Francois Jarrossay, co-founder of Lumen At Work talks about the future of the lighting industry

From what you’re seeing in the industry as a whole, what does the future of lighting look like?

With the ongoing progress of LED technology, the future of lighting looks extremely exciting. With the internet of things and human-centric lighting, there are many new applications to come, including lighting control systems.

Can you talk about the changes that  will take place because of COVID-19 in the lighting segment?

COVID-19 has forced all manufacturers to search and propose solutions to address this crisis, which has brought about a change in the lighting segment. At Lumen, we have developed a luminaire which uses UV-C LED to disinfect spaces as it is very efficient against viruses. We are also working on a pilot project with Paris Airports to use UV-C disinfection in public toilets as well as elevator cabins.

Are people/clients paying enough attention to the lighting in general?

Unfortunately, not enough clients are conscious of the role of lighting in their project. We believe it is necessary to partner with a good lighting company because it can save the client’s time and money. For example, in retail, the role of lighting is crucial, given that a well-lit up shop adds to the interior, which can increase sales and improve the customer journey.

Who are you reaching out to primarily?

We would like to work with end-clients, interior designers, fit-out contractors, property developers. When you build a project for yourself, you are more concerned about the quality of the design and the materials you will use.

How important is sustainability in lighting?

With the LED era, the lighting industry made a giant step into sustainability, but still, some products are not designed with a sustainable approach. There are many sustainable factors to take care of from a lighting design point of view. For example, energy efficiency, light pollution, the lighting density, the use of lighting controls such as sensors and much more. However, at Lumen, the recyclability, the lifetime, the modularity is something we take care of a lot.

Can you tell us more about the Dialux software?

Dialux is used by the majority of lighting specialists all over the world. It is a great software to plan the lighting of your project. It helps to ensure the project’s compliance with standards, and for us, at Lumen it is a way to use lighting sustainably by optimising the quantity of light.

What does the future hold for light and connectivity?

Many people are working on LIFI applications these days. LIFI is a way to transmit data through light, but we are really at the beginning of it because it requires so many changes in infrastructures and building practices to be used everywhere.

What are the projects you are currently doing in the region and any expansion plans you can tell us?

We have several ongoing projects and recently just finished a recycling factory project which was challenging. We now have a new customer on board who is trusting us for the design and supply of lighting for his concepts of eyewear outlets. Lumen is growing each day and getting recognition. All our new customers usually end up becoming recurring clients. Having said that, our plan for 2021, is to keep expanding locally as well as in the European market, which also seems to appreciate our value for money positioning.