Held May 9-11 in New York City, Lightfair 2000 attracted more than 17,000 architects, engineers, and industry professionals to see what lighting in the 21st Century will be like.
Many products showcased at Lightfair continue the trend of using electronic circuitry in ballasts to enhance performance in all lamp types and achieve sophisticated control schemes. Here are some product highlights from the show.
GE Lighting, Nela Park, Ohio, introduced StayBright metal-halide lamps, which provide "pulse- start" performance on standard CW/CWA ballasts. The 750W PulseArc metal-halide lamps serve as a replacement for higher wattage lamps.
Osram/Sylvania, Danvers, Mass., broadened its already extensive line of T8 lamps with long life, higher performance linear lamps. The T5 and T5 HO fluorescents provide a high lumen package from a very narrow linear source.
Philips Lighting, Somerset, N.J, expanded its MasterColor line of metal-halide lamps to cover 150W to 400W ratings. The MasterLine ES IRC MR-16 halogen infrared lamp offers energy savings of up to 30% over a standard halogen lamp. The company also introduced a 165W addition to its QL induction lamp (100,000 hr life) family.
Venture Lighting, Solon, Ohio, presented its Compound Parabolic Collector, which directs the output from a 68W metal-halide arc tube in opposite directions on the same axis. Developed in conjunction with Fiberstars, Inc., and using a compact DC electronic ballast, the system is suitable for both fiber optics and general lighting.
Advance Transformer Co., Rosemont, Ill., allows you to mount an ignitor up to 50 ft from a low-wattage (pulse-start) metal-halide lamp. The e-Vision electronic ballasts for low-wattage metal-halide lamps feature universal input voltage and dual-wattage lamp operation.
MagneTek, Nashville, Tenn., showed its line of universal input voltage, low-profile AccuStat ballasts for frequency switched fluorescent applications.
Lithonia Lighting, Coyners, Ga., demonstrated its Visual lighting design software program via the wireless Web, which allows contractors to do a simple fixture layout and costing at the job site using a cell phone. The firm also showed its Indura industrial emergency lighting units, which feature easy installation and a vertically oriented housing.
Holophane promoted its twin luminaire assembly using a pair of 400W lamps as a alternative to a single 1000W HID fixture. The MicroStar luminaire offers optical light distribution with excellent vertical illumination outdoors.
Day-Bright Lighting, Tupelo, Miss., displayed its Sealsafe HID line with a sealed optical chamber. The Industra 4 enclosed, high bay fixture has an adjustable inner reflector. Using a nominal 4-ft-long T5 fluorescent lamp, the MicroSlot fluorescent luminaire has a 3.5-in-wide opening for general and perimeter retail application.
Under the Metalux label, Cooper Lighting, Elk Grove Village, Ill., showed its extensive line of T5 lamp luminaires suitable for surface mounting, wall washing, coves, valances, and soffits. The Philips QL induction lamp, rated for 1000,000 hr in either 55W or 85W sizes, is included in the Portfolio line of specification-grade luminaires.
Leviton Mfg. Co., Little Neck, NY, promoted its Dimensions family of products, which includes the Colortran and NSI theatrical lighting control lines.
Lutron Electronics Co., Coopersburg, Pa., showcased its Two Link panel that allows an architectural space to be operated by its Grafik Eye 4000 or 6000 architectural control system and a theatrical console using the DMX 512 control protocol.
Energy Savings Inc., Schaumburg, Ill., introduced its line of AddressPro ballasts, which allows an individual ballast to be controlled (ON/OFF, UP/DOWN) and incorporated into a preset lighting scene. Cooper Lighting, and 10 other manufacturers at the show, incorporate this versatile technology in their products.
A group of U.S. and European manufacturers, including MagneTek, ECS Lighting Control, Osram, and Philips, promoted the Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) as a new (nonproprietary) industry standard for controlling lighting equipment. This system creates a unique address for ballasts to allow (ON/OFF, UP/DOWN) via a low-voltage control circuit.