One of my favorite things about digging into our industries is the people and relationships I make through research and interviews.
I recently had an email chat with Tony McGettican at Luxim Corporation, the folks who are making the LIFI plasma lamp. Their unique and innovative product is becoming widely spread across all of the lighting industries, and it’s been an exciting addition to the Entertainment industry. Seachanger is using a LIFI lamp in their NEMO fixtures, Robe is using a LIFI lamp in their ROBIN moving heads, and as the industries realize the merits of plasma tech, we’ll see a lot more of that lamp in the very near future.
I asked Tony a few followup questions a few weeks ago, after having a great email interview with him earlier in the year. I’ve been tracking their progress for a long time, and I will continue to do so. Questions and answers are below:
JimOnLight.com: The last time we talked, Luxim’s LIFI source was just grabbing footing in the Entertainment lighting market with a plasma-source for Robe’s ROBIN series moving head. Now, great companies like Seachanger are getting in on the action with a LIFI source in their NEMO CMYG fixture. Are there other entertainment ventures that Luxim is participating in to date?
Tony McGettigan @ Luxim: We are very pleased with the Robe and Seachanger programs. Each has been recognized in the industry as ground breaking in terms of performance and innovation. There are several exciting new projects in the pipeline that we will be able to share more on later in 2010. You may be aware that Robe won the Innovation Award at PLASA in London as well as the SIEL Award in Paris last year. In addition, the SeaChanger Nemo won the 2009 LIGHTFAIR Innovation award in New York.
JOL: How has the LIFI technology changed or improved since gaining partnerships in the entertainment industry?
Tony @ Luxim: We entered this sector with market-leading color quality and lifetime. Our focus is now on increasing brightness. We are doing this in two ways:
- By developing more efficient systems at the current wattages, AND
- By adding higher-wattage product offerings to our line-up
JOL: Has Luxim seen a larger market share in the infrastructure and civil lighting markets since the release of the LIFI product?
Tony @ Luxim: Our technology is being adopted in all sorts of applications from aquariums to grow lighting to zoos. In the infrastructure and general lighting markets we are gaining share as a high-illuminance complement to LED solutions. Several of our customers have a strategy of using LEDs in general lighting applications up to 15000 lumens and using our technology where higher output is required. We have a customer in the US that already has secured orders from 5 different cities and municipalities.
JOL: There’s lots of news stories about new and innovative LIFI applications, from aquarium tank lighting to mobile lighting applications for the construction industry. Can you give some insight on the new projects in related industries that Luxim is pursuing?
Tony @ Luxim: Here are a couple of examples where the unique attributes of our technology are helping our customers deliver better lighting solutions.
- In Aquariums, our source can deliver excellent color quality AND excellent penetration into the water. This dramatically improves the visitor experience. The fish show beautifully while plants and corals can thrive deep below the tank surface.
- In grow lighting, our sources increase the “seeding rate” and show faster, more efficient early-stage growth than competitive sources on the market.
- In high-output mobile lighting, searches and spots our sources provide long life in the robust environment where vibration and impact are commonplace. (http://www.luxim.com/dynamic/display.php/78)
There are many more examples, but this gives a flavor. The uniqueness of our light source is apparent at first sight. In each of our applications, customers are harnessing some of the unique features to deliver a superior overall lighting solution.
Jim, these are very exciting times at LUXIM. Light Emitting Plasma is gaining significant acceptance in the marketplace and we continue to improve upon our technology.
Tony, we’re so excited to see what comes next for Luxim and the LIFI technology. You have many fans in the JimOnLight.com community! Thanks for your time, as always!
