Jan 9 2010
PureSpectrum (OTCBB: PSRU) has processed its first order for dimmable electronic ballasts for linear fluorescent fixtures, and the company plans to begin contract manufacturing dimmable linear fluorescent fixtures in the United States later this month when the initial shipment of ballasts arrives from its Chinese manufacturing partner.
The company is partnering with an established U.S. lighting manufacturer to build dimmable T8 linear fluorescent fixtures in multiple styles according to market demand. The T8 fixture is rapidly becoming the standard lighting application for commercial and industrial lighting, and the ongoing quest for energy conservation in lighting has made increased energy efficiency for linear fluorescent lighting a top national and global priority.
The step-dimming electronic ballast to be used for PureSpectrum’s linear fluorescent fixtures has gained approval from Underwriters Laboratory (UL), and the company plans to immediately begin offering two-lamp, three-lamp and four-lamp dimmable T8 linear fluorescent fixtures. PureSpectrum has been engaged in ongoing discussions with more than one national distributor expressing interest in carrying the step-dimming ballast. The dimmable ballast will make its debut at an energy forum this month in Spartanburg, S.C., hosted by All Phase Electrical Distributors that will be attended by several major electrical component manufacturers as well as potential end users such as hotel chains, school districts and retail clothing companies.
The purchase order for the step-dimming electronic ballasts was submitted in December, and during the first quarter of 2010 PureSpectrum expects to be able to conduct test marketing to introduce both the dimmable ballast as a standalone product and the fixtures in selected metropolitan areas with multiple electrical distributors. Additionally, the company has begun the process of registering multiple versions of the dimmable fixtures with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), the federal government’s clearinghouse for qualified goods and services and a conduit to government retrofit and new construction projects throughout the country.
PureSpectrum anticipates submitting its application to the GSA before the end of the month, and upon approval of PureSpectrum’s dimmable linear fluorescent fixtures, the company will gain access to procurement entities within the federal government as well as large scale federally funded construction projects through being listed in the GSA Advantage! online catalog for approved vendors.
Linear fluorescent lighting continues to be the most prevalent lighting application for the commercial and industrial market, and dimmable fluorescent lighting is considered a gateway to increased energy conservation by allowing commercial and industrial structures to take advantage of green lighting strategies such as daylight harvesting, occupancy sensing, peak lighting and other systems which depend on dependable dimming. Lighting industry experts expect the ballast retrofit market for linear fluorescent lighting to exceed $100 billion during the next few years, and the market for cost-effective dimmable electronic ballasts is expected to soar as alternative lighting concepts are proven to be effective for energy management. Concurrently, new construction is expected to increasingly incorporate dimmable fixtures in order to take advantage of energy efficient lighting systems which depend on dimming.
PureSpectrum’s product portfolio currently includes multiple wattage dimmable bare spiral Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL), the three-step dimming ballast and multiple dimmable T8 linear fluorescent fixtures. The company plans to complete development of a continuous dimming ballast for linear fluorescent fixtures in 2010, and, following the completion of product development for the continuous dimming ballast, PureSpectrum expects to be able to augment its product offerings with multiple continuous dimming linear fluorescent products.
“The market for dimmable energy efficient lighting products is in its infancy, but it continues to grow exponentially as it becomes clear that dimming is critical to green lighting strategies,” said PureSpectrum program sales manager David Hill. “PureSpectrum’s dimmable linear fixtures will be some of the only dimmable linear fluorescent fixtures in the entire GSA catalog, and we believe our early entry into this market will provide us with an advantage as we introduce our products and their benefits nationwide. Additionally, being accepted into the GSA schedule will immediately increase the credibility for the quality of our products as we take these products into other markets.”
Source: http://www.purespectrumlighting.com/