Bridgelux and Martini provide LED lighting to grocery stores in Italy

Bridgelux Inc., an LED chip and array provider based in Livermore, California, has developed the Décor line of ultra-high CRI LED arrays in cooperation with Martini Lighting, a division of Martini SpA of Milan, Italy. The arrays are designed to bring ultra-bright solid-state lighting to demanding applications such as retail, hospitality, museum and high-end architectural lighting.

In fact, co-op retail grocers on the Adriatic Coast of Italy recently replaced incumbent lighting with Martini Lighting fixtures and Décor arrays, delivering an 80 percent decrease in energy consumption while reducing the heat and radiation that contribute to food spoilage.

The project involved the one-to-one replacement of 80-110W halogen fixtures with just-introduced 21W Virgola GM and GEX GM fixtures incorporating new Décor ES Series LED arrays.

“Our mission was to refresh the design of the interior fresh food section of the co-op supermarkets," said Ing Mingozzi, a consultant with Ricerca & Progetto design firm based in Bologna, Italy. "When we proposed to co-op a solid-state lighting solution, they discovered the technology offered significant design benefits in addition to dramatic improvements in energy efficiency.

"We believe that the decision to develop an LED-based lighting solution not only aligns with co-op’s environmental sustainability values, but also improves the environment and shopping experience in their stores."

The LED arrays feature a CRI of 97 with a 3-step MacAdams Ellipse color-control option for delivery of a full palette of colors over a wide range of light levels. The Décor line features a lumen output range of 1200 to 2500 lm at 25-50W, with R9 and R15 values of 98 for enhanced depiction of red colors and accurate representation of skin tones.

“The new Décor arrays take us to the next level, enabling very high-end lighting design,” said Giorgio Martini, VP of Martini Lighting. “We can design precision lighting effects and striking contrast ratios, enhancing the presentation of retail merchandise. The Décor arrays now permit us to deliver the highest quality light, brilliantly rendering colors and textures. These are the elements that allow us to present our shops and restaurants in living color.”

The Décor arrays feature the same form factor as previous Bridgelux array product generations, allowing field upgradeability.