The convergence of lighting and IT

LED iBond manufactures some of the world’s most sophisticated LED panels. The vision of the company is to integrate lighting and IT, collaborating closely with EKTOS to make it happen.

LED iBond has developed a unique LED panel consisting of a patented ”sandwich” system, in which the LED is placed between two aluminium composite panels. This allows for a super-slim LED panel with a thickness of only 6 mm.

The panel can be used to integrate lighting and IT into a common infrastructure for Internet of Things applications in buildings.

– Most of our employees come from the lighting industry, CTO of LED iBond Lars Frederiksen explains.
– However, as we are looking into a future when lighting and IT will converge, we need to collaborate with experts in electronics and IT. We have found them at EKTOS.

 

“We need to collaborate with experts in electronics and IT. We have found them at EKTOS.” – Lars Frederiksen, CTO of LED iBond

 

The future is called Tracy

The latest LED iBond innovation is called Tracy: An IoT enabled LED panel for smart buildings and connected environments. Tracy can be customized to fit into almost any kind of environment. It can be assembled like the rails of a model railway, cut to any length and even go around corners. Also, Tracy can power a wide range of electronics, like USB ports, and IoT sensors monitoring temperature, moisture, movement etc. In short, Tracy combines lighting and IT into a flexible IoT infrastructure for all types of buildings.

As an example, LED iBond recently signed a contract to supply smart lighting for Norway’s largest public library, Deichman Bjørvika in Oslo. The new construction is one of the most prestigious public building projects in the country and will open to the public in 2020.

 

 

2.350 shelves

LED iBond supplies lighting for the library’s 2.350 shelves. Lighting can be controlled for each shelf individually, either via a central control unit or with a smartphone app. EKTOS has developed the driver for the shelves to control colour, light intensity etc.

Moreover, EKTOS has taken responsibility for testing and approval of a number of LED iBond products, with EKTOS acting as an external quality assurance partner. Due to EKTOS being accredited by the national Danish accreditation body DANAK, this has increased LED iBond’s credibility particularly regarding large customers.

 

Close collaboration

– Since meeting EKTOS for the first time one and a half year ago we have collaborated intensely. We are especially impressed by their ability to manage development projects, Lars Frederiksen explains.

 

“We have collaborated intensely [with EKTOS]. We are especially impressed by their ability to manage development projects.” – Lars Frederiksen, CTO of LED iBond

 

EKTOS CEO Jesper Holst adds:
– LED iBond is a perfect example of how quickly a close relation between consultant and customer can develop. Even if we have only collaborated for a relatively short time LED iBond engages us on many levels: idea generation, development, test, and manufacturing. Furthermore, we contribute on a strategic level and participate in business development as well. As an example, we participate in meetings with customers, if relevant, to discuss technical details.

 

 

Fast development of partnership

The partnership between LED iBond and EKTOS has developed exceptionally quickly, not least due to the fact that both parties are putting a lot of effort and focus into the collaboration. The outcome is equally significant: Ideas for new products can be evaluated and tested quickly to determine if they are feasible, both from a technical and from a business perspective.

According to Lars Frederiksen, fast development and short time-to-market is crucial, because convergence with IT is the new paradigm for the lighting business.
– There has been a lot of conventional thinking in the lighting business. But LED opens up new possibilities. We have to rethink LED as an electronics component similar to other components, and to exploit these new possibilities we need to bring a variety of skills into play. That is why we collaborate with EKTOS.