There’s a new partnership bringing the best in LED lighting to the UK warehouse industry. Aqualuma, the Australian–based manufacturer of LED lighting products for the marine, commercial and industrial sectors, has teamed up with its existing European distributor, Tides Marine International, to supply its innovative range of Industrial LED High Bay Lights and Commercial LED Down Lights to the global market in 2013. Aqualuma’s LED lighting is the world’s most energy efficient LED lighting. Their new Commercial and Industrial LED Lighting is world class and brings the hallmark Aqualuma quality, which is well known in the marine world, to land-based applications.
In recent months Aqualuma has carried out numerous warehouse lighting projects in Australia and around the world for major clients including global logistics company Toll and large warehouses with hundreds of lighting units, also in shopping centres in Australia, New Zealand and North America.
Tides Marine is now bringing Aqualuma’s commercial and industrial LED lighting solutions to Europe, having worked with Aqualuma for over nine years on their marine product range and formally becoming their European Warehouse and Master Distributor in December 2009.
Tides Marine will continue this function with the new LED range.
Grant Amor, Technical Director of Aqualuma, spoke to Warehouse & Logistics News.
WLN – When was Aqualuma founded, and who owns it?
Established in 2004, Aqualuma is a privately owned company. My brother Carl and I are the sole directors, and the company is based on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.
WLN – As Technical Director, what does your role involve? How much are you personally involved with the UK commercial lighting side? Do you come and meet UK customers?
My day to day role is head of design and product development, working alongside my brother and partner Carl, who is responsible for the sales and marketing functions within the business. Carl and I make regular visits to the UK and mainland Europe to support the team at Tides Marine and our dealer network.
WLN – You launched the Aqualuma industrial and commercial LED lights in 2012. How long has Aqualuma been manufacturing LED lighting for?
Aqualuma commenced sales of LED underwater lights in early 2005 and has only ever been involved in the manufacture of LED fittings.
WLN – What was the catalyst for your move into commercial lighting?
The reason we decided to move into commercial and industrial LED fittings was seeing the need for companies to reduce their operating costs and have a fitting that is robust whilst offering a major reduction in carbon emissions.
WLN – What proportion of your current business is LED lighting for commercial and industrial use?
It’s currently about 20% and increasing rapidly.
WLN – As a company, how did you come to be involved in making marine lighting, and what insights has this experience given to your new product development for the warehouse environment?
It’s a long story, but the short answer is we wanted underwater lights for our own boat and did not like what was available, so we started with a blank sheet of paper, and the rest is history. The experience and knowledge we gained manufacturing LED lighting for the world’s harshest environment has been invaluable and gave us the ability to develop the most efficient and long lasting commercial products.
WLN – Can you talk us through the different products in the Aqualuma LED industrial and commercial solutions range?
We currently have a range of LED Highbay lights, LED downlights and LED panel lights. These ranges have many options for a wide of applications, for example the highbay is available in a range of wattages and various optics to cover aisle lighting, flood lighting in both internal and external applications.
WLN – Where are the Aqualuma LED lighting products developed and manufactured?
Aqualuma LED lighting is designed and manufactured in Australia.
WLN – Which European countries do Tides Marine represent you in?
Tides Marine has worked with Aqualuma from the very beginning, and they represent us in all parts of Europe.
WLN – How does your relationship work with Tides Marine?
Tides Marine handles all sales enquiries either directly or through the appointed sub distributor in a given country. Tides Marine International also handles technical and product support. This allows us to provide quick delivery to the UK and elsewhere without any import and duty complications.
WLN – Who is in the UK team at Tides Marine?
The UK team is headed up by Brian Raine, Managing Director. Working with Brian is Ian Nuttall, Technical Sales Manager, supported by internal sales and warehouse personnel.
WLN – How much commercial and industrial lighting experience does Tides Marine have in the UK?
Brian and his team have considerable knowledge in this sector, so it made sense to appoint them for these new Aqualuma products. They have already supplied Aqualuma lights to several projects and they are working closely with Spaceway South Limited, a major provider of mezzanine floors as part of turnkey projects, who have specified Aqualuma commercial lighting on distribution centre and warehouse installations.
WLN – What proportion of Tides Marine’s UK business is warehouse LED lighting?
It’s currently around 10%, but we see this growing considerably over the next two years.
WLN – In non-technical terms, what are the benefits of LED lighting compared with other warehouse lighting options such as HID (high energy discharge) and fluorescent tubes?
LED lighting provides low energy consumption, which is essential for any business as electricity prices continue to rise, minimal maintenance costs, long service life, low light degradation, negligible levels of flicker and instant on/off switching.
WLN – What materials are used in the manufacture of your high bay lights, and why were these selected?
The materials used are the highest quality available. For example, the housing for the highbay is made from marine grade copper-free aluminium.
WLN – What’s the lifetime of a typical LED lighting system in a warehouse? How much maintenance is required for Aqualuma High Bay lights?
