Category: Business and Innovation

Business and Innovation

a warranty does not equal a service commitment

Brad Koerner

There is tremendous pressure from the specification community for manufacturers to offer very long warranties on lighting equipment: 5 or 10 years is now the typical request. The usual comment goes something like “if you claim your product lasts for a bazillion hours, why don’t you back it up?” I find this naive on the part of the specification community. A warranty doesn’t solve the fundamental problem that many LED fixtures are designed as “disposable” items instead of as modular assemblies based on industry standard parts.  Specifiers don’t like to imagine (or admit to their clients) that an entire fixture has to be replaced if … Continue reading a warranty does not equal a service commitment

Business and Innovation

zumtobel to launch customer R+D center in amsterdam

Brad Koerner

Rogier van der Heide is already busy at Zumtobel, opening a new R+D center in Amsterdam.  According to the press release: Before January is out, the company, which is based in Austria, is to open a new “Lichtforum” (light forum) at the heart of Amsterdam. The new facility will be designed to act as an open house, facilitating dialogue and close collaboration with leading architects, lighting designers technology experts and research partners. The Lichtforum, which will be located on the top floor of the UP Building – one of the tallest office buildings in downtown Amsterdam – will also host … Continue reading zumtobel to launch customer R+D center in amsterdam

Business and Innovation

circular economy update

Brad Koerner

A few interesting pieces relating to developing a Circular Economy: Philips hosted a expert panel debate in Brussels: In the past century, the developed world has followed a linear model of production and consumption. Goods were manufactured, sold, used and disposed. It has created immense wealth, but this model is starting to reach its limits. The circular economy aims to decouple economy growth from the use of natural resources by using resources more effectively and repeatedly, thus eliminating waste. It provides multiple benefits, including: innovation, new business models, creation of more value, reduce waste landfill and emissions, and better quality … Continue reading circular economy update

Business and Innovation

china’s huge but fragmented lighting market

Brad Koerner

Wow. At Strategies in Light Europe 2014 in Munich, Christian Schraft, President of Havells-Sylvania made the following comment: In China, the top 50 lighting players account for 20% of the market.  The top player holds only 1%; everyone else is less than a percentage point.  The other 80%?  Tens of thousands of tiny companies. Unfortunately I didn’t catch which market analyst Schraft was referencing. (I’ve heard that Philips Lighting is the #1 lighting company in China; but I can’t confirm this without further research.) Later, Gary Hua, President of Inventronics, Inc, referenced a Frost and Sullivan report which claims that … Continue reading china’s huge but fragmented lighting market

Business and Innovation

philips lighting finally ditches healthcare and consumer product divisions

Brad Koerner

Philips Lighting has finally decided to part ways with two long-running R+D side projects so that it can finally focus once again on being the preeminent lighting company in the world. The history of Philips, and why exactly Philips now sells a product range … Continue reading philips lighting finally ditches healthcare and consumer product divisions