Dutch smart lighting solutions provider Signify, formerly Philips Lighting, announced that it installed Interact Industry in the newly developed warehouse facility of Pilkington Automotive in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
The Dutch firm said that this cloud-based, wireless connected lighting system is specifically designed for warehouses and manufacturing facilities.
Pilkington Automotive is one of the world’s largest suppliers of automotive glass.
“Our site is designed to set a new standard for warehouse lighting in the glass industry. With Interact Industry, we received a connected lighting system that does more than just provide light. It also gives us data about our site and allows us to make smarter decisions about our operations,” said Marcel Devereaux, category manager energy projects, NSG Group.
Interact Industry software enables Pilkington Automotive to analyze all data collected through smart sensors embedded in the lighting system, utilizing the data to improve the warehouse and process layout continuously, Signify said.
Signify also noted that the system also increases the warehouse’s energy efficiency and makes it more sustainable. “Compared to sites where conventional lighting is used, the new system achieves up to 50% energy savings by adapting the lighting to demand, using daylight harvesting and presence sensors. This is on top of the significant savings already achieved by changing to LED lighting,” said Devereaux.
“At Signify, we have a rich history in providing high quality lighting for industrial companies – but with the launch of Interact Industry, we’re truly taking a leap forward. Businesses are increasingly using data to improve business processes. This system can provide them with valuable, data-driven insights to create a safer working environment for staff, improve productivity and reduce energy use,” said Ton van de Wiel, global sub-segment director for industry at Signify.
The smart lighting specialist also highlighted that some of the main benefits of connected lighting includes increased safety and productivity, as reliable lighting ensures a safe working environment, reduces accidents and allows for continuous operations by eliminating unplanned maintenance. Interact Industry enables the user of the warehouse to be preventive instead of reactive, giving immediate insight into current faults and flagging potential future defects before they occur in order to limit any downtime.
Interact Industry also provides insights that improve the productivity of employees by enabling them to monitor their operations. The connected system, equipped with motion sensors that collect data, can show the intensity of space use across different areas and across time. This allows managers to verify ABC stocking strategies and take appropriate actions when needed to improve operations and reduce inefficiencies in order-picking time, Signify said.
With Interact Industry, operators can also monitor energy consumption across the facility and optimize the light settings. The solution also allows companies to schedule lighting, for example lowering the light levels during the week when different activity requires different light levels.
