Lighting

New LED chips and LED solutions for customised applications

LEDs are ubiquitous as light sources today and are increasingly displacing conventional light sources. In application fields such as the automotive industry, sensor technology and medicine, manufacturers are exploiting the potential of the technology in ever new innovative functions. Here, LEDs improve safety, open up new design options and accompany the transformation in the field of smart technology. In terms of the share of the product range in the lighting product group in electrical wholesale, the share of LEDs is already around 15 percent (as of 2020).
LED production is still in a development process. As a result, suitable standard solutions are not immediately available for all conceivable fields of application. Developers are therefore often forced to align innovative products with existing components, which proves to be an additional hurdle. As a distributor and manufacturer of optoelectronic components, Chips 4 Light offers an alternative: LED chips as well as individual, customised LEDs offer developers and manufacturers the possibility of adapting the LED to their plans, instead of the other way round as is often the case. In particular, the demand for miniaturisation can be better met by integrating LED chips in special applications.
Chips 4 Light distributes and processes LED chips (bare die), i.e. pure semiconductors without substrate, encapsulation material or optics. The company offers a broad portfolio of LED chips from UV to infrared and white, different chip sizes from 6 to 80 mil, detectors and also laser diodes. With individual solutions, Chips 4 Light is dedicated to the special requirements of its customers for optoelectronic components and realises these already in small and medium quantities.
The Bavarian company’s further competence lies in the development of complete LED components as finished components that can be soldered directly onto a circuit board. Chips 4 Light thus offers its customers maximum flexibility in integration and supports its customers from prototype development to complete series production.
“We offer our customers both an extensive portfolio of LED chips, LEDs, detectors and laser products from leading manufacturers and the comprehensive know-how to generate LEDs even in small and medium quantities,” explains Dr. Wolfgang Huber, Managing Director of Chips 4 Light GmbH from Sinzing. “In addition to technical expertise, we have the necessary equipment to sort and measure LED chips on behalf of customers, or even to transfer them to a waffle pack for long-term storage and to measure individual laser diodes.”
In the chip handling area, Chips 4 Light works with die sorters. The fully automated sorting system is used for sorting semiconductor chips to remove small and sample quantities from the wafer and to provide customer-specific quantities.
In LED development, Chips 4 Light uses advanced software simulations to calculate lenses and plan thermal management according to customer specifications.
“We aim to find the right solution for every customer-specific requirement, no matter how far it is from the market standard,” emphasises Dr Huber.

Serien Lighting

The Serien Lighting LYD design wall light

By day, Serien Lighting LYD is a discreet design object. As soon as LYD is switched on, it transforms into spherical light. A special accent is provided by a fine aura of light that makes the circular disc stand out from the surrounding light. It almost seems as if LYD is floating.

LYD is available with four different front panels made of opal real glass, silver or champagne-coloured aluminium or mirror glass. Behind them are powerful LEDs that generate uniform, all-round surface light on the wall. At the same time, the glass edge reflects the light, creating the characteristic line of light. LYD visually detaches itself from the background and creates a pleasant, calm lighting atmosphere.

LYD is suitable for use in rows, in groups or as a single luminaire. It accentuates walls in living rooms, stairwells, corridors, hotels, bars and restaurants.

The Serien Lighting LYD design wall light

Serien Lighting

The design classic Serien Lighting Curling

Serien Lighting CURLING perfectly combines the sustainability of the latest LED technology with a timelessly elegant form. Intelligent design details make CURLING a downlight and ceiling light in one and ready for use in commercial and private spaces.

CURLING Ceiling is available with a mouth-blown glass shade in three different sizes or in acrylic glass with an angular aesthetic. The fine glass body is available in opal, crystal clear or as a clear outer body with a conical or cylindrical inner reflector. Particularly ingenious: An optical insert, which is attached directly under the light source with two small magnetic points, ensures optimum light distribution and soft, glare-free light with its special cut. The interplay of the individual design elements makes it possible to create the perfect light distribution and mood for any room situation.

As an acrylic glass version, CURLING is particularly suitable for use in highly frequented areas in public and semi-public spaces.

CURLING Ceiling shows what a ceiling light can offer today and does not adhere to conventional product categories. From individual luminaires in private rooms to rows in corridors, entrance areas and hallways, CURLING Ceiling stands for sustainable, maintenance-free technology and brilliant light.

