A new dawn for lighting


Fern-Howard Lighting has a reputation for innovation in commercial lighting. Technical expertise has been integral in its development during the past 35 years and group CEO Peter Scott (pictured) is a firm believer in manufacturing capability because it has been crucial to success. Sue Hughes reports


Since its formation in the 1970s as a supplier of electrical assemblies to the lighting industry, Alton-based Fern-Howard has grown to become a market-leading SME manufacturer of energy-efficient lighting. It was started by Peter Scott and specialises in a narrow range of quality-lighting products.


Manufacturing capability is key. By investing heavily in product development and manufacturing automation and placing importance on innovative ways to help installers work more efficiently, Fern-Howard creates lighting that is simple to specify, install and use.


The company changed strategy to combat low- cost competition, particularly from China, and invested in an automated production line for a more modular manufacturing process. Sub assemblies of stock can be finished to order within minutes.


Scott explained that previously low-cost imports are no longer so attractive: “The cost of shipping a container has gone up eight-fold, so overall larger components like ours can now be manufactured cost-effectively in the UK again, with assured quality.“


Fern-Howard supplies every local authority, health authority, school and university in the UK via 1,600 electrical wholesalers, with 25-30 production staff working to finish 3,000 products each day. “If an order is placed on Monday, it will be delivered on Wednesday. Production has a loyal customer base and we have a robust and trusted product, with a typical life span of at least 15 years.“


and an increasing innovative range of EdgeLED luminaires which allow spaces to be lit to equal levels using fewer, more efficient luminaires. They are quick to install – and time is money.“


Energy consumption is halved using EdgeLED luminaires, compared with older fluorescents and they can last 50,000 hours, or just over 17 years, as well as presenting an enormous carbon reduction (from 2,5kg in the 1980s to 500kg in 2014).


Research shows children learn 30% more in school if the lighting is improved and LED is the ideal tool. Just as the candle changed the working day, what LED can and will do is becoming recognised.


“LED technology has caught people’s imagination. It’s a worldwide technology and the export opportunities for us are phenomenal. British manufactured and designed products receive a very good reception abroad and we believe we have the best technology in the world.“


As the lighting industry develops new innovations, Fern-Howard is meeting each new challenge. LED is highly energy efficient because it converts most of the energy into light rather than heat. The intense light produced is, however, in some ways its downfall, therefore the LED light source is covered with an opal diffuser to create pleasant room lighting, albeit with some light loss.


Fern-Howard is aiming to overcome the intrinsic problems of LED lighting through solutions that allow the technology to fulfil its potential. It produces a range of EdgeLED luminaires as the sole licensed manufacturer to Rambus Inc, which developed MicroLens technology. This arranges LEDs around the edge of a light guide – a highly- engineered optical device containing thousands of micro lenses. As the light distribution is precisely controlled, light can be channelled exactly to where it is required. The result is a pleasing and uniform output with optimised distribution which in no way compromises the inherent LED efficiency.


“During the past two years, Fern-Howard has worked with Rambus, a leading US-based technology company in the field of edge-lit LED lighting applications, to develop the new range of luminaries currently being launched. Our unique partnership enables us to bring innovative products into the market and all of these are manufactured at our UK injection moulding and assembly facility,“ said Scott.


Fern-Howard meeting room


“Our work with leading innovators has led to a range that includes lighting you control. You can dim it, change the colour or brightness and alter the setting of a room. We make low-energy lamps, tough utility bulkheads, stylish luminaires


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – NOVEMBER 2014 www.businessmag.co.uk


Of the company’s £9 million turnover, 40% of that is generated by LED products, a huge jump from 7% just a few years ago. Edge-lit LED lighting is as significant as LED itself.


Green energy solutions are a significant story for a planet which is running out of energy. It is not surprising that LED is the fastest take-up of energy technology ever seen and it is forecast to treble during the next three years.


Having started the business as a one-man operation, Scott, who has 86 skilled staff, concluded: “We are now a well-established and well-regarded business, producing more than 500,000 fittings a year and are using the opportunities LED provides to standardise products, which opens up markets for our products, by expanding into other European and Middle East markets.


“This is worldwide technology yet we’re a small SME.“


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