Wahgunyah Tennis – Victoria (AUS)  – An unprecedented upgrade in lighting

Wahgunyah Tennis

Cost savings and efficiencies with installation and control were the decisive factors for Wahgunyah Tennis Club in Wahgunyah, Victoria. The club is home to tennis as well to netball. 

Wahgunyah Tennis Club had some special demands for their new lighting installation. Specification stated 200Lux for netball, while achieving Club Competition standard for tennis. With basically no obtrusive light boundaries come into play, we provided a design that would meet some of the tightest of spill light margins. This ultimately leads to more light on the court. With the ability to get the light where its needed, energy savings can also come in the form of dimming.

With several design characteristics presented in the specifications to be met, we added a control box and switch box. The latter is received by the users as a convenient way to turn the lights off without having access to a phone.

We were very happy to receive the club’s positive feedback. In their own experience, the lighting was outstanding. The improvement that Wahgunyah Tennis Club received from the upgrade was unprecedented and one of the best results that, as they said, Positive Electrical Services has been involved in. In their experience the light levels, light distribution, uniformity and spill light control were on point. 

Loads of satisfaction

The Wahgunyah assignment is one we look back upon with loads of satisfaction. At this club, many things came together that led to this joint succes. Or as the spokes person at Wahgunyah states: “The results of the design and build prove that AAA-Lux can match and surpass other leading suppliers within the industry.” 

The ultimate LED challenge

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An impressive video of National Slovakian Athletic Stadium in Banska Bystrika.

The Národný atletický štadión is a multipurpose stadium in the center of Slovakia. With a capacity of between and 7.000 – 14.000, the venue is mainly used for athletics and football. AAA-LUX partner Abatec has equipped the stadium with 4 masts and 208 luminaire LED lighting installation complying to TV broadcasting requirements of IAAF and UEFA Level C. Next to the main stadium there is a smaller athletics and football accommodation has a 24-luminaire installation. It is where young athletes dream of future successes in the main stadium for a live TV audience.  

Národný atletický štadión

Tested to the extreme

Projects like this an interesting challenge for a luminaire manufacturer. AAA-LUX product manager Rogier Grotenhuis: “People often think that a stadium with a ring-of-fire is the ultimate challenge, but that is not the case. The level of difficulty of a 4-mast installation providing a 360-degree vertical illumination for TV, is where the quality of a luminaire is tested to the extreme. It has everything to do with the distances that light must travel between a luminaire and the aiming point where the light from a luminaire is directed. Distance is the biggest challenge with flood lights, so only an effective LED beam can bridge this distance without losing to much of its punch. It leads to a lower number of luminaires required to reach the objectives. The good thing is that AAA-LUX – besides a ring-of-fire solution – can provide narrow beam for a 4-mast solution like this”.  

All in luminares

The well designed 45 masts are accessible and suitable for the all-in luminaires, including driver. In AAA-LUX’s design concept drivers are in top to benefit from natural wind, reduce operating temperature and increase lifetime. The extreme low weight and wind surface reduces stress loads and as a result make the mast more cost efficient. Thanks to the absence of inrush current, the generators do not have to withstand an enormous start-up peak because of which they can be relatively smaller, less expensive, and a lower carbon footprint.    

Controls

Controls are based on radio frequency communication directly to the antenna at the driver, so expensive cabling for controls is not required. The system can be set to the require settings, as in TV games, lower training levels or the lowest event level. InControl is also used for remote control via the Project Dashboard and for monitoring. Abatec can do service checks from the office in Brno in Czech Republic.

UEFA Women’s champions league under AAA-LUX

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LED in Hoffenheim’s Dietmar Hopp Stadium.

Since this summer the Dietmar Hopp Stadium of Bundesliga Klub TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Germany is illuminated with LED, supplied by AAA-LUX. The stadium is used by the women’s first team, they became 3rd in the UEFA Woman’s Champions League group stage after Barcelona and Arsenal.

