Case Study on Retrofitting Fluorescent Light Fixtures
Pete Fernie, CFO of Pittsburgh’s SMS Siemag, LLC, doesn’t hesitate in recommending Lighting by LED.
Nothing beats dependable service, extensive industry knowledge, and competitive pricing.
That, says Mr. Fernie, is exactly what Lighting by LED offers. And that’s why he decided to choose Lighting by LED to retrofit SMS Siemag’s existing fixtures.
Mr. Fernie was looking for ways to cut expenses at his 90,000 square foot facility, which serves as North American Headquarters for SMS Group, a global company headquartered in Dusseldorf, Germany. When Mr. Fernie learned he could virtually eliminate maintenance expenses and dramatically reduce energy consumption by using LED tubes for the facility’s nearly 1,000 light fixtures, he had to investigate.
After conferring with domestic and international LED providers, Mr. Fernie chose Lighting by LED. Customized scheduling kept the project on a quick time line without interrupting daily operations. Within one month of installation, SMS Siemag was reaping the benefits of LED lighting with significantly reduced energy and maintenance costs.
Retrofit Existing Fixtures
Our first step was to retrofit SMS Siemag’s existing fluorescent light fixtures. Retrofitting (or re-purposing) the existing fixtures immediately offset the slightly higher per unit cost of LED tubes. By retrofitting the existing fixtures, SMS Siemag eliminated the expense of purchasing new light fixtures, as well as all future expenses for ballast maintenance or replacement because LED lighting requires no ballast. SMS Siemag expects to virtually eliminate maintenance costs for the life of the LED tubes, projected in this case to exceed 13 years.
Versatility
Mr. Fernie is referring to the versatility of our products. Every type of fluorescent lighting fixture was retrofitted with LED tubes. Additionally, by specifying the direction of tube installation, SMS Siemag was able to direct the light of their pendant fixtures upward or downward to create the most effective lighting environment for each area of operation.
Quality Lighting
SMS Siemag employees immediately noticed the aesthetic benefit of LED lighting. During installation they saw a clear demarcation where fluorescent lighting ended and LED lighting began. “The LED lighting is brighter, and our space appears cleaner, more appealing,” notes Mr. Fernie. “We were also able to customize the lighting for each space without changing any fixtures.”
Service Reliability
Lighting by LED incorporates best in class practices in design, assembly and component selection in achieve the highest degree of product reliability and performance. The result is SMS Siemag maintenance staff spends virtually no time maintaining the LED tubes, allowing them to allot more time to other facility needs. Maintenance budgets also benefited dramatically. SMS eliminated purchasing hundreds of fluorescent tubes and dozens of fluorescent ballasts annually.
The Bottom Line
The combined operating expenses of energy and maintenance cost reductions produced a very favorable return on investment. The improvements in lighting, as a result of the retrofit to LED, produced a more appealing environment for employees, clients and vendors.
Why LED Lighting?
Mr. Fernie summarized his decision to transition to LED lighting by saying “LED lighting is more affordable than ever, and it expands SMS Siemag’s green carbon-free footprint. We are seeing significant cost savings because of reduced energy costs, and we have virtually eliminated maintenance expenses for the next 10-15 years.”
Start Saving on Your Energy Costs Today
Contact us today at sales@LightingByLED.net or 412.LED.1234 for more information on local, Pennsylvania & Federal energy incentives and rebates. We can also talk about customized LED lighting solutions that will help you stay ahead of the last-minute compliance crunch and result in significant savings today and well into the future.
Lighting by LED is Pittsburgh’s leading retrofitting LED lighting expert. We offer turnkey solutions, backed by 35 years of B2B and enterprise infrastructure technology solution experience.