5 Things to Know: September 27

Lighting designer David Warfel, writing in CEPro, argues that the DMX-512 protocol remains the gold standard in digital lighting control despite the growing array of alternatives. Warfel, who leads the design firm Light Can Help You, positions DMX as faster, more reliable, and more universally adopted than options like DALI-2, Zigbee, or proprietary protocols. He emphasizes the importance of interoperability across manufacturers — a quality he says DMX delivers where other systems fall short.

DMX was developed in the late 1980s for theatrical lighting and has since proven itself in residential applications, especially as color-tunable and multi-channel fixtures become more common. Warfel argues that in contrast, DALI-2 — initially designed for controlling fluorescent ballasts — lags in speed and responsiveness when deployed without careful commissioning, according to Warfel. In CEPro, he recounts personal experience using DMX to manage products from multiple lighting brands and suggests its open architecture remains unmatched.

While Warfel acknowledges DMX’s complexity in setup and wiring, he advocates for the development of a residential-specific successor — an "R-DMX" — that would retain DMX’s speed and openness while being easier to implement. He calls for industry collaboration, potentially led by groups like CEDIA, to create a protocol suited for modern residential needs without sacrificing the benefits of legacy DMX.

At its September annual meeting, Austria-based Zumtobel told shareholders what comes next: a restructuring plan designed to generate €30–40 million ($35–47 million) in annual improvements starting in 2028/29. The long horizon underscores the scale of the transformation — slimming down the organization, standardizing processes, and shifting work into global business centers.

As Inside Lighting reported on August 1, Zumtobel’s most visible step is the closure of its Highland, New York factory, long described by management as “structurally unprofitable.” The decision will eliminate about 70 jobs across production, R&D, logistics, and administration, and bring a €9 million ($10.5 million) restructuring charge to the current fiscal year. Deliveries to U.S. customers will be fulfilled from Zumtobel’s plants in Europe and China, while sales, service, and engineering teams remain in place.

Above: German-language exceprt from Zumtobel report summarizes USA operation shutdown

By tying the Highland exit into a multi-year efficiency program, Zumtobel is asking investors for patience. The near-term financial drag is clear, but the company is betting that simplifying its structure now will double margins later. For the U.S. market, the symbolism is stark: a retreat from local manufacturing, wrapped in a promise of global integration.

The fiscal year ending April 30, 2025, closed with revenue of €1.097 billion ($1.28 billion) and net profit of just €15.5 million ($18.1 million) — technically profitable, but a razor-thin 1.4% margin that underscores why management is pushing for deeper efficiency gains.

RELATED ACQUISITION: 

Tridonic, a Zumtobel brand based in Dornbirn, Austria, recently acquired Switzerland-based NovaLight. The deal strengthens Tridonic’s outdoor controls portfolio, with the greatest impact expected across European markets rather than North America or other regions.

TCP International, a well-known maker of LED lamps, has sold and leased back its Aurora, Ohio headquarters, a 21-acre site at 325 Campus Drive. 

The campus, built in 2007, consists of a 106,864-square-foot warehouse with 40-foot walls and a two-story, 35,968-square-foot office wing. Paved asphalt and concrete additions are valued at $156,000. Interestingly, annual tax bills have exceeded $300,000 in 2024 and 2025, rising sharply from under $30,000 in prior years.

On September 9, 2025, ownership of the property transferred from TCP Campus Drive LLC to Bright Leasing LLC of Goshen, Indiana, under a limited warranty deed. The recorded sale price was $9.8 million. 

Above: TCP's Aurora, Ohio headquarters

According to Crain’s Cleveland Business, the deal closed July 30. The facility totals about 154,000 square feet, sold at a 9% cap rate.  According to Crain's Bright Leasing purchased the property as an investment, with TCP continuing as tenant.

A recent report by KPMG's Global Decarbonization Hub highlights a growing reliance on artificial intelligence to improve energy efficiency in commercial real estate, citing real-world savings of 240,000 MWh and €26 million. Central to this shift is “Jenny,” a SaaS platform that autonomously adjusts HVAC systems every 15 minutes, minimizing emissions while maintaining indoor comfort. In two pilot projects—a 10,000 m² office and a 60,000 m² shopping center—AI reduced heating loads by over 60% and cut central valve use by 70%.

The report also explores the concept of “Cognitive Buildings,” where AI anticipates occupancy and adapts environmental controls accordingly. These systems integrate with building management software via open protocols like BACnet/IP and OPC UA, eliminating the need for new hardware. As predictive maintenance and demand-side optimization become standard, explainable and human-centric AI models are positioned to guide buildings from reactive infrastructure to adaptive systems—capable of balancing comfort, cost, and climate impact in real time.

The Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is offering a new short course focused on the use of 3D printing in the design and manufacturing of lighting system components. Running from October 22 to November 20, 2025, the course includes three live online sessions — October 22, 29, and November 5—and two in-person lab sessions on November 19–20 at the LRC in historic Troy, New York.

Participants will explore how additive manufacturing can accelerate product development and enable customized optical and thermal components. The course will cover 3D printing processes, material selection, design for performance, CAD modeling, and performance testing. Attendees will design two lighting components — an optical part and a heat sink — which will be printed and characterized as part of the course.

Faculty from the LRC will be joined by industry experts from HP, Signify, and Stratasys. Hands-on lab sessions will include photometric and thermal testing of printed parts. The course is open to professionals in lighting, product development, engineering, industrial design, and 3D printing.

Topics include optical component design and characterization, thermal management strategies, CAD and slicing software for lighting applications, and post-processing techniques. Attendees will receive a certificate of completion and 15 CEUs.

Tuition is $1,800 and registration is limited.

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