In the age of the internet and a world full of automation, increasing technological intelligence and connectivity, it’s time to recognise the benefits that intelligent and connected lighting technology can deliver in industrial applications. 

In other sectors (e.g. commercial, healthcare, retail), lighting systems are delivering meaningful insights into the use of office spaces, intelligently mimicking the colour natural daylight to improve productivity or recovery times and helping shoppers find promotions via a retailer’s app. By contrast, the use of intelligent and connected lighting technology in industrial applications remains fairly rare.

In the past, the idea of running control cables across active warehouse or manufacturing facilities, within dated infrastructure and at dizzying heights was prohibitive from a cost and time perspective.  The great news is that wireless technology can now address many of these issues.  What’s more, the potential for wireless lighting and sensor technology to be integrated with other systems to provide feedback and management capabilities is also well-developed. So, what remains as a barrier to greater adoption in industrial applications?

Many organisations will focus primarily on energy savings, maintenance reductions and improving payback periods. While the savings are indeed considerable and will, I’m sure, remain a key driver for lighting upgrades, there is a great opportunity to consider the benefits that lighting technology can deliver beyond illumination and simple energy savings.  Dynamic controls, for example, can deliver incredible flexibility (offering optimal lighting levels for different tasks at the press of a button ), cloud based systems can provide valuable and meaningful insights, such as identifying under-utilised manufacturing lines and warehousing areas for rezoning or even help to guide staff efficiently to picking locations. 

In addition, the quality of light within LED-based systems, along with the reduced heat output, can improve the environment for staff, giving a boost to morale and productivity.While energy and maintenance savings will no doubt remain key drivers for LED lighting upgrades in industrial applications, it’s time to consider the benefits that lighting intelligence and connectivity can deliver to further improve operational efficiency

For more information on how ELe’s innovative systems can help the intelligent lighting industrial movement, please contact by telephone: 01695 731942 or email: markb@extremelowenergy.com

Credit: Martin Davis, Senior Systems Architect http://www.lighting.philips.co.uk/education/thelightconnection/connected-business/lighting-intelligence-and-connectivity-in-industrial-applications