LIGHTING
“THE DISPLAYS FEATURE 240 ALBUM COVERS FROM ARTISTS
WHO HAVE PLAYED AT THE ARENA.”
Two textile lightboxes featuring iconic album covers from the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Craig David and Jess Glynne now take centre stage in the venue’s recently revamped VIP bar, renamed the Black and White Lounge.
The displays were created using SloanLED PosterBOX 3 LED modules – an example of the new generation of luminaires that deliver best-in-class luminance alongside outstanding energy-saving performance.
The lightboxes present a spectacular centrepiece to the VIP lounge. The displays feature 240 album covers from artists who have played at the arena since opening in September 2013.
The boxes were created using a textile framing system and 56 PosterBOX 3 modules, all of which were supplied by official SloanLED UK distributor Applelec, who supported corporate branding specialists Nebula Creative in the lightbox design and installation.
SIMPLE TO FIT, ECONOMICAL TO POWER Typically, LED tape is used to create a display such as the
one produced for the Black and White Lounge. While tape, or ribbon light, is perfect for illuminating restricted spaces, in a sizeable installation such as these, a good deal of tape would be required to achieve the desired brightness.
The more ribbon that is used, the more time the installation takes to put together, and the more modules that are required, the more energy is needed to power the display.
What’s more, LED ribbon carries a higher failure rate potential than the PosterBOX 3 modules, as well as generating more heat and requiring a larger number of drivers to power it.
Just two rows of facing SloanLED PosterBOX 3 modules were sufficient to illuminate the display, fitted along the top and bottom edges, therefore the time taken to complete the work was significantly reduced compared with the length of time it would take to fit a similar scheme using LED tape.
A total of 56 modules were used to illuminate the lightboxes, and energy consumption is impressively low, with the entire system drawing just over 750W – roughly 86% less than a fluorescent equivalent and far less than an equivalent LED ribbon system, which using 14.4W tape would still draw around 2344W. The quality of the light produced is so bright and even that the display is even noticeable outside the venue, through the windows of the VIP lounge.
Andy Armitage, Head of Signage Sales at Applelec, explained that high brightness illumination had been achieved across a width of up to three metres using the PosterBOX 3 system, where just two rows of facing modules were sufficient to produce the light required.
www.tomorrowsfm.com
Andy added: “We’re really impressed with the lightboxes, which not only deliver a good, constant light but also fit in really well with the atmosphere of the venue itself.”
Tony Watson, Director of Sales, Marketing and PR at the First Direct Arena, said the installation had transformed the area: “We've installed significant branding throughout the arena and without a doubt the most effective piece is our lightbox by Nebula Creative, which utilises the SloanLED system from Applelec. The resulting installation is stunning and has transformed our most important space.”
THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT As products develop, the potential for use increases. The
PosterBOX3, for example, is impressively bright, yet slim, with the ability to fit into depths as shallow as 50mm for a single-sided application. Ease of installation is another bonus – the modules are available with a ‘peel and stick’ option as well as regular mechanical fastenings.
The modules fit into spaces where previously LED ribbon systems have been most commonly selected, yet provide better performance in terms of luminance, energy efficiency and longevity. A module spacer is incorporated into the design, eliminating the need for measuring.
Two facing rows of PosterBOX 3 modules are sufficient to light a frame up to 3m wide. The first direct scheme used a textile frame system with the modules suitable for use with different thicknesses of fabric and even stretch ceilings. SloanLED PosterBOX 3 modules are available from Applelec with a five-year warranty.
These advancements in technology are opening up new possibilities for lighting scheme designers. No longer inhibited by the restrictions of standard luminaires, lighting is being used in many different ways – to draw attention to areas, to create a mood or to highlight marketing messages.
Innovative, market-leading products such as those in the SloanLED range demonstrate the benefits in terms of the quality of lighting and the smaller number of modules required, which in turn reduces installation time dramatically.
Versatility and reliability are excellent and colour rendering is superb, while energy savings continue to impress, making them ideal for use in signs, displays and architectural lighting projects.
www.applelec.co.uk TOMORROW’S FM | 37
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