Cooper boosts lighting levels and cuts energy costs at Airbus UK

Citation

(2003), "Cooper boosts lighting levels and cuts energy costs at Airbus UK", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 75 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2003.12775fab.003

Cooper boosts lighting levels and cuts energy costs at Airbus UK

Cooper boosts lighting levels and cuts energy costs at Airbus UK

Keywords: Airbus, Wings, Production, Energy

Hundreds of Pacemaker high-bay luminaires from Cooper Lighting and Security have reportedly helped Airbus UK to achieve an 80 per cent increase in lighting levels in the main wing production area at its Broughton site in North Wales, while at the same time making energy savings (Plate 2).

Airbus UK is responsible for the design and manufacture of wings for the company's entire family of aircraft. In order to maintain the highest production standards, attention to detail is essential – and this demands lighting of the highest quality.

Plate 2 Cooper boosts lighting levels and cuts energy costs at Airbus UK

Since the existing SON luminaires in the massive wing production building were nearing the end of their design life – with illumination levels typically down to about 300lux – Airbus began the process of upgrading the lighting. The company decided to use products from Cooper's Crompton Lighting range because of their outstanding quality and competitive pricing.

Crompton Pacemaker high-bay luminaires, fitted with 400 W metal halide lamps for good colour rendition, were chosen for the open wing production areas. The luminaires were modified to include a 11min timed ignitor, which provides additional protection for the control gear in the event of lamp failure.

After installation of the Pacemaker luminaires had been completed, measurements are said to have revealed that the average light level on the production floor had increased by 80 per cent to 540 lux – well in excess of the specified minimum of 500 lux. Everyone was delighted with this result, and all the more so as it had been achieved using two fewer luminaires in each row, thereby reducing energy costs.

The wing assembly work takes place in huge, specially designed jigs, and for these areas Cooper supplied Crompton Tufflite a robustly constructed fluorescent luminaire.

According to Cooper, the Tufflites were chosen primarily for their high impact resistance and their ability to withstand the general rigours of the production environment.

Over 2,500 Tufflites have been installed on different jigs in different buildings at Broughton and we are informed, with very few technical problems, and they have proved to be extremely reliable.

In line with Airbus policy, all the Crompton Lighting luminaires were supplied with high-frequency control gear to minimise flicker and maximise both energy efficiency and lamp life.

Details available from: Cooper Lighting and Security. Tel: +44 (0)1302 321541; Fax: +44 (0)1302 303203; E-mail: vernon.salmon@cooper-1s.com