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Global Lighting Industry Glimmers Amid Gloom Worldwide

2008/10/08 | By Steve Chuang

Light Middle East

While world economies of all levels seem to be floundering, the spiraling oil prices have in the past year literally pumped even more wealth into the already recession-proof Middle East, where major infrastructural projects, including off-the-scale hotels, have reportedly been tendered, and where some of the most awe-inspiring constructions are to be located on reclaimed land. Such progressive projects undoubtedly open windows of opportunities for suppliers of all kinds of building materials, who continue to display their finest products, services and expertise in world-class trade shows. One such specialized trade fair is Light Middle East (LME) for urban, architectural, theatrical and retail lighting in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, setting the most influential stage for global buyers sourcing for the latest innovations, services and lighting applications.

Light Middle East has become a key marketing venue for Taiwan lighting suppliers.
Light Middle East has become a key marketing venue for Taiwan lighting suppliers.

The organizers of LME show data that confirm several projects valued at over US$1 trillion being built in the Gulf region, $200 billion of which is within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and $211 billion in Kuwait. In addition, Dubai has seen sizable growths in foreign investment and construction project value over the past five years, with the construction boom also fueling considerable local demand for lighting products, hence pushing the local market to grow at a compound annual growth rate of almost 7% against the global average of 4%. Such promising figures underline the paramount importance of LME in the region.

The LME 2008, scheduled for May 25 to 27, saw 950 exhibitors from 43 countries display a range of products to over 19,000 visitors at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The three-day lighting show was held alongside four other trade fairs, including ISH Kitchen and Bath Middle East, Garden and Landscaping Middle East, Hardware and Tools Middle East and International CES/hometech.

LIGHTFAIR International this year returned to Las Vegas.
LIGHTFAIR International this year returned to Las Vegas.

Outdoor Lighting Highlighted

Virtually everything that lights up for just about every application was on display, including architectural lighting, ballasts, fluorescent lamps, decorative lighting, display technologies, dynamic lighting, incandescent and halogen lamps, interior illumination, intelligent controls, LEDs (light emitting diodes), lighting electronics, lighting controls and solutions, luminaries, multi-room solutions, optics, outdoor lighting, theatrical lighting and waterfront and marine lighting. Noteworthy was that a sizable presence of foreign outdoor lighting suppliers, such as R.Ros Alguer, Grechi Illuminazione, Ligman Lighting and Martin Architectural, effectively highlighted exterior lighting this year, in contrast to the event's traditional program accentuating wide ranging interior lighting, according to the show management.

Besides being a mere product display, LME also staged a series of presentations, seminars that are educational-helping to update industry professionals on various issues, subjects related to illumination as science and art, including the 2008 PLDA (Professional Lighting Designers' Association) Light Focus Conference, Scope of Lighting Design, Lighting Design for Water-based Structures, Landscape Lighting in UAE-developing night-time territories, The Scope of Lighting Design, Screens and Colored Mosaic Glass, Light and Color, Lighting Art and Architecture, and Lighting Cities of the Future. However, the hottest subject discussed was the suitability of increasingly popular LEDs as outdoor lights.

CENS representatives circulating its dedicated buyers` guide CENS Lighting at LIGHTFAIR International.
CENS representatives circulating its dedicated buyers` guide CENS Lighting at LIGHTFAIR International.

The LME 2008 drew to a close with ample compliments from global exhibitors and visitors for orderly organization and excellent product range. The 2009 version is scheduled for May 17 to 19 in the same building, again promising worldwide lighting buyers, suppliers and professionals a setting where fossil fuel seems to be as endlessly plentiful as business opportunities.

LIGHTFAIR International

LIGHTFAIR International (LFI) 2008, held May 28 to 30 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the U.S., showcased the newest lighting trends and innovations, effectively showing the light to the future for the industry.

LFI, the largest lighting trade fair in North America and annually rotates between New York and Las Vegas, is globally known as the most important annual trade event and conference for the architectural, commercial lighting sectors in the region.

The Las Vegas Convention Center, during the three days, attracted over 19,800 visitors worldwide who browsed lighting products showcased by 510 exhibitors spread across 157,000 square feet of venue floorage. Rising some 19% from that of the 2006 event, the visitor number this year set an all-time record. Also, the organizers' statistics show 91 first-time exhibitors, confirming LFI's increasing influence.

