As one of the UK’s leading logistics provider, Clipper Logistics plc has 10 million sq. ft. of warehousing space over 46 sites and a fleet of over 300 vehicles, with a nimble and effective approach that adapts to the changing demands of retail with cutting edge logistics solutions. The company’s specialist warehousing services include handling/boxed storage, high value security cages, customs warehousing, seasonal relief warehousing and picking to customer requirement. 

Principal contractors for the refurbishment work was by AGF UK Ltd of Welwyn with Whitton Electrical Limited of Hemel Hempstead invited by AGF to design and install a suitable energy efficient lighting system. Whitton worked to a brief by Clipper to light the racking aisles as efficiently as possible whilst providing a level of escape lighting that was compliant with BS5266.  The original lighting system incorporated individual emergency bulkhead fittings with a single test key per lighting row meaning that servicing the emergency lighting was time consuming and costly. Whitton looked at several different systems on the market but not all offered the efficiency, quality and flexibility that the Zumtobel’s Tecton provides, alongside the automatic emergency lighting testing that the eBox Central Battery system offered so it was decided that Zumtobel had the product of choice.

With such an immense operation, it was crucial that the lighting met all the criteria required including good colour rendition, low maintenance, energy savings and flexibility - Tecton LED provided the perfect solution.  Used throughout the racking areas and open spaces, Tecton LED continuous row system merges light source, batten luminaire and reflector into a single visual, functional unit that provides uninterrupted light lines. Quick to install, this end-to-end solution has a service life of 50,000 hours at 70% luminous flux and an efficiency of up to 168 lm per W, resulting in less expenditure on maintenance, fewer interruptions to work, and reduced energy consumption. An integrated sensor pre-programmed to the required functions was also incorporated.

In addition to Tecton, Zumtobel’s Resculite PRO, small, energy-efficient LED spots with finely optimised optics provide the emergency lighting throughout the space. This emergency solution can be perfectly adapted to suit the requirements of different spatial environments and trusted to maintain maximum safety. The system is used in conjunction with Onlite central eBOX, the unobtrusive system that offers building safety with maximum flexibility. eBOX allows simple commissioning, combined with highly efficient operation and a nominal environmental footprint. More than just a control centre for the emergency power supply, eBOX has been optimised for use with LED technology ad can operate up to 30 electrical circuits and 600 safety and escape sign luminaires.

Jon Whitton, Managing Director of Whitton Electrical Limited, commented “The installation of the Tecton system and luminaires was extremely quick with no time wasted cabling separate fittings and installing retaining brackets onto luminaires.  The installation literally clipped together simultaneously enabling the lighting to be illuminated as and when a row was complete.  This can easily be altered if required in the future with little or no re-cabling. Whitton Electrical have worked with Zumtobel products in the past and will continue to champion their use in the future.  They offer a great range of products with an experienced design and technical team offering readily available support should it be required”.