The design classic Serien Lighting Curling

Lighting

Ingo Maurer presents some app for smart lighting control

Operating, dimming, selecting lighting scenes – with “Ingo Maurer Digital”, Ingo Maurer GmbH presents its app for smart control of lamps. The app is available for free download for iOS and Android in the App Store and the Google Play Store.

The first lamp that can be operated with the “Ingo Maurer Digital” app is the MOODMOON model by designer Sebastian Hepting. The lamp is distinguished by its characteristic interplay of the finest Japanese paper and innovative LED technology. The app makes it possible to reproduce different lighting moods and colour gradients at a defined speed. Users can choose between 14 different lighting moods, relaxing or invigorating colour gradients. The brightness of the dimmable lamp can also be individually regulated via the app. Thanks to the special structure of the Japanese paper, the lighting effect of the MOODMOON gives it a uniquely lively surface.

“With the app, users bring their lamp to life,” emphasises David Engelhorn, designer at Ingo Maurer. “The atmosphere in the room can be changed effortlessly via the smartphone or tablet. Whether it’s for a place of relaxation or a concentrated work situation, the lamp can be adapted to individual needs with the help of the variably usable tool.”

Thanks to its smart operation, MOODMOON is an innovative, charismatic companion from the private sphere to commercial use: its colour gradients provide the desired relaxation in medical practices and wellness areas or set a stylistic accent in hotel lobbies, retail areas or public facilities. Users can integrate and save several MOODMOON lamps in the Ingo Maurer app and control them individually and run them in parallel. As the lamp emits its own WLAN, it can also be controlled via the app in places where there is no internet, such as on a mountain hut or on a yacht.

The Ingo Maurer team is constantly developing the app further so that it will also offer future products and projects a wide range of possible applications for individual lighting control. In future, it will be possible to link several lamps, even across different rooms, via WLAN in order to combine colour gradients simultaneously or with variable dynamics. Individual mood packages, for example in desired CI colours, will also be available for projects on request. Regular updates will inform end customers about the latest functions of the app.

Brokis

The Brokis Night Birds family of lights

The Brokis Night Birds family of lights is growing with the arrival of Night Birds MINI, employing a smaller format to deliver the same magic of freedom and elegance as their larger predecessors. The compact size is perfect for seamless integration into interiors with lower ceilings or other spaces requiring a more compact lighting solution.

Night Birds MINI are at their most impressive when assembled in large flocks. A striking richness in depth can be achieved in skyscapes consisting of MINI in combination with the original larger Night Birds. The minimalist LED light source and precisely crafted anodized aluminium fixtures remain true to the clean lines and subtle aesthetic of the greater family. The handcrafted glass, which undergoes a meticulous process of melting and bending, resulting in delicate variations in wing shape and distinctive coloration, means that no two lights are identical.

Available in white, dark (nearly black), and BROKISGLASS variants, Night Birds MINI offer diverse options to suit various interior concepts. Whether installed as a solitaire from a single ceiling canopy or in large sets, their remarkable versatility makes them perfect for illuminating a variety of spaces, from intimate dining areas to grand conference rooms.

With their compact size and easy installation, Night Birds MINI are an ideal solution for modern interiors demanding a perfect blend of elegance and functionality.

The Brokis Night Birds family of lights

Arturo Alvarez

The essence of Arturo Alvarez’s artistic design work

A beam of light crosses the room, trapping thousands of anarchic particles of dust in a static pose, trapped in the powerful performance of a lamp. A creation in which one can perceive a trace, a heritage, the heraldic line of a gesture that mutates from a pencil in frenetic movement to the expert hand that masters a material in its struggle for artistic creation.

At Arturo Alvarez, the gesture is the essence that defines each of our creations. An action, a declaration of intent that marks the first stroke of the designer and the last caress of the craftsman on the material. The gesture is the leitmotif that shapes our lamps; a process in which intuition and technique come together to create pieces that go beyond the decorative, transforming them into objects that radiate soul and character.

After the installation of his sculpture ‘The Spanish people have a road that leads to a star’ for the 1937 Paris International Exposition, Alberto Sánchez decided to stay in Paris until the entire installation was completed, taking special care of the exhibition of the work. His concern for the improvement of the work was evident in the way he understood and produced it, but above all in his attitude to life. An extended vision in which other gestures are sought, other winks that connect Alberto, who, like another worker, built the equipment of the pavilion in Paris, showing that the gesture is embedded in the work as well as in the artist.

