2021: A MIXED BAG FOR LIGHTING INDUSTRY
ACCORDING TO RIPU DAMAN SHARMA, COUNTRY MANAGER- INDIA SUBCON, LUTRON ELECTRONICS, THE COMPANY DESPITE THE PANDEMIC, EXPERIENCED BUSINESS GROWTH PARTLY DUE TO THE RELATIVELY LOW BASE IN 2020 & PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE RESILIENCE OF THE SALES TEAM THAT EXPLORED DIFFERENT WAYS TO PROMOTE THE PRODUCTS. Like other industries, the pandemic has impacted lighting control industry as a result of prolonged lockdown, suspension of travel and business activities, as well as depression of the hospitality industry, which is one of the major markets for lighting controls. Many companies have adopted home office policy, thereby reducing the workplace expansion or upgrade. Retail industry has suffered too and there are more retail outlets out of business. We also face increasing material costs due to global supply chain issues and are trying to improve our global sourcing and logistics capability to ensure our smooth production and on-time delivery. But, the sales of lighting controls for residential market has increased due to prolonged home stay time and concerns about home hygiene, aesthetics and environment. There are also more home improvement projects globally and locally, stimulating the demand for lighting controls. We also managed to do more retrofit projects with our wireless solutions as many clients have realized the benefits of wireless lighting controls – savings in wiring and labor cost, shorter installation time, less disrupt to daily operation and also the flexibility to add additional control points or even individual remote controllers for each user. An individual control can not only give personalized control, but is also more hygienic and virus-safe from a pandemic prevention perspective. Moreover, dimming can save energy and extend lamp life, in turn reducing the burden on landfill. Our total light control solutions can offer daylight harvesting, occupancy sensing, time scheduling, plug load control and high-end trim etc., which can contribute to significant energy savings. I believe, the government should give more incentives for adopting energy efficient products in projects to make the whole building process greener. The government can also specify the minimum requirement for building’s daylight harvesting or occupancy sensing, especially in commercial buildings.
Tags : RIPU DAMAN SHARMA COUNTRY MANAGER- INDIA SUBCON LUTRON ELECTRONICS