Factory Lighting

If you're trying to determine which lighting solution would work best in your factory, you may start to become overwhelmed with so many options available on the market. However, not every option out there is meant to address certain needs your application may have. We will go over some of the suggestions we have came up with to help you find the right factory lighting solution.

When you're looking upgrading or installing new factory lighting, you must first determine the height of your ceiling. The majority of factories have higher ceilings than other locations. You should also consider the type of your ceiling, since not all fixtures are compatible with all ceilings. For example, some fixtures may only be suitable for drywall ceilings and are not appropriate for open ceilings that are commonly associated with factories.

Measure the distance from the ceiling to the actual work plane, as well as ceiling to floor. Having these measurements handy will help you figure out the anticipated lumen expectancy of the building. A general rule of thumb is that you need one-foot candle per square foot of building space. However, this will also depend on other factors as well, such as a accent lighting and natural lighting being included in your lighting layout.

Currently there are three options available when it comes to factory applications. Each have their own benefits and drawbacks, so you need to carefully look over and consider each option for the right fit for your needs.

Metal halide has been one of the most used lighting options for factories over the years. The reason this lighting option was so popular is due to the lumen output or brightness it provided. Unfortunately, there were several drawbacks that came along with metal halide as well. This lighting option requires longer warm-up times before it reaches full brightness. Color rendering from metal halide bulbs displays colors inaccurately. Most metal halides are not environmentally friendly since they contain mercury. They also cannot be dimmed, which limits their usability in certain markets.

Fluorescent is a popular option for factory lighting, due to its low upfront costs and decent performance it provides. It's very popular for aisles since it utilizes linear fluorescent tubes. Even though fluorescent is a more efficient option than metal halide, they contain mercury as well and require constant maintenance to keep them fully operational.

LEDs have catapulted to the forefront of the preferred factory lighting solution. LEDs are the most reliable and most efficient lighting option that is available on the market. Unlike, metal halide and fluorescent, there is no harmful substances like mercury in LEDs, which makes them the most environmentally friendly option as well. They can also be dimmed and operate at a lower temperature, which cannot be said for fluorescent and metal halide options. The only drawback with LEDs is the upfront costs. However, in the long-run the savings that is generated with LED from reduced maintenance and energy consumption more than pays for itself.