September 2, 2023
5 Things to Know: Week Ending September 2
Updates on an upcoming lighting event, the IES headquarters and a notable lawsuit involving lighting designer royalty claims.
Here's a roundup of some of the week's happenings curated to help lighting people stay informed.
1. ArchLIGHT Summit Updates and Observations
On September 19 and 20, the third annual ArchLIGHT Summit is scheduled to be held in Dallas, Texas.
Last year, three weeks before the event, the official show website listed four agent partners and 80 exhibitors. Currently, the event lists two agent partners and 69 exhibitors. The two agent partners are Hossley Lighting & Power Solutions and Preferred Lighting Group.
OBSERVATIONS:
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The recently published exhibitor map indicates that Hossley will not have a dominant center aisle as in previous years when the agency featured 20+ exhibitors in the main traffic area.
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This year, Hossley opted to invest more heavily its "2545" customer event that was held on August 3 at the House of Blues Dallas. Thus, the agency has just 10 exhibitor partners currently listed as ArchLIGHT exhibitors.
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On Thursday, Current announced a major agency change in much of the South Central United States. Since then, Current has been removed from the ArchLIGHT Summit exhibitor list.
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The IES Dallas Section has been on the exhibitor list for months. Interestingly, the IES headquarters has also recently been added as a full-fledged exhibitor in the last ten days.
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Other somewhat recent additions to the exhibitor list include Cooper Lighting Solutions, Focal Point and Halco Lighting.
2. IES Headquarters Office Still Seeking Tenant
It's been just over a year since the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) made its office available for sublease in New York City as part of a series of cost-cutting measures.
The IES office on Wall Street, nearly 11,000 square feet, is still searching for a subleasing tenant. In March, when asked about the office's availability, a broker from Newmark Realty said, "Yes, asking $54/RSF. We'll be aggressive. It's a great space."
The IES's current lease runs through 2033. If a tenant pays the $54 per rentable square foot rate, IES stands to see about $592,000 in annual overhead relief.
Colleen Harper, IES Executive Director, recently told us, "There is a lot of empty office space in Manhattan, so while we are still hoping to find a tenant, we are not simply waiting and crossing our fingers. We are also working directly with our landlord to possibly find a different solution."
Harper also noted challenges in the market: "We’ve been told that the Financial District is the slowest to rebound. Also, with the rise in remote work, there is a lot of supply in New York City and not much demand."
3. UPDATE: Susan Brady vs. Acuity Brands
A licensing disagreement lit up the Southern District of New York federal court in March, as award-winning architectural lighting designer, Susan Brady, and her Studio Light Inc. alleged breach of contract against Acuity Brands. Brady claims over $3 million is owed for designs of Slot 2, Slot 4 and other Mark Architectural Lighting products.
At the heart of the case is Acuity's shift from fluorescent to LED sources in products originally designed by the plaintiffs. Studio Light Inc. and Brady argue that the aesthetic of the design was licensed, emphasizing that the original contract's intent covered their creations, regardless of the source type. They also claim Acuity failed to disclose that it ceased paying royalties for the LED version of their designs.
On the other hand, Acuity counters that all due payments were made concerning the fixtures covered by their agreements. The defense insists that the 2002 and 2007 contracts specifically pertained only to fluorescent products and any other product developments weren't subject to these agreements.
Recent court filings indicate that the case is in the initial stages of discovery, with depositions yet to be conducted. While both parties have exchanged paper discovery requests, no settlement discussions have taken place.
Looking ahead, Acuity Brands sees the potential for alternate dispute resolution mechanisms, likely after some discovery or close of discovery processes are complete. The post-discovery/pretrial case management conference is scheduled for March 6, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.
MORE INFO: Original case filing »
4. Middle-Market Manufacturers Navigate Risks Amidst Optimism
A recent report in Industry Week highlights a growing confidence in the manufacturing sector's return to North America. Middle-market manufacturers, which significantly contribute to the U.S. economy, face a set of challenges:
Performance & Productivity: According to a survey by Chubb and the National Center for the Middle Market (NCMM), 76% of middle-market manufacturers are optimistic, expecting performance improvements this year. However, talent challenges loom as nearly half of the respondents express difficulty in finding the right skill set. As a result, 46% of employees are working longer shifts to combat potential decreases in productivity.
Supply Chain & Asset Challenges: Supply chain disruptions continue to be a significant concern. 41% of manufacturers reported supply chain disturbances. Moreover, 70% of manufacturers noted that the inflation-driven replacement costs of covered assets have changed. Asset replacement costs have surged due to factors like global supply chain issues since the pandemic's onset in 2020, leading to increased prices for construction materials and labor.
5. DALI-2 Certification Now Includes Firmware Updates
The DALI Alliance has expanded its DALI-2 certification program to encompass firmware updates through the DALI interface for devices, including control gear, application controllers, and input devices like sensors. These updates align with Part 105 of the IEC 62386 standard, enabling post-production or post-shipping updates on DALI devices, whether for bug fixes, performance enhancements, or introducing new features.
Paul Drosihn, the DALI Alliance General Manager, emphasized that the ability to update firmware in DALI devices not only streamlines the process by potentially eliminating the need for costly on-site visits or component replacements but also ensures the system remains up-to-date in the future.
To aid manufacturers in this process, the DALI Alliance has introduced a "Firmware update checklist" guide. This checklist aids in risk management when updating control-gear firmware in real-world situations, offering a similar framework for updating control devices. Notably, any changes made specifically to the DALI-related operation might require re-testing to retain DALI-2 certification.
