reputable source. We’ve noticed that where there used to be just a few large companies in the sign trade buying lighting there’s now many more small companies and they benefit especially from our knowledge and technical advice.” Andy continues: “A big advantage for our
customers is that we are a lighting company, rather than a sign systems company which does lighting as one of its services.” As companies want to be seen as environ-
mentally friendly and reconsider their lighting requirements, more are looking at LED lighting solutions rather than fluorescent, says Andy. “Some suppliers just buy in an LED strip
and stick it on a reflector, and then sell it. We have long term contracts with chosen LED suppliers, and use our expertise to design and manufacture durable and stylish Portland products in house, and have two new products on the drawing board ready to launch” he says. “These days sign makers get pressurised
Lighting with LEDs is an Applelec area of
expertise and the company has set up exclusive agreements and multiple partnerships with com- panies around the world that invest in research to develop the best LEDs for certain jobs. Carl continues: “Applelec customers can
have confidence knowing that we thermal manage our LEDs and have the knowledge and experience to engineer solutions for different applications. As LED chips have evolved so they get brighter. We look at each application and spend time, effort and money testing LEDs so we can pick the most suitable option for a specific application.” “All Applelec jobs are bespoke and our
Carl Eastwood, Marketing Director, Applelec Sign Components.
to turn everything around very quickly so we also have arrangements to provide a 24 hour turnaround.” As for colour choice in LED lighting, white retains its popularity
but today the term ‘white LED’ covers a range of different whites, from an almost cream colour to what appears almost blue. To differentiate the whites they are measured in the Kelvin temperature range, with the optimum for a fully saturated standard white usually agreed to be around 6500 degrees Kelvin. Carl Eastwood, Marketing Director, Applelec Sign Components,
says: “At the moment there is a big demand for the different colour whites. In the past cool white LEDs were popular, now as warm whites and very cool blue LEDs have become available more people are choosing those options.” “The last few years or so have seen an innovation in the LEDs
have developed in terms of brightness, viewing angles, uniformity of illumination, colour efficiency and reduced cost per lumen, so much has improved. Systems using RGB LEDs and mixing colours to create different moods and effects such as rainbow, flushing, and washing on walls has been around for years but only widely used for the last few. Previously they attracted interest, especially at events, but customers didn’t trust the technology or found them too expensive. The cost of technology has come down and sign companies are now finding that creating these effects are reliable and cost-effective solutions.” “It’s also an exciting time because sign makers are increasingly
spreading their wings and stepping into lighting territory that they stayed away from before,” says Carl.
products are tried and tested so we know exactly what we’re talking about. For example, when we supply in kit form we do a mock up on our test table, and we’re so confident of our products that we give a five year guarantee on LEDs we’ve fitted inside letters,” says Carl. The latest innovative solution from Applelec
is LED Light Sheet, a fusion of high brightness LEDs embedded within an acrylic panel with a profile of just 8mm. The 3D V-cutting technology in LED Light Sheet ensures light is evenly reflected throughout the sheet, and on both sides. Light Sheet is available in panels up to 1.2m x 3m, with all white or RGB options. Shapes can be cut from this panel, which is suitable for indoor and outdoor use, opening up a whole new world of lighting possibilities. It may seem that LEDs are destined to be the lighting of choice
in the future for the sign and display industry but that future may not yet be quite now.
Further information Applelec Sign Components:
www.applelecsign.com Avenue Signs:
www.avenuesigns.com Insight Sign Systems:
www.insightsignsystems.com Portland Lighting:
www.portlandlighting.co.uk
LED Light Sheet from Applelec Sign Components, high brightness LEDs embedded within an acrylic panel.
Applelec Sign Components offers a range of tried and tested lighting solutions.
ISSUE 125 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010 Sign Update 67
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