Luminaires and glass-fibre-reinforced polyester poles manufacturer Beka Schréder will display its locally developed range of light-emitting diode (LED) products at the Electra Mining Africa exhibition.

The company, which has been at the forefront of locally developing a range of LED products to international standards, says the South African industrial market is embracing new LED technologies, as there is a strong drive to achieve energy efficient solutions.

“This is evident in the number of mining and industrial projects that have embraced our LED products and the mining companies that have enlisted our LED products as standard stock items to replace the HID [high-intensity discharge] products where possible,” states Beka Schréder.

LED technologies offer industrial users a number of advantages, such as long operational life span, thus reducing maintenance costs, various light distributions optimising light control, as well as a variety of colours and dimming options.

Beka Schréder has designed its products to ensure that the LEDs and their supporting electronics are, at African ambient temperatures of 35 °C, not exposed to high temperatures, which could shorten the lifetime of the LEDs. Further, electronic temperature monitoring in its LED luminaires prevents overheating of the LEDs and power supply. The Beka Schréder LED luminaires are also supplied with surge protection to deal with inconsistent supply voltage.

Beka Schréder’s luminaires are assembled at its factory in Olifantsfontein, Gauteng. Where possible, the company procures locally manufac- tured components and it uses local manufac-turers of die-making for castings of aluminium components, the fabrication of metal products and packaging.

Since LEDs are a relatively new technology in the South African market, Beka Schréder believes the industry, in general, requires information and set regulations which will ensure that high-quality lighting products are offered in the industrial market, thus avoiding the influx of inferior products which is currently prevalent.

Beka Schréder, which became South Africa’s first lighting company to be awarded ISO 9000 certification, attributes its success to the effort it puts into research and development, ensuring the appropriate mechanical and thermal product integrity in the environmental conditions of the African continent.

“The success of this approach provides a sound product identity that generates growth and expansion into other markets and territories. Our products are used in many infrastructure developments, such as roads and highways, residential and commercial areas, and town centres as an integral part of urban renewal programmes.”

Beka Schréder products are exported into almost all African countries, as well as the Middle East, South-East Asia, Europe and Australia.

Since 2002, Beka Schréder have had a partnership with Belgian company, Schréder. In 2013, it changed its name from Beka to Beka Schréder to better reflect its ties with its parent company.

Hall 7 Stand A09