There is no typical lifetime of an LED fitting, as many factors affect it. Some of the most important factors include the quality of the LED die, the electronics and the driver and thermal management, along with many other design criteria. Aqualuma fittings have a projected L70 well in excess of 10 years, the time it would take for the light output to reduce by 30% from new. Beyond cleaning the fitting, with the frequency depending on the working environment, no maintenance is required.
WLN – Are your LED lights only suitable for interior applications?
Our highbay fittings are IP66 rated and are water and dust proof. They can be fitted in both internal and external applications.
WLN – What is the light from your LED systems like to work in?
We have options of colour temperature and can supply the colour that best suits the customer’s requirements, providing the most effective light in all working environments. For example our 5700K colour temperature is like working in daylight, which is of great benefit to shift and night workers as it can reduce the effects of tiredness.
WLN – What efficiency and test data should a lighting manufacturer provide to allow an informed choice of product to be made?
The manufacturer should supply the efficiency data of the complete fitting including the lumens per watt of the complete system and not of the LEDs on their own. This should include all electrical and optical loses. The three major data tests consumers should be looking for are LM80 Data, TM21 Data and L70. These three are important in determining not only the quality of the LED used but also the life expectancy of the complete fitting. Aqualuma provides this information and it is independently produced, which is essential when making comparisons.
WLN – There are a number of manufacturers of LED lighting for warehouses and commercial premises. Why choose Aqualuma?
Aqualuma has the highest lumen per watt output in the industry and is made from the highest quality materials available, and comes with a five-year commercial 24/7 warranty. It is Australian-made and has 10 years’ experience with LED lighting. Aqualuma is a highly regarded global brand.
WLN – The Aqualuma high bay lights are premium products, presumably with a high price tag. With today’s emphasis on controlling operating costs, what are the long-term benefits of investing in a quality light fitting such as Aqualuma?
A custom Aqualuma LED high bay solution can reduce lighting costs by up to 80%.
WLN – How ‘green’ are your warehouse lighting systems?
The Aqualuma high bay is environmentally friendly in comparison to alternative solutions, such as fluorescent tubes, which contain mercury.
WLN – What UK and EU industry standards are your products made to?
Our products are CE marked and independently certified to pass all relevant EU directives for SAFETY,EMC, EMI, ROHS and so on.
WLN – In non-technical terms, why is thermal management so important with LED’s? How have you designed good thermal management into your systems?
Thermal management is hugely important in determining the life and efficacy of an LED system. Our housing/heat sink had been designed to remove heat from the LED as quickly as possible thus ensuring both the life and lumen output of the LEDs and fitting as a whole.
WLN – What assistance can Aqualuma and Tides Marine provide in specifying light outputs and fixture positioning?
We offer a design service which provides a complete lighting plan for the building, including placement for new or one for one replacement of the current inefficient systems that may be in place, showing LUX levels and power savings which can be achieved.
WLN – Can you explain about flicker and the potential effect that it can have on the human eye? How do your systems measure up?
Fluorescent tube and metal halide flicker is a known health issue, with symptoms including headaches, migraines, eyestrain and discomfort. The Aqualuma high bay fitting has been independently tested and certified to have no flicker detectable to the human eye.
WLN – How many installations have been carried out to date with Aqualuma high bay lights, and can you tell us about the results?
Tides Marine has installed a number of systems for various customers in the warehouse and distribution sectors, though we’re not allowed to announce them yet. Some contracts have come through Spaceway, the Hampshire based space solutions company, who recently installed a mezzanine in Tide Marine’s warehouse, which Tide Marine’s engineers fitted out with Aqualuma LED lights from the new range. Spaceway’s sales director was impressed with the end result and Spaceway are now quoting Aqualuma High Bay lights from Tides Marine in their proposals when suitable.
WLN – Will you be publishing any warehouse lighting case studies soon?
Yes, we have many national and international companies who have installed our systems into their warehouses, and these case studies will be available shortly
WLN – Can people read about your warehouse systems on line?
Yes, please visit our websites at www.aqualumaledlighting.com and www.highbaylighting.eu
WLN – Who should people call to find out how Aqualuma systems can help them? Is there a checklist to see if your business would benefit from an Aqualuma system?
The first call should be to Brian and his team at Tides Marine, who can supply a checklist to be completed and provide guidance and advice.
WLN – How quickly can Tides Marine send someone out to quote to UK customers?
Tides Marine typically responds to enquiries within 24 hours, and can arrange site visits to suit the client’s requirements. Lighting plans are usually supplied within 72 hours along with product, technical and pricing information.
WLN – How long do orders take to be delivered and installed?
Tides Marine holds a large inventory of lights in their UK warehouse and delivery can be within one week if necessary depending on the quantities involved.
WLN – What new products do you have coming to the range over the next six months?
We have many products that will be released in the coming months in the industrial, commercial and retail sectors. Keep checking the Aqualuma website and Warehouse & Logistics News for information.
WLN – Finally, where do you see LED lighting and Aqualuma and Tides Marine going in the next five years?
We believe that both Aqualuma and Tides will be major suppliers in energy efficient lighting through our continuing product development and customer support programs.
Tides Marine International Ltd
Tel: 01202 656773
email: brian@tidesmarine.co.uk
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