Five things you should know this Friday

March 25, 2022
Managing editor CARRIE MEADOWS lines up five things to know about this week from the LEDs Magazine team.

The windows are open and my particular brain cells feel more alive than they have all week. What do we do with bits of random industry information and things that have happened during the week? We share them on the blog, of course. (Note: These are not ranked.)

1. Our colleague and friend Maury Wright offers context to his departure.

I’m linking to Maury’s LinkedIn post, with permission. He’s been kind enough to deliver to his network a letter regarding his health and resolving what must have seemed like an abrupt turnover to readers, colleagues, and industry contacts.

Now, Maury is a fairly private person, but I sure am glad that he felt comfortable sharing his status and the events that led to an expedited retirement from LEDs Magazine. I’ve felt a little bad about what to say/what not to say since it is not my story to tell, as the saying goes. Our team appreciates every minute Maury has spent in leading the brand, serving the audience, and building important relationships with the LED and solid-state lighting design and supply chain. And we hope that he’ll be able to continue to share in that in some capacity into the future. To your health, Maury!

2. The BrightStar Awards close in 28 days.

Understanding that business-type things seem less vital placed in context to the previous announcement…but forging ahead, we remain committed to recognizing industry innovation. Product developments that stand out from the past year will influence future generations of LED lighting, systems, and controls technologies that perform better, improve functioning in a space, maintain wellbeing, and encourage efficiency and profitability while minimizing environmental footprint across different applications. Products scoring 3.5 to 5 stars by our judging panel will receive a BrightStar Award. But your accomplishments can’t be acknowledged unless you enter a submission.

3. Controls experts are ready to share their successes with you.

Our Mar. 31 webinar, which will be moderated by our editorial director, Wanda Lau, features presenters from Silvair and Linmore LED Labs. Silvair’s Jim Sekinger returns to our “airwaves” to explain the potential of networked lighting controls to amp up the energy savings of LED lighting installations, together with Linmore executive Paul Chamberlain. Both presenters have deep knowledge of the challenges of integrating LED lighting and controls into retrofit projects and how to streamline them as much as possible. Register for the free hour-long webcast to get their tips.

4. Lighting community bands together to support Ukraine war relief efforts.

Once again, I’m encouraged by the humanity and generosity the lighting industry has demonstrated. Very shortly after EdisonReport leader Randy Reid pulled together some information on UNICEF’s campaign to help children impacted by the war in Ukraine, the initial fundraising goal was met. I encourage anyone who has been considering a donation to relief efforts to have a look and contribute to the campaign if you’re inclined. Randy has already confirmed that UNICEF minimizes the administrative costs to maximize fundraising impacts.

5. Ams Osram is breaking news (again).

Our Mark Halper is on the newest sell-off by ams Osram, which seems to be jettisoning most anything that has to do with finished SSL products. Automotive Lighting Systems GmbH will bring final headlamp assemblies and LED headlamp modules to the Plastic Omnium portfolio.

CARRIE MEADOWS is managing editor of LEDs Magazine, with 20 years’ experience in business-to-business publishing across technology markets including solid-state technology manufacturing, fiberoptic communications, machine vision, lasers and photonics, and LEDs and lighting.

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