as to achieve the specific light distribution required. In this way, the reflector characteristic can be controlled over a wide range - from narrow spot to spot and flood to wide flood. The result is spotlight reflectors that have exactly the same dimensions, i.e. diameter, depth and focal point and even asymmetric light distribution for wallwashing can be achieved. Compared with other methods applied to control the light distribution of spotlights such as Vario reflector technology, attachments or spread lenses, the ERCO Spherolit reflectors optimise the light output ratio. In numerous ERCO spotlights, the various reflectors can also easily be exchanged by hand.

ERCO Spherolit reflectors are pressed out of aluminium and then mirror finished. The development and production of the complex tool shapes with tolerances in micrometres, requires specialist know-how in computer calculation and simulation backed up by highly complex CAD/CAM systems. For this reason ERCO handles the entire production process exclusively.

Each reflector is supplied with three retaining springs and a safety glass. All ERCO spotlights in the new Emanon, Cantax, Compar and Compact HIT ranges are provided with Spherolit reflectors and several of the spotlight ranges include Spherolit wallwashers. These have been specifically designed for applications such as sales areas and display lighting, they produce high levels of light intensity on the illuminated surface with a focal point in the upper third of the wall, which provides a valuable alternative to the classic lens wallwashers. At present in other product ranges, the Spherolit technology is used in individual articles.

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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 1428 x 1800 pixel 98.35 kb The innovative ERCO Spherolit reflectors produce a variety of spotlight characteristics to suit different lighting tasks: “narrow spot” to accentuate smaller objects with high luminance, “spot“ to model the three-dimensional shape of all kinds of objects, “flood“ to illuminate larger objects or areas in a room, and “wide flood“ to floodlight surfaces and room areas used for larger product displays.
		Image 2 774 x 1157 pixel 180.66 kb ERCO Spherolit reflectors can be changed without using tools in next to no time. This means that spotlights with Spherolit technology can be adapted quickly and easily to suit changing lighting concepts.
		Image 3 2568 x 1800 pixel 374.32 kb ERCO Spherolit reflectors have three-dimensional, spherically curved individual areas (spherolites). Depending on the curvature of an individual area, the incident light is reflected as a narrower or wider beam. The narrowest beam angle is produced by the flat spherolites of narrow spot reflectors, the widest by the srongly curved spherolites of the wide flood reflectors.