The EdisonReport team diligently attends major lighting tradeshows worldwide, searching for outstanding products to recognize annually. This recognition celebrates the “best of the best” in lighting for the year. Traditionally, LightFair and LEDucation have served as the primary launchpad for new products in North America. However, as the industry evolves, many innovations now debut through press releases, YouTube videos, or LinkedIn announcements. LightTrades™ showcases our curated selection of the Top 10 products of the year, highlighting the best in innovation, regardless of their launch method.
I discovered the following products through various sources: 4 appeared at Light + Building, 2 at LEDucation, 2 at NYControlled, 1 in our magazine designing lighting, and another in a personal home in Croatia.
Casambi, Salvador
This product came to my attention a few days before Light + Building in Frankfurt, where it was showcased during a presentation by CEO Mark McClear and his team.
Salvador, Casambi’s innovative series of DALI controllers, marks the company’s strategic entry into the wired lighting control market. Moreover, Salvador introduces unmatched flexibility by enabling wireless, wired, and hybrid lighting control solutions. This aligns with Casambi’s mission to deliver seamless and intuitive lighting experiences. The Salvador series supports key protocols such as DALI, Bluetooth® Low Energy, and EnOcean. As a result, it ensures full interoperability across various lighting installations. With Salvador, wired and wireless devices integrate seamlessly within Casambi systems. This integration offers users endless possibilities for feature-rich and customizable control. The first two form factors—Salvador 1064 and Salvador 2064—simplify commissioning, installation, and everyday use. Both emphasize user-friendliness and system reliability for optimal performance.
By bridging wired and wireless networks, Salvador extends the lifespan of lighting installations, enhances sustainability, and lowers costs, positioning Casambi as a versatile and future-ready solution provider in the lighting controls industry.
Current, Aira
The Aira is a product that was first launched at LEDucation earlier this year, however, I first saw at NYControlled after I interviewed Tom Cunningham, VP of Controls and Life Safety at Current.
ERCO Lighting, Axis Showcase Lighting
The ERCO Axis sets a new benchmark for display case lighting, combining exceptional lighting quality with precision and versatility. Moreover, it is designed to showcase valuable and sensitive exhibits with unmatched accuracy. Axis ensures colors are reproduced perfectly and details highlighted without distortion, creating striking visual accents. With a CRI of up to 97 and a precise color location of 1.5 SDCM, it guarantees a flawless appearance. Even after 50,000 operating hours, the LEDs maintain 90% of their brightness (L90/B10). Additionally, its three interchangeable light distributions—spot (17°), flood (30°), and wide flood (45°)—can be adjusted on-site without tools. This flexibility allows for delivering both strong accents and broad, uniform illumination.
Axis is developed with sensitive exhibits in mind, meeting strict conservation standards by eliminating UV light and maintaining an extremely low damage factor (0.140 – 0.187mW/lm). The luminaire’s infinite dimmability down to 1% allows for precise control of illuminance, achieving up to 450lx at a distance of 1.6 feet, which can be reduced further with neutral density filters.
Gotham IVO™ Family
iGuzzini Trick eᵐ
This light was first introduced to me at the stunning home of its lighting designer, Dean Skira, in Croatia.
This lighting solution offers a blend of form and function, giving designers the ability to sculpt light and transform surfaces into artistic displays. Trick eᵐ stands out with its ability to create bold visual statements or subtle nuances, adapting to projects of all scales. Whether for cultural settings, hospitality, or landscape designs, Trick eᵐ pushes the boundaries of traditional lighting, offering precision, creativity, and an enhanced user experience that elevates both emotional and architectural impact. Read the original article here.
Landscape Forms, Northport Area Light
The Northport Area Light provides a modern reinterpretation of the classic acorn streetlamp, a staple of American design heritage. Instead of a traditional glass globe, the iconic “acorn” shape is subtly conveyed through the negative space at the top of the luminaire. Moreover, the design adds a contemporary touch while honoring its historical inspiration. Inside, an optional LED element evokes the charm of gas lamps or early filament bulbs, fostering a sense of nostalgia and enhancing the connection to place. The Northport was designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, LLP.
Lighting Services Inc, LX Select
The LXSelect™ first caught my attention in the below YouTube video by Ken Kane, Executive Vice President, Lighting Services Inc, and I later had the chance to see the product in person at NYControlled.
LXSelect™ fixtures feature magnetic mount technology, allowing users to quickly replace the module to update the LED rating (Lumens/CRI/Wattage) and color temperature in seconds. Furthermore, it sets itself apart by offering a wide range of initial lumen packages from 270 to 1500. Additionally, the fixtures provide flexible beam control and a full range of internal accessories for precise manipulation of light distribution.
LXSelect system can be controlled with 0-10V, DMX or Lutron EcoSystem protocols. The LSI CONTROLTrack™ option allows for unparalleled flexibility for controlling an entire track run or individual fixtures from a simple wall device, all the way through the most sophisticated control systems.
Tweener Lighting System
The Tweener Lighting System caught my eye as we featured it in the Top 10 MUST SEE Products of LEDucation. As a former tennis player (people always said, “Funny, you don’t look like a tennis player”) and a current pickle ball player, I can appreciate good court lighting. The Tweener makes the old fashioned 1000-watt Metal Halide system look ridiculous.
Adhering to USTA and ASBA standards, the system provides uniform coverage with 300 Lux for a single court and 250 Lux for dual courts, resulting in up to 30% savings for individual courts and more than 50% for two-court configurations.
Targetti USA, Catirpel
“The Catirpel morphs into the form of a caterpillar in a tree, our fixtures weave into the surroundings, casting an enchanting spell of versatility.” Hervé Descottes, L’Observatoire International
At Light + Building, I spotted Hervé Descottes at the Targetti booth and stopped to say hello. That’s when I discovered his latest design, The Catirpel. I was immediately captivated by its ingenuity. On display, it elegantly wrapped around the branches of a tree, blending complexity with an appearance of simplicity. I was delighted to learn that The Catirpel is a finalist at Light Middle East, which is just a month away and was a 2024 LIT Lighting Design Award Winner.
CATIRPEL is a flexible modular outdoor system designed for landscape and architectural applications that require great installation flexibility and accurate light control. Designed to enhance nature, CATIRPEL is ideal for irregular curved or undulating surfaces.
Zumtobel, CIELUMA installation
The CIELUMA installation spans 45 meters in length and 4.5 meters in width, covering over 200 square meters. The ceiling light’s fabric weighs 100 kilograms. Zumtobel confidently creates similar installations up to 100 meters long as a single unit.
This installation is not only an engineering feat but also an acoustic solution that enhances the atmosphere of the space, featuring dynamic color changes throughout the presentation. Dubbed as a new generation of ‘functional lighting systems,’ the textile stretches 45 meters by 4.5 meters and was introduced as a one-piece fabric.
Go Deeper:
View our 2023 LightTrades Here
View our 2024 LEDUCATION Top 10 MUST SEE Products Here