The gesture in Arturo Alvarez (a-emotional light) transcends the action and becomes an artistic manifesto in which every movement has a purpose. The gesture of the designer, such as Isaac Piñeiro, Héctor Serrano or the Cenlitros studio, is the first act of creation. It is the moment when an abstract idea becomes a tangible design. First traces that become expressions of creativity and emotion, lines that contain the energy and purpose of their creator. In this sense, the gesture is a language in itself, a form of non-verbal communication that conveys the essence of the design. In every curve, in every line, there is an intention, a choice that reflects the style and personality of the designer. Just as in gestural painting, where the stroke of the brush is not just a means to create an image, but a trace of the artist’s movement and emotion, in a-emotional light each design is a capture of the creative moment, a reflection of the designer’s passion and vision.

The value of the gesture in Arturo Alvarez (a-emotional light) lies in its authenticity, which makes our lamps unique and special. The gesture of the designer and the craftsman becomes a signature, guaranteeing that each piece has its own history and character. This is why lamps by Arturo Alvarez go beyond mere functionality, the result of a creative process that respects tradition and celebrates innovation. From Galicia, where our ideas are born, a-emotional light lamps reflect the magic of the gestures that created them, combining idea and substance.

The essence of Arturo Alvarez's artistic design work

Foscarini

The Foscarini Fleur lamp was honored with an award

The Foscarini Fleur has been recognized in the “Most Illuminating Lighting” category at the Wallpaper* Smart Space Awards. These awards highlight design projects that combine creativity, innovation, sustainability, simplicity and style. The Fleur portable table lamp, designed by Rodolfo Dordoni, has been awarded in the “Most Illuminating Lighting” category at the Wallpaper* Smart Space Awards 2024. This award, now in its fourth year, celebrates excellence in interior design and places particular emphasis on creativity, innovation, sustainability, simplicity and style. The judges recognized Fleur’s ability to combine two different functions – providing natural light and the unexpected ability to hold fresh flowers – “with elegance and style”, meeting the ever-increasing demands for flexibility, aesthetics and functionality. The design of Foscarini Fleur is a refined example of Dordoni’s mastery in creating objects that not only enrich with their aesthetic presence, but also offer practicality and versatility. A stylish yet accessible work in which the transparency and lightness of the clear glass, suitable for water and flowers, are combined with the noble tones of the lamp body, designed to diffuse light over a wide surface: clean lines and high quality materials come together in a portable table lamp that combines poetry, functionality and energy efficiency. This fusion impressed the judges and shows how design can evolve to meet contemporary needs without losing sight of elegance.

The Foscarini Fleur was honored with an award

Lighting

XAL lighting for the hotel and restaurant industry using “The real Raum”

A multifunctional restaurant concept outside of Bolzano. With regard to the unique combination of lounge, restaurant and clubbing bar, bergundtal architects in collaboration with the client created an interior that not only meets a design requirement but is functional. A place where you start with a coffee with friends and colleagues and which invites you to party and dance from the aperitif on. THE RAUM is located in an industrial area in Bolzano and yet manages, with the well thought-out spatial concept, to offer an Italian flair from morning until late evening. The character of the surroundings was taken up and underlined by the use of timeless, elegant materials and colors. The bar is the central element when entering. On the left is the direction to the restaurant and on the right to the lounge. The lighting concept had to be coordinated with all these areas and still work together harmoniously. The architects’ idea of using a concavely curved bar as a highlight was optimally staged with the lighting. The decorative profile luminaires serve as an essential design and mood element. Because correctly selected light color creates atmosphere – and changes it. PIVOT was therefore used here in a Tunable White version with changing color temperature, so that light scenes can be set to enhance the desired feeling of the room. The increased brightness level on the table surfaces enables optimal presentation of the food. From lunch to dinner clubbing, Tunable White also enables an optimal lighting mood in harmony with natural daylight. The MOVE IT system with JUST spots and ARY pendant lamps take a back seat and support the scenarios. In addition, light and music can be controlled via the iPad – matched to the desired atmosphere.