When TSG 1899 Hoffenheim found their way up to the German 1st Bundesliga, the Dietmar Hopp Stadium was the stadium they played in. Since the new Rhein-Neckar-Arena was built the Dietmar Hopp Stadium was used for the First Women’s team. The success of that team has led to the UEFA Champions League which is played for live television.

The venue is now illuminated with 114 x LED luminaires, resulting in UEFA Level C in addition to 1.000lux towards the main TV camera, according to DFB regulations. This way the stadium is fit for matches under the DFB as well as the UEFA flag.

Cost savings

A key factor in saving costs was to re-use the existing masts, while increasing the light levels. The light weight and compact design of the AAA-LUX luminaires allowed the 4 x 35 meter masts, which means a cost saving. Also being able to keep the driver in top of the mast, leads to substantial lower installation cost.      

Reduction of spill light

Although the stadium is located in the middle of an urban area – houses are as close as 50 meters from the edge of the field – AAA-LUX managed to reduce light spill substantially using RS technology and light shields. The German K-wert requirement is best compared with the most recent international CIE150 light spill directive. Of course for a stadium with a TV lighting requirement you can only go so far, but compared to the old light spill level, the reduction is significant.

AAA-LUX Germany

AAA-LUX Germany is operated by Kempf GmbH, that manages all AAA-LUX projects in Germany and Austria. The cooperation with Hoffenheim originated since 2014 when AAA-LUX Germany started to illuminate TSG’s training accommodations in the region of Hoffenheim and Sinsheim.

We accept the challenge

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Dutch Major League Club Heracles.

How can we upgrade the stadium lighting to UEFA Level B while improving sustainability, that was the main question by the board of Heracles Almelo, a Dutch “Eredivisie” major league club in the Netherlands. And, could the lighting play a role in the fan entertainment program that the club wanted to expand. Reducing the light emission towards the surrounding houses, was also on their wishlist. And oh yes, not overloading the stress capacity was obviously a key factor. A nice list of requirements came our way. This is a story about how we accepted the challenge.

The stadium called “Erve Asito” was rebuilt 8 years ago with a lighting system based on the older UEFA Stadium Guide 2010 requirements. The general light level was reasonably acceptable, however complying to the latest UEFA 360 degree vertical uniformity requirements, is something else. It was no coincidence that TV crews and phographers had trouble shooting proper images near the side, backlines and in the corners. Light was blocked by the stadium roof and the chosen luminaire positions.

Uniform light all over

Proper vertical lighting from all sides, would only be feasible with part of the lighting positioned under the roof. AAA-LUX was able to reach UEFA Level B, even reducing the total installed power from 320kW down to 180kW. Two thirds of the 120 luminaires were being mounted in the masts, one third under the roof. It resulted in uniform light all over the pitch.

Showlighting

Entertainment lighting would not be financially feasible using expensive DMX controllers and cabled connections. For such cases AAA-LUX has developed a way to enable show lighting by using the standard InControl system which is already used for switching and dimming. Show protocols are uploaded in the existing hardware. R&D Manager Karl Driessens: “We offer both DMX as well as InControl equipment, so we know the strengths of both technologies. InControl Showtime has limitations in synchronising with other show elements. But in a stadium where sound delays are very common, it is hard to notice the difference. The difference in cost however, is very clear”. Heracles uses the Showtime elements mainly for the introduction of the players coming on the field, as you can see on the video below.

Entertaining fans with Showlighting

Light spill reduction

Light emission towards residential houses is a subject that is receiving much more attention, especially after the more strict obtrusive light directive was published in the Netherlands in 2020. Excessive light emissions around stadiums – with high glare – is often accepted for the reason it is hard to prevent. And indeed, it is a challenge. But since RS (Reduced Spill) technology was developed, AAA-LUX can block a lot more of the lighting towards the horizon, without hurting the light quality and level in the stadium. In case of Heracles Almelo it has lead to a light spill reduction of over 75% (!). Also the three trainingfields on the left side of the stadium have AAA-LUX LED with RS technology.

This financially accessible high quality lighting system, proves once again that AAA-LUX’ smart flexible led approach, is worthwhile checking out.

