January 6, 2024
5 Things to Know: Week Ending January 6
Three lighting agents announce big promotions. Plus, the "controversial history" of the light bulb.
Here's a roundup of some of the week's happenings curated to help lighting people stay informed.
1. 3D Printed Luminaires are on the Rise
Signify, the global leader in lighting, has invested significantly in the 3D printing sector. Here in North America, 3D printed light fixtures made in Littlestown, Pennsylvania – a small town located three miles from the Maryland border – are supplied under the Cooper Lighting Solutions PrentaLux brand and also as part of the Signify's Genlyte Solutions offering under the Lightolier brand.
 |
| LightFair 2022: Inside Lighting takes a close look at a PrentaLux pendant |
All 3DP, a trade media platform specializing in 3D printing, reports that Signify's foray into 3D printed luminaires has resulted in the shipment of hundreds of thousands of 3D-printed light fixtures. These products have found a substantial market in the fast-service food industry, particularly with McDonald's. The customization enabled by 3D printing inspires a mindset akin to the fast-food industry's "Have it your way" approach, yet, this slogan is already employed by McDonald's competitor, Burger King.
The 3D printing space in lighting is also witnessing a surge in manufacturers, with some niche players emerging like Recozy, Gantri and Jonathan Y. This growth is introducing diversity and broadening customer choices, particularly in a niche that values flexibility and sustainability.
2 . Interesting Engineering’s History of Light
Interesting Engineering this week published a short video on the "controversial history" of light bulbs, tracing origins back to the caveman era when light was primarily used to ward off threats in the dark.
The video highlights key milestones in the development of electric lighting. However, it's important to note that some of the information presented might not completely align with the findings of other historians who have documented the history of lighting.
Notably, the video mentions several scientists who contributed to the development of electric lighting leading up to Thomas Edison's light bulb patent, but omits Louis Latimer. It also brings attention to the alleged existence of a Phoebus Cartel in the 1920s. This group is said to have involved Philips, General Electric and other leading light bulb manufacturers in a global collusion and price-fixing scheme to limit the lifespan of incandescent lamps, thereby boosting sales of replacement bulbs. Some scholars, however, question the existence of this cartel or minimize the extent of the alleged collusion.
3. Inside Lighting's most popular interviews of 2023
Inside Lighting is returning to the virtual recording studio in 2024 for its "5 Big Questions" interview series, featuring upcoming discussions on electrical distribution, the industry economy in 2024, and an interview with the CEO of one of the world's largest lighting manufacturers.
Reflecting one last time on 2023’s greatest hits, here are the most popular "5 Big Questions" interviews we recorded throughout the year – we excluded interviews relating to breaking news acquisitions from this list, but they can be found in our other recent highlight article: The Most Notable Lighting Acquisitions of 2023.
Kim Johnson: PoE
Trevor Palmer: Acuity Brands
Tom Lowery: Legrand
Rick Angel: Lutron
David Radulescu: Intellectual Property
Beth PopNikolov: Marketing to Specifiers
Kim Johnson: PoE
Trevor Palmer: Acuity Brands
Tom Lowery: Legrand
Rick Angel: Lutron
Our first-ever speed round was a hit
David Radelescu: Intellectual Property
Beth PopNikolov: Marketing to Specifiers
4. Three Lighting Agencies Announce Key Promotions:
At Architectural Lighting Alliance (ALA) in Dallas, Texas, Lev Skolnik and Michael Morin have been promoted to Partnership roles. ALA represents leading brands including Acuity Brands, Crestron, and Lumenpulse. Lev has over 15 years, and Michael over 22 years of experience with the company.
In Albuquerque, New Mexico, at Centauri Martin, Stephanie Rodriguez has been appointed as the Executive Vice President. Centauri Martin represents brands such as Lutron, Cree Lighting, and Thomas & Betts. Dan Nunez has been named Vice President of Lighting Sales, focusing on the New Mexico market.
SDA Lighting & Controls in Queens, New York, representing Cree Lighting, Casambi, and HE Williams among others, has announced JP Bedell as the new Director of Business Development and Asher Schoenberg as the Director of Market Relations. Bedell, whose Delivered Lumens social media channels are excellent follows on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram, explained that Delivered Lumens will undergo changes. He plans to shift his focus for certain lighting content to SDA platforms.
5. The end of Linear Fluorescent sales in Vermont
And so it begins. It is now illegal to sell the once-popular, common linear fluorescent lightbulbs in Vermont.
Last year, Vermont imposed wide sweeping restrictions on the sale of mercury-containing lightbulbs, citing mercury's toxicity as the foundation for the ban. Effective from February 17, 2023, the sale of screw-based, compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) has been prohibited.
This restriction has been expanded from January 1, 2024, to now include pin-based mercury-containing CFLs as well as general-purpose, low-pressure, mercury-containing linear fluorescent lamps (tubes). The prohibition extends to their distribution to retailers for subsequent sale within the state.
