Company lights up facilities using holistic, efficient solutions

Luminaires supplier BEKA Schréder provides a full lighting solution, supported by an extensive product offering, for local manufacturing and processing (M&P) facilities.

“There’s a need to be compliant with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, as the Act is specific about light level requirements for M&P facilities for safety. We provide a solution-based offering for clients, including a lighting audit and design, and we can provide clients with an energy savings calculations to optimise the return on investment. “This helps us to provide the most suitable lighting product offering,” states BEKA Schréder marketing and segment development manager Grant Combrink.

Several considerations come into play when the company considers the most ideal lighting solutions for an M&P facility, he adds.

This includes indoor and outdoor lighting solutions for a facility, with the latter requiring not only that the correct optics are installed in parking areas and roads leading up to a facility, but that these optics help to direct light where needed.

“With the use of correct optics and the correct luminaire there will be a reduction in any skyglow, light pollution and backlights that eliminate illuminating surrounding areas. “From an application perspective, we use different outputs, voltages and optics in our luminaires to make sure that sufficient light is directed to the correct area.”

He adds that the type of facility – including where higher levels of dust and water are present, as well as hazardous materials – will also influence the choice of lighting solution. This includes IP65-rated products and Zonal that BEKA Schréder provides.

“For the interior installation we also have products that allow for presence detection, which enhances energy savings. M&P facilities can use a sensor-based presence-detection sensor to dim lights accordingly if there are not any staff or activity in that particular area. “This also depends on the application, as we have a complete range of lighting products that can cater for low-bay and high-bay applications.”

Products

Some of the company’s products for low-bay and high-bay applications include the LEDBAY, ECOBAY and LEDTEC ranges.

With the second generation LEDBAY, this luminaire is available for lighting industrial facilities with a minimised total cost of ownership.

The LEDBAY outperforms other light fixtures owing to the substantial energy savings it generates, and the performance it delivers over time.

Available with three standard lumen packages, various light distributions, and mounting options, the LEDBAY is suited to multiple indoor and outdoor lighting applications.

The ECOBAY, meanwhile, is ideal for lighting industrial facilities at optimised light levels. It offers substantial savings, high performance and is able to operate at high ambient temperatures.

Available with four typical lumen packages and various light distributions, the ECOBAY is suitable for multiple indoor lighting applications.

Lastly, the LEDTEC is an LED low-bay range designed for energy-efficient lighting in industrial, commercial and petrochemical retail environments.

The LEDTEC range is suited to multiple indoor and outdoor lighting applications, with its typical lumen packages per product range, and mounting options.

Energy-Saving Solution

Therefore, amid the challenges of limited access to power and heightened input cost for the local manufacturing market, the energy-saving advantages of presence-detection systems for M&P facilities are important, adds Combrink.

Such advantages are also helpful for operators who have relied on alternative modes of energy generation such as renewable energies, battery storage and/or diesel generators.

Even if operators can use these alternative energy-generation sources, reducing the unnecessary use of energy and the costs of such sources, remains beneficial, Combrink states.

BEKA Schréder has a solution – which can be used with a Bluetooth connection – that will enable facility operators to select certain dimming profiles for different times of the day, depending on the activity in the area.

“It’s going to be more controllable and allow for any suitable dimming profile. We’re giving customers more control over their lighting systems,” notes Combrink.

The solution allows for presence-detection, scene settings, scheduled settings and time-based settings using a selected application suited to mobile phones and tablets.

He adds that while BEKA Schréder has made this Bluetooth-activated system available to the local market for outdoor applications, the company is releasing a solution for indoor applications this year.

“We focus on serving the whole African market. “We’re looking to become the preferred high-bay and low-bay manufacturer and supplier for the manufacturing and processing industries,” Combrink concludes.