Erve Asito of Heracles Almelo, is a project in cooperation with Dutch partner Sportverlichting.com and realized in August 2021.  

Sparta – stadium experience with show field lighting

Sparta Rotterdam

Sparta Rotterdam is a Dutch professional football club and has been playing again on the highest stage in the Netherlands, the Eredivisie, since 2019.

The club was founded in 1888, making it the oldest professional football club in the Netherlands. Only eleven amateur football clubs in the Netherlands are older than Sparta. Since 1916, Het Kasteel has been home to the club from Spangen.

Sustainability

During our first meeting with Manfred Laros (Managing Director) and Wesley van der Stam (Public Affairs Manager) in June of this year, the ambition quickly became clear. Making Het Kasteel more sustainable and meeting UEFA level C, a light show would also be nice!

In Rotterdam they are going full steam ahead so the entire project had to be ready for the first home game on August 21: SPARTA-HERACLES.

Energy saving through LED

The conventional installation included 160 x 2Kw fixtures that were replaced by 102 x AAA-LUX fixtures. This replacement alone provides a saving of 55-60% on energy consumption and on top of that comes the saving in standing charges and in the possible dimming mode.

The Sales Support Team has faced a number of challenges such as shadowing by LED screens above the targets, the unusual mast positions and the control of the voltage on the other side of the field compared to the control room.

Smart technical solutions

The application of smarter, technical solutions compared to the competition has ensured that Sparta has opted for AAA-LUX. Driver position at the top of the mast ensures lower installation costs compared to Signify, in addition, the RF light show was also much more cost-efficient than a DMX system.

All this without compromising on light quality. A beautiful light image is realized both in the stadium and on television, much better than what people were used to. In addition, special settings have been made for use by Jong Sparta and during training sessions.

We are very proud that we can make this iconic club more sustainable together with our partner OVI Enschede and that we can let Sparta perform under a high light level.

AAA-LUX is a specialist in 1 on 1 retrofit

Almost 80% of all sports fields started with gas discharge lighting in the past. With heavy and non-dimmable lamps. No sustainable energy efficient lamps.

For a few years now, sports associations have been encouraged to contribute to a better CO2 footprint.

Replacing these energy guzzlers with LED lighting is the simplest and most cost-effective method to improve the CO2 footprint. The light image improves considerably with LED lighting because LED color is true but also dimmable; one does not always have to exercise under 100% light and one does not have to illuminate the entire field (keeper training).

AAA-LUX LED lighting has the great advantage that it can easily replace the existing lighting. Why?

The AAA-LUX fixture has the lowest weight of all professional LED fixtures. In addition, the AAA-LUX fixture has the least windage due to its construction.

Reuse of masts

This allows you as a sports association to save a lot of money because usually in 90% of the cases you can reuse the masts and also use the existing infrastructure (masts and cables). After all, the mast is calculated at 25 KG per fixture and AAA-LUX remains far below that. Meaning that a standard power cable is sufficient because the control is linked to the fixture.

Extra savings

As an extra saving, the AAA-LUX LED fixture is easy to install because the existing situation remains and the sports club saves on installation costs.

The AAA-LUX LED fixture is the retrofit solution for sports clubs who want to become more sustainable with LED.

Peter Vermaas in the spotlight as the new CEO of AAA-LUX

AAA-LUX kicks off the new year with an important announcement. Peter Vermaas has been appointed by the shareholders as CEO of AAA-LUX with effect from 1 January 2021. Peter previously fulfilled the role as CCO of AAA-LUX. This is the next step in the further professionalization and expansion of the organization. AAA-LUX has the ambition to achieve strong and healthy global growth in the coming years.

Sustainable accessible LED lighting

In 2009, AAA-LUX was the first in the world to introduce a LED replacement for 2,000w conventional sports field luminaires. AAA-LUX is now active in more than 50 countries and more than 3000 projects have been realized. Peter Vermaas: “Our goal is to make sustainable LED lighting for high mast applications more accessible worldwide. While AAA-LUX has put a lot of energy into stabilizing its organization and products in the past period, in 2021 our focus will shift to further expanding our sustainable footprint”.

