Most of the LIGHTimes readers already know this, but not all the SSL Design readers might. Most of our commentary finds its way connected to SSL Design's space, but it's important to recognize that much of the LED volume is directed towards those non-general lighting arenas. The volume in those applications spaces are bringing down costs for all applications, and lower costs increase market opportunities. Whether you're on the lighting or non-lighting side of the LED market, it only makes sense to stay aware of the general happenings in all the arenas in order to keep ahead of the information curve so you can spot the trends in time to take full advantage of them.

Separate from the cost/volume topic, while LED lighting is doing a better and better job of not looking like LED lighting, applications that do look like LEDs continue to help bring credibility to the technology. Traffic signals happily doing their reliable job, without dead strings and aside from the rare snow cover, are good industry PR. Similarly, adoption moves that can be perceived as "less risky" into the commercial/industrial space also help commercial/retail operators to believe in the capabilities of our technology to get the job done well, and to save them both operating and maintenance expenses, while contributing to enhanced revenues. Whether it is direct view billboards, internal or backlighting, or neon replacement approaches, signage is one of those applications spaces that help boost the industry credibility with the prime lighting decision makers.

Following is a quick Q&A with Carey Burkett, President of Lumificient Corporation. Founded in 2000 and subsequently acquired by Nexxus Lighting in 2008, Lumificient has made its name with LED illumination solutions for the sign industry.

The sign industry was an early adopter of LED technology, why?
LED technology addressed some of the challenges dealing with neon and fluorescent lighting, including shipping and breakage issues, ongoing maintenance expenses and high energy costs. From a sign company’s and an end customer’s perspective, that was important. As LED technology has advanced, it has become easier to make a strong business case for LED over neon or other forms of sign illumination based upon the significant savings that can be attained from lower energy and maintenance costs.

What is driving the movement to LED in signage?
There seems to be three factors that have led to the rapid adoption of LED technology for the sign industry.

First, the ability for LED to meet the requirements of a sign company and its end customers related to the level of brightness and the uniformity of illumination. First and foremost, LED systems had to meet that standard. Today, there are LED systems that can achieve excellent, even illumination and color consistency that meet those requirements.

Second, the high maintenance costs of neon systems. End customers are often required to sign up for costly maintenance contracts for these systems. To fulfill the contracts, sign companies offer labor or service warranties at considerable expense. With LED technology, maintenance requirements are limited. This will lead to significant savings for the end customer.

Finally, it is also about the efficiency of LED illumination as compared to neon illumination. That difference represents substantial energy savings, and obviously that is a significant story these days.

What are the indisputable advantages of LED adoption, short and long term?
The advantages of LED illumination are many, most of which result in direct savings. LED lamps produce brilliant light but consume significantly less electricity when compared to neon lighting. They offer a much longer life in illumination for the sign. As solid-state devices, high quality LED illumination systems are durable and damage-resistant, requiring minimal maintenance. LED systems are also environmentally sound.

What are the specific industry challenges that exist today within signage that relate to LED usage?
With today’s economic uncertainties, signage as a whole has contracted. Large big box retailers and multi-site retailers are not developing new sites at the rapid pace that they once were. Retrofitting programs in some cases have dropped off. Single site entrepreneurs or new business start ups have slowed down, as well.

As a result, sign companies are chasing a smaller overall pie. It places a burden on Sign Companies to respond with sound business solutions and services that will allow them to grow during a difficult time. Sign Companies can win by offering superior products and services that will significantly improve end customer results -- results that can be quantified based upon the benefits that LED solutions provide. It’s a solution that provides value to both the Sign Company and the end customer.

We consistently urge sign companies to resist the temptation to consider lower-priced LED solutions as a way to attain improved margins and/or business results. Low-priced LED solutions will lead to higher overall costs, for the end customer and often for the sign company. Having your end customer’s best interests in mind is what will lead to long term success. Low-priced, high problematic LED solutions will not lead to long term customer satisfaction or to long term success.

Where is LED signage not cost effective?
The up-front cost of LED illumination tends to be higher than that of neon. That said, the total costs over the life of the sign will be substantially lower for systems that are illuminated with LED. Neon will always have its place in various more artistic or decorative signage where LED simply cannot play.

Are you finding that companies are adopting LED signage chain-wide or testing in key markets? What kind of business category could benefit most from this?
LED adoption within signage is quite far along at this point. There are many companies that have specified LED illumination for all of their new signs and some companies that have come out with defined retrofit programs that involve replacing neon in their older signs. So, there is broad acceptance within the signage marketplace for LEDs.

All companies can benefit from the use of LED signage; the long-term savings are significant even for an individual proprietor with one sign for a storefront. Large multi-site businesses with a significant number of sites and signs stand to save the most considering the overall cost-saving factors per sign, per overall sites, times the years that the signs will be in service.

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