The Autumn Edition of the Hong Kong International Lighting Fair, being held this week at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, is host to a record-breaking 2,300 exhibitors from 37 countries and regions, including the Czech Republic, which is showing for the first time. The crowd the fair has drawn is impressive as well, although a total count will not be available until after the show ends. There is ample representation from American lighting companies visiting the fair as well many from Germany, Australia, Scandinavia, Great Britain and some traveling from as far away as South America. What are the American companies and designers looking for? Unique sources for component parts, LED developments, and innovative products. With the LED technology rapidly changing, there have been many product launches that were not yet ready in time for April’s Light+Building Fair in Frankfurt, or at LIGHTFAIR International in May. The daily educational sessions that reveal the status of LED adoption throughout the world plus new developments in the field have been filled to capacity. One of the first-time exhibitors is a name very familiar to the American lighting industry: Satco Products, which is showing its latest introductions to its Kolourone brand at the Wooree Lighting booth. Wooree Lighting is a highly respected Korean lighting manufacturer and Satco’s partner in the Kolourone line. Diamond Life is a premium crystal and art glass lighting manufacturer that is well-established in Europe and Asia. The company has partnered with Kalco Lighting to create the sister company known as Allegri, which has a permanent showroom at the Dallas Market Center and has distribution throughout North America. Diamond Life’s factory excels at custom fabrication for the hospitality market as well as residential. Those same capabilities are available to Allegri. In an educational session titled “LED Lamps in the 21st Century,” Fred Bass, managing director of bulb manufacturer Megaman, stated,” The tipping point for LED is approaching for mass adoption in general lighting; it’s just about here.” As many manufacturers are concerned with offering the most lumens per watt, Bass cautioned, “It’s useful lumens that we need. If the lumens do not go where we want them to go, then that is not green. That’s wasteful. It should be about how you control those lumens. High lumens per watt does not always mean high efficacy. It could also be light pollution.” Bass told the audience that having a retrofit product can be desirable. “Retrofits mean you have the ability to change something. It’s future-proof, updatable, and sustainable.” As technology improves, modules can be replaced with a better-performing model. For example, he said, “LED technology has been changing every six months. My cell phone is [state of the art] today and it will still be working in five years, but will I still want it then? No, I will want to upgrade my phone to the newest technology.” The LED industry is no different.
2012 Hong Kong International Lighting Fair Recap
