Feature Name LED By HEATH Author MARTIN
by Example T
he first light-emitting diode (LED) was invented ninety years ago, but the technology has only recently become a dominant force in outdoor signage. For decades, most lightbox/acrylic signs used the dependable T12HO ballasts and lamps for illumination. But as that sizeable installed base gets retrofitted, LED lighting has become the preferred technology. The U.S. Department of Energy is so 32
Sign Builder Illustrated
May 2017
excited about the future of LED lighting that it’s funding numerous R&D projects to improve the technology’s already impressive efficiency and performance. According to West Coast research firm ElectroniCast, the market for LED products for traditional lightbox/ acrylic signs is growing at 14.9 percent per year. “That means that most of the new signs use LEDs, and when new light units are required in existing signs, most are ret-
rofitted with LEDs,” says ElectroniCast President Stephen Montgomery. “LEDs are winning the market share leadership position because the lumens have increased and costs have decreased,” adds Montgomery. “LED signs not only save money on the monthly energy bill, they also save money on maintenance costs since LEDs have such a long life cycle. “There are no longer any key negatives about switching to LEDs.” signshop.com
All Photos: Universal Ligthing Technologies.
LEDing
How LED lighting is transforming the signage landscape.