Our worldwide partners are served from the head office in Eindhoven. In addition to our production, our R&D, Service, Quality and Sales Support Team departments are also located in Eindhoven. AAA-LUX also has a branch in Malaysia and Australia from where we can offer local support.

Vermaas: “It is important to be present in strategic regions with support on sales, service, stocks and application in order to be able to serve our partners worldwide with the right speed and quality, we will also continue to do so in the future”.

New powerful Gen7 luminaire

At the same time AAA-LUX introduces the new luminaire Gen7. This makes it possible to produce the same light quality with 15% less luminaires. Vermaas: “In addition, the Gen7 luminaires offer a solution in the prevention of light spill around sports parks that can cause nuisance to homes. The light spill regulations are becoming increasingly demanding, as evidenced by the tightened CIE150 light spill standard. With the RS (Reduced Spill) technology, AAA-LUX is able to remove light spill around sports fields and industrial sites. This means more light on the field and minimal light around it, in accordance with the CIE150 standard”.

With the powerful AAA-LUX luminaires it is possible to re-use existing light masts, which keeps costs low. The combination of more light, lower weight and less light pollution makes AAA-LUX an interesting player for recreational and professional sports clubs worldwide”.

Vermaas: “AAA-LUX is a great group of dedicated people working with a sustainable product that contributes to a better future. A global player with all the expertise in-house, enabling us to respond flexibly to changes in the market and to bring the most innovative products to the market again and again. I have a lot of faith in AAA-LUX. The current organization is ready for our sustainable future!”.

For further questions please contact AAA-LUX Eindhoven in the Netherlands.

AAA-LUX Eindhoven
AAA-LUX Marketing: Minka Dijkstra
Minka.dijkstra@aaa-lux-lighting

Ski resort Super Besse in France

Superlight, SuperTeam, SuperBesse

Last winter AAA-LUX France installed new lighting at the ski resort Super Besse – Puy de Sancy, located in the Department of Puy-de-Dôme in France. The on piste skiing consists of 43 km distributed on 27 tracks (5 green, 9 blue, 9 red and 4 black) between 1300 m and 1840 m altitude, on the south-eastern slope of Puy de Sancy. AAA-LUX lighted three of the slopes with a higher color temperature light compared to the existing sodium lighting, to increase visibility and safety on the tracks. Controls are centralized at one location in the valley.

Besides Super Besse AAA-LUX has supplied many other lighting projects for winter sports in recent years. Some highlights are ski slopes at Alpe D’Huez in France, Saalbach Hinterglemm in Austria, ski jump in Seefeld Austria, ice hockey in Norway and a huge winter sports area in Estonia, with biathlon and cross Country stadiums and long ski tracks in the forest.  

Triple A under the Sun

Partnership Lumsport

The partnership between LumSport was an almost immediate success. With similar ambitions in how to become successful and enjoy life at the same time, at the perfect location.

Since a couple of years dozens of projects have been realised, mostly in football. This video is about three of these projects in the sunny Barcelona region in Catalunya.

Costa Brava

Torrella de Montgri, at the coastline of the Costa Brava, was one of the first to adopt AAA-LUX lighting at a new artificial field. The accommodation breaths quality, with fencing, a sprinkler installation and lighting installation, all brand new and well build.

Remote monitoring

The municipality of La Roca del Vallès did three projects at once with 40 luminaires in total. The projects located just east of the city of Granollers are all connected to a central computer for controls and remote monitoring.

Football Academy

Last but not least the private Football Academy Fundación Marcet in the city of Barcelona. The academy has produced an impressive list of football players and trainers for today’s International football market.

New talent

AAA-LUX is proud to be selected as the supplier to illuminate all fields, for the best circumstances to grow new talent.

Partner Lumsport

LumSport is located in the city of Tàrrega, just east of Lleida in Spain.

More information: www.lumsport.com