Negri
Representatives from Fern Howard UK meet with the Negri Bossi team in front of the Bi-Power 1000 tonne moulding machine used to produce its new range of LED edge lighting at K 2013.
A UK-based developer and manufacturer of energy efficient lighting products used K 2013 as a platform to demonstrate the optically precise injection moulding process used for its new LED edge lighting technology.
Alton, Hampshire-based Fern Howard is producing a new range of interior and exterior commercial lighting, utilising LED edge lit technology to provide a light source that it says is a cost-effective, energy saving alternative to using light blocking opal diffusers.
Fern-Howard’s edge lighting developments are based on a licensing agreement with its technology partner, Rambus Inc, a US-based company specialising in LED edge lit technology that is already being used for the screens of tablets, smart phones and televisions.
Prior to the show, Fern-Howard purchased a Bi-Power 1000 tonne injection moulding machine from Negri Bossi in order to produce the optically precise panels needed for the lighting.
The machine, which benefits from innovative servo-driven pump technology, is said to greatly reduce power consumption, particularly when cycle times include long static phases, coupled with state of the art controls, which enable unique moulding techniques to be performed.
"We have been in the development phase of this project for just over two years, and now we can produce and supply the LED panels in full-scale production in partnership with Negri Bossi,” said Peter Scott, CEO of Fern-Howard.
“A standard range of six reference edge-lit panels will be available to all lighting companies in 2014 and we are excited to be the first to manufacture this product for the European market. The moulded panels, the largest of which will initially be 600mm X 600mm, contain thousands of micro-lens only 15 microns deep and moulding such optically precise parts has proved to be a real challenge. The Bi-Power machine copes with these demands perfectly and for a machine of this size it's incredible that the energy consumption and noise levels are so low.”
The Bi-Power machine was exhibited as part of Negri Bossi’s stand at K 2013 moulding parts for Ford.