Light for more performance at work

The number of older employees has tripled. Today, one in two is older than 45 and one in five is older than 66. Despite medical advances, performance declines with age. "Seeing better and effortlessly not only increases workplace safety, but also contributes to better work results," says Duliano Puhalj, category manager at B2B business outfitter Emperor+force. The workplace of the future must constantly adapt to demographic change.

Optimal light in the office

In the office, people absorb 80 percent of all information through their eyes. Good light is therefore important. It maintains health and protects against accidents at work. Lighting experts recommend 500-750 lux illuminance for classic computer workstations. For employees who suffer from age-related visual impairments, even 750-1500 lux. A contemporary and modern office workplace today differs greatly from the traditional office design of 20 years ago. Workplaces today have at least two percent daylight and a line of sight to the outside, such as through windows, as well as a ten percent share of translucent surfaces - this is required by the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

Waldmann, the specialist for innovative lighting solutions, recommends individually adjustable table luminaires with flexible rods for the workplace. Dimmability for higher illuminance levels and good glare control significantly improve visual conditions.

High demands on vision in industrial manufacturing

Demanding and delicate work that requires good vision is often more challenging in industrial workplaces than in offices. "The smaller the visible details, the higher the illuminance needs to be. Better light boosts productivity by more than 50 percent," says Puhalj, explaining the effect of more brightness on workers. According to the employers' liability insurance association, two-thirds of all workplace accidents occur with less than 500 lux illuminance.

Workplaces in manufacturing, assembly, quality assurance and medicine as well as in the metal or watchmaking industry place the highest demands on vision. Waldmann recommends special tubular luminaires with the latest LED technology for workplaces where precise work and delicate activities are required. These provide large-area, bright and above all individually adjustable lighting, both in terms of positioning as well as light color and illuminance. For perfect optical inspection of parts in research, development and production, magnifying luminaires for distortion-free magnifications are particularly suitable.

Safety and security as a challenge in production

Production sites and workshops where highly flammable substances are handled or where there is a risk of explosion present particular challenges. Luminaires with a special protection class ensure safety there, including lamps with limited self-heating or explosion-proof luminaires. Lighting design also plays a special role in machines where visual conditions are not optimal. Special machine luminaires that provide the best lighting conditions without stroboscopic effects are indispensable for safety in production.

Modern lighting systems save energy and costs

Energy efficiency has been a key driver in the lighting industry for a few years now. Many companies are still switching from conventional lighting solutions to energy-saving LED light sources. "The technology shift is currently in full swing again," says Heinz Weber, Key Account Manager Industry at Waldmann Lichttechnik GmbH (Switzerland). "We support the conversion to LED luminaires with our advice and application-oriented, energy-efficient luminaires." Legislation bans so-called compact fluorescent lamps T-5 and T-8 throughout the EU as of August 25, and only spare parts that are still in stock may still be made available.

The requirements for hall lighting are high, as the online mail order company Kaiser+Kraft, which manufactures its own products for business equipment on an area of 12,000 square meters at its site in Haan, Germany, is well aware. To ensure that sufficient brightness reaches the working level, solutions were sought that were both bright and economical. The illumination of large halls means high power consumption and therefore high energy costs. The company has gradually implemented an innovative lighting concept with LED lamps and smart control and thus won the EnnergieInnovationsPreis.NRW 2020.

The B2B business outfitter, which offers various lighting solutions in its web store, including Waldmann luminaires, has been noticing an increased demand for luminaires for offices and factories for some time. "In the future, companies will have to focus even more on offering their employees workplaces that are ergonomic, safe and promote health in any case. Also in terms of light," Puhalj summarizes.