Sparks Electrical News November 2018

LIGHTING

22

LED PANEL LIGHTS WITH FLICKER FREE NON- DIMMABLE DRIVER

LIGHTING LEADS TO INCREASED TURNOVER AT FMCG STORE W hen George Skoutellas – known by many in the industry as ‘Mr SPAR’ – acquired the SU- PERSPAR Blackheath in the northern suburbs of Gauteng, he embarked on an ambitious plan to reno- vate and expand a flailing store. Skoutellas, owner of SPAR stores in Bedfordview and Sunninghill, turned to a familiar team when upgrading the Blackheath SUPERSPAR, doubling its size and in- corporating a TOPS at SPAR liquor store. Tasked with the lighting was Flolite, which played an integral role in the revamp of the successful SUPERSPAR Bedfordview. Initially 250 m 2 , the store now comprises a ‘fresh’ de- partment, which includes an extended range to the butchery, bakery, deli, gift shop and flower offering, along with a brand new coffee shop, while the new TOPS at SPAR boasts a 100 m 2 walk-in beer chiller. Having been involved in similar stores previously, Dewet says that at the first site meeting they were asked to “do your magic”. “The client wanted the store to ‘stand out’ from a lighting perspective. Fol- lowing our previous work on the flagship Bedford- view store three years ago, this project was required to surpass it, so we had to push the envelope that bit further,” says Flolite’s John Dewet. Met with what can be described as a rundown and dingy store, Flolite increased the standard lux levels of 800 in retail aisles to 1100. “This was a little more challenging, but the end result is that the products ‘pop’ from the shelves and, along with the correct colour rendering index, provide a true re- flection of their colours.” He says Flolite keeps track of trends in FMCG retail in the States, where thin LED strips are being placed on grocery shelves to further highlight items, and studies show that sales can increase by 25% on highlighted products as they stand out for consumers. Specialised handmade fittings were installed for aesthetic value in the more ostentatious areas of the store. For instance, for the coffee shop area and the home meal replacement (HMR) section, a selection of brass and wire pendants with Edison bulbs add a more homely feel compared to the rest of the store. Elsewhere, over 150 54 W linear battens were installed in the recesses of the ceiling’s bulkheads, while lighting – although more functional – was also required for the back-of-house receiving and office areas. Despite a large glass shopfront, natural light didn’t play much into the mix as its penetration was less than 6 m into the store; here softer light- ing with lower lux levels was used to create a more comfortable working environment for the cashiers. Overall, 170 linear highbays, 150 batten fittings, 80 downlights and over 100 track lights were installed in the two stores. The TOPS at SPAR store, with its own entrance and cleverly divided from the SUPERSPAR Black- heath by a translucent liquor cabinet which entices customers to visit both entities, follows the same lighting concept as the SPAR store but with a slight- ly smaller 600 mm x 600 mm light. For the fridges, specially designed luminaires were installed which can operate at -40°C. Externally, Flolite also developed a new parking light product for the parking lot. “We installed a high lumen output, 300 W fitting for the parking lot. Previously, it was not a well-lit area and crimes had occurred there. By increasing the lux levels from the typical 50-70 to 120 lux outside, customers now feel more comfortable parking there,” says Dewet.

T he range of high quality LED panel lights from VETi is highly efficient and supplied with a low voltage, EMC-approved, constant current, flicker-free driver which is safe, saves energy, enables a long lighting lifetime and ensures the best possi- ble light for any application. The anodised aluminium frame ensures excellent heat dissipation and there- fore a longer life for LEDs. Features • Low glare diffuser • EMC approved • Flicker free external driver • Edge lit LED panel

• Suitable for recessed ceiling systems with grid size 600 x 600 mm (LPL6060C & LPL6060N) • Suitable for recessed ceiling systems with grid size 1200 x 600 mm (LPL12060C & LPL12060N) • Direct replacement for luminaires with fluorescent lamps • Energy saving of up to 50% (compared to luminaires that use fluorescent lamps) • Offered in Cool white (6000 K) and Natural light (4000 K)

Enquiries: www.veti.co.za

Enquiries: www.flolite.co.za

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

NOVEMBER 2018