November 3, 2023
5 Things to Know: Week Ending November 4
Banff, Alberta becomes the intersection of architectural lighting design and pickled whisky. Plus, the "knock off" wall sconce lawsuit reaches a settlement.
Here's a roundup of some of the week's happenings curated to help lighting people stay informed.
1. IALD Enlighten Americas
The snow was gently falling in the Canadian Rockies as attendees from all over North America arrived at the Fairmont Banff Springs for this week's IALD Enlighten Americas 2023 conference.
This event is renowned for uniting the architectural lighting design community for more than three days of education, networking, and camaraderie. This year's conference appears to be meeting the high expectations of the crowd. Participants enjoyed the Axis Lighting reception on Wednesday evening and the Cooper Lighting reception on Thursday. Unconfirmed reports suggest that some well-known architectural lighting designers have been enjoying a concoction known locally as Pickled Whiskey.
Friday night promises an indoor/outdoor Acuity Brands Camp Light event, while Saturday's finale will be held at the Bowl Valley Bowling Centre, where attendees will have the chance to try their hand at Canadian 5-pin bowling.
Stay tuned for a more substantive recap of the IALD Enlighten Americas, focusing on lighting-related topics, which will be published in our Monday article feed. Cheers!
Above: The IALD’s next President, Andrea Hartranft, poses with the current IALD President, Mônica Luz Lobo
2 . RBW’s Knock Off Assertions: Settlement
Architectural lighting maker, RBW, also known as Rich Brilliant Willing, has withdrawn its lawsuit against Canoe Hospitality, Studio Collective, and Hotel June after reaching a settlement. Initially, RBW had accused the defendants of using imitation light fixtures that infringed on RBW's patented design for a lighting order for Hotel June in West Los Angeles. RBW had sought damages for lost profits due to what they claimed were knockoff versions of their Brim sconces, designed to be installed in all guest rooms as part of a multi-million-dollar remodel.
The parties had been in settlement negotiations since June. The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed, but the dismissal notice filed by RBW Studio effectively closes the case. The court’s dismissal "with prejudice" indicates that RBW Studio cannot refile the same claim against the defendants in the future, signifying a conclusive end to the proceedings regarding this matter.
3. ams Osram Sells LED factory, and leases it back
ams OSRAM reported its third-quarter earnings this week, and as part of its financial maneuvers, the company revealed that it has sold an LED factory and is now leasing it back. LEDs Magazine detailed the $426.2 million sale and leaseback of the Kulim micro-LED site. According to the magazine, the company stated that it is transferring ownership to three Malaysian pension funds: Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF), and the Retirement Fund Incorporated, also known as Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (KWAP). Ams Osram expects the transaction to close later this year or in early 2024.
As reported by LEDs, CFO Rainer Irle explained, “It’s vey complicated to explain all the details, but it a simplified way, we sold the shell, the building, of our new factory to some pension funds in Malaysia, and we will buy it back after ten years, or we can also buy it back earlier if we want."
4. Construction Employment Increases for Seventh Straight Month
An Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that in October, nonresidential construction employment saw an increase of 8,400 jobs, with all its subcategories witnessing growth.
The construction sector added jobs for the seventh straight month, with significant hiring in the nonresidential segment, notably in nonresidential building due to a surge in large manufacturing projects. While the demand for construction labor remains high, labor costs have risen, driven by worker shortages.
Construction worker hourly earnings in October grew at over double the rate of average economywide wages. This trend is expected to continue, as over half of the contractors plan to expand their workforce in the coming six months, per ABC’s Construction Confidence Index.
5. USAI Announces Promotions
On Thursday, the architectural lighting brand USAI announced several promotions and updates. In 2020, USAI reported a staff of 227 employees.
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Sean Gaydos is announced as the new President and Chief Sales Officer (CSO) of USAI Lighting. He will retain his involvement in sales while also focusing on customer and sales agent experience.
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Bob Brown will take on the role of Vice President of Sales, tasked with leading sales in the mid-Atlantic region and improving training and support initiatives.
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Frank Cogliano has been promoted to Chief Innovation Officer (CIO).
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Frank DiLauro has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Bonnie Littman will maintain her role and active involvement as CEO, with no changes to her position.
