Lighting

Display lighting is one of the most difficult things to get right. It is a compromise between illumination, cost and conservation.

Fluorescent

Light produced from a fluorescent lamp is relatively evenly distributed straight from the lamp. This means that it is very easy to diffuse it to create an even wash of light. Fluorescent tubes can be supplied in a variety of sizes and colour temperatures - from cool white to warm white.

Low voltage halogen

Low voltage lighting systems use incandescent tungsten halogen filament lamps powered through a step-down transformer. They work in a very similar way to a standard domestic lightbulb, but the halogen that surrounds the filament both extends its life and allows it to be driven at a higher temperature - creating very bright white light.

Fibre optic

For a long time, fibre optic systems have been the preferred choice for display cases, and with good reason. Fibre optic systems have three main components - a light source, the fibre optic harness (flexible filaments of clear glass, usually known as tails) and the light fittings, which sit at the end of the tails. The light source (a projector containing driver electronics, fan cooling and a single high-output lamp) is sited outside the body of the showcase, meaning that the heat and noise associated with high-output lighting systems do not impact on the display.

LED

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are solid-state devices. They have a significantly longer life span than other types of lighting. LED lighting is installed in thermally-efficient light bars or fittings, which can be mounted using traditional methods but with the advantage of having minimal cabling requirements.

Did you know?