_________________________________________________________________________________________ Whitecroft
Lighting
fluorescent to LED lighting around 2013 , for example , it provided us with an opportunity to transform from an electrical manufacturer to an electronics manufacturer .
“ It was a huge step for us ,” Robert adds . “ We ’ d never expanded into electronics , and it requires a totally different production process using a heightened level of automation . We invested around £ 2 million in automated technologies to keep the manufacturing process in-house .
“ We ’ ve been self-sufficient since , boasting the capability to produce our luminaires ,” he reveals . “ Our new equipment allows us to form various product shapes and sizes at a rapid speed . The machines are also able to change tools automatically , furthering the efficiency of the process while maintaining a supreme level of quality .”
Turning to sustainability , Robert explains : “ We ’ ve been on a sustainability journey for a number of years , analyzing how our product is designed , manufactured , used , and then dealt with at the end of its life . More recently , we ’ ve started to experience an ever-growing retrofit market , which brings with it an entirely different dynamic to how we service our customers .
“ We ’ re supporting the regeneration of existing buildings through our Vitality ReLight scheme . By identifying areas with the greatest potential impact in terms of decarbonization , and implementing improved quality solutions , we help to reduce waste , reuse assets , and regenerate existing lighting systems . We can design a solution that retains its existing luminaires , for instance , or reuse as much of the existing material as possible .
“ While retrofitting currently accounts for a significant portion of the business , we anticipate that increased demand will drive this figure up to a much larger percentage by 2025 ,” he proposes . “ Retrofitting is an essential step in the UK ’ s energy transition and net zero goals and is therefore a rapidly growing market with three key influential factors : energy costs , sustainability , and legislation .
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