Lighting + Building 2008 set records: 165,000 visitors and 2,100 exhibitors.
Lighting + Building 2008 set records: 165,000 visitors and 2,100 exhibitors.

Biggest Product Lineup

Perhaps a cliche to say that everything is bigger in the USA, but LFI lives up to such reputation each year by showcasing the widest product lineup, and the 2008 version was no exception. The huge product variety included ballasts; control devices; luminaries; day-lighting products; lamp holders; switches; meters; high-end fixtures; mounting devices; light sources; exterior luminaries; LEDs; linear lighting designs; lighting control components; task lighting; HID (high intensity discharged) lamps; fluorescent and incandescent lamps; lighting systems; decorative, theatrical and entertainment lighting; sports venue lighting; facade lighting; public and roadway lighting; sign lighting; emergency lighting; and hardware and applications.

The LFI also gave credit where it is due: the LFI Innovation Awards was a must-see event on the opening day that honored those who showed excellence in terms of product innovation and improvement. The winners included California Energy Commission (SPOTTM Version 4.0), Q-Tran, Inc. (Direct Burial Series), Osram Sylvania (SYLVANIA PowerSHEDTM High Efficiency Demand Response Ballast), Strini Art Glass/Lighting (Haiku Chandelier), and Carmanah Technologies (Solar Area Lighting Solution), whose achievements effectively shed light on the industry.

Also the LFI Conference offered a series of educational courses, programs that were highly popular with the attendees. More than theoretical, the courses were presented by renowned experts who showed the attendees the newest concepts, through case studies on software and lighting applications, business and technology initiatives, design innovation, day lighting, sustainability and product updates.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, LFI for 2009 will be held May 5 to 7 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in NY City.

Lighting + Building

No other trade fair held in Europe targeting the lighting, electrical engineering and building automation segments in Europe boasts more success in terms of attendee numbers, products range and organization than Lighting + Building, which is held in Frankfurt, Germany. "This is where international manufacturers launch their new products, technologies and design developments. And only in Frankfurt can visitors obtain such a comprehensive overview of the market for lighting, electrical engineering and building automation," said Dr. Michael Peters, Member of the Board of Management of Messe Frankfurt, the show organizer.

The CENS Lighting magazine proved very popular with visitors and buyers at Lighting + Building.
The CENS Lighting magazine proved very popular with visitors and buyers at Lighting + Building.

Besides celebrating its 5th anniversary, Lighting + Building, held April 6 to 11, drew a record 167, 084 visitors, a sharp rise of 23.5% from 135,294 persons in 2006, was staged on 240,000 square meters of floorage, with its global reputation in the lighting sector helping to attract 2,173 exhibitors, 40% of which came from outside Germany, including Italy, Spain, Australia, China, Belgium, The Netherlands, the U.K., Turkey, Poland and France.

Largest in Europe

The largest lighting trade fair in Europe, Lighting + Building 2008 showcased a wide spectrum of lighting and building products, including air-conditioning and ventilation systems; daylight products and technologies; decorative lightings and accessories; electrical and electronic components and accessories for lighting systems; electric lamps; fixed-installation electrical equipment; home and building automation; IT (information technology) systems for the electrical trade; facade applications; LED lighting; operating, storage and erection equipment; power distribution equipment; measuring, test devices and measuring technology; reception antennae & broadband distribution technology; and various applications and services.

A series of educational events held alongside Lighting + Building also helped to add to the content and success of the six-day event, including ACS (Computer Systems in the Architecture, Construction and Engineering Industry) Forum; Building Performance Congress; Fireprotec with the Building Law & Fire Protection Symposium; ZVEI 'Municipal Lighting' Roadshow; Trend Forum; Outdoor Lighting Boulevard; Intelligent House of the Present; and Lights of the Future 2008.

In these times of global warming and spiraling oil prices, the Building Performance Congress was one event especially worthwhile-focusing on specialist discussions on lighting, energy consultancy and IEECB (improving energy efficiency in commercial buildings), with the event organized jointly by industry professionals in the lighting and building sectors, including Messe Frankfurt, Professional Lighting Designers' Association, Electrical Luminaires and Electrical Lamps Trade Associations, Landscape Research, Development & Construction Society, and Association of Consultant Engineers. One reason for the event's success, popularity was its offering of very practical information and industry trends related to not only lighting but also home and building automation, real estate and computer systems.

The next Lighting + Building, scheduled for April 11 to 16, 2010, will be held again at Frankfurt am Main.