 

Lighting

A Penthouse with charisma: Licht im Raum equips roof structure

Anyone who lives in Düsseldorf knows it: the Bilker Bunker, a legacy from the Second World War and for a long time the city’s problem child. What to do with it? Since the mid-1990s, the facade has been adorned with a huge mural, a memorial to flight, expulsion and the often uncertain departure of distant cultures for a new world. When the building, which is now a listed monument, was upgraded for new uses after many years of discussion, the facade remained largely untouched. The changes took place inside – but especially above. For on the roof a spectacular superstructure was created that provides space for five separate penthouses. The seven floors below are reserved for a variety of uses, such as a cultural center, a music bar, a gallery and studios.

The project was planned and realized by the Düsseldorf architectural firm Anders wohnen in der Stadt, which had acquired the building in 2016 with its own project development company called KüssdenFrosch. A coherent approach: the sale of the penthouses served to finance the cultural conversion of the lower two levels and the two basement floors. Three of the bunker floors were to be made available for commercial use. Despite the rededication of the elevated bunker, the original character of the building had to remain. While the cubes, each two-story and constructed in wood, with living spaces of 97 to 164 m2 on the roof represent a clear break, the interventions in the existing building are kept to a minimum. To ensure that all areas of use harmonize well side by side, the upper floors were accessed beyond to the courtyard side via a new staircase with elevator tower

Licht im Raum

 

 

 

 

 

When furnishing the show apartment, the architects worked closely with the lighting designers from Dinnebier Licht. Since 1956, the Solingen-based company has specialized in the manufacture of high-quality design and custom luminaires and produces a whole range of characterful luminaire collections under the brand name Licht im Raum. In the sample penthouse on the bunker roof, the Ocular Spot ceiling spotlights in the hallway, the Ocular 4 LED pendant lamp above the kitchen island and the Big Moons and Glass Moons 3 pendant lamps are used. The latter with E27 lamp holder, while the other lamps are equipped with high-quality technical lenses. In 1996, Licht im Raum was the first manufacturer ever to launch products of this type on the market – at that time still with halogen light sources – and thus triggered a real trend in lighting design, as Managing Director Daniel Klages recounts.

In many cases, the idea was adopted by other manufacturers. A characteristic feature of the Licht im Raum Ocular series is that the lamps emit light both directly and indirectly and are absolutely glare-free. In the meantime, the principle has long been further developed with first-class LED components. Of course, the lights can be dimmed, for an excellent light quality Licht im Raum works closely with the world market leader Citizen Electronic from Japan.

Another focus of the manufactory Licht im Raum is the omnipresent topic of sustainability. Daniel Klages explains what this means for the lighting design as follows: “The decisive factor for us is where the components for production come from and where manufacturing takes place in the first place. Our goal is to source as much as possible from within a radius of 50 km, and production takes place exclusively in our manufactory in Solingen.” Only a few parts have to travel further: the porcelain parts from Fürstenberg, for example, the glass lampshades from the Czech Republic, or the installed chips from Japan and China. The technical lenses come from southern Germany. “The proximity to our main suppliers allows us to realize special configurations in the shortest possible time,” Daniel Klages proudly emphasizes.

Lighting

The Catellani Smith Fil de Fer lamp series

Fil de Fer is a lamp made of sculpted and braided aluminum wire, which is illuminated by tiny lamps inside. It was designed by Enzo Catellani and is his favorite creation. It was created almost 20 years ago for a special commission, but was not used for the original project and remained in his workshop. Everyone who saw it when it was switched on was enchanted by its special and magical appearance. Enzo Catellani therefore decided to continue working on the luminaire. The lamp was launched on the market and became Catellani & Smith’s most representative model.

The Fil-de-Fer lamps from Catellani & Smith have spherical diffusers made of interwoven metal wire, the inside of which is illuminated by small lamps. The collection is one of Enzo Catellani’s favorite designs. It includes lights for indoor and outdoor use in various sizes, including floor lights, pendant lights, table lamps and floor lamps. Fil de Fer was originally custom-made for a lighting project, for which it was ultimately not used. Instead, Enzo Catellani incorporated the design into the regular Catellani & Smith range in 2002, creating an icon that combines a simple basic idea with a strong, almost magical effect.

All Fil de Fer lamps have a diffuser made of aluminum wire, which is bent and woven by hand. This makes each luminaire a unique piece with unique details. The light from the LED lamps distributed inside the sphere makes the wire shine and casts lively plays of light and shadow in the surroundings.

 

The Catellani Smith Fil de Fer lamp series