Hilti innovation center
Client
Hilti Innovationszentrum
Project location
Schaan, Liechtenstein
Project date
2024
Photo
Jens Ellensohn
LED-Upgrade
Resource-efficient and sustainable
Opened in 2015, the Innovation Center at the company’s headquarters in Schaan provides 400 employees with the space and infrastructure to develop and test future-proof solutions. Then as now, Hilti’s goal is to foster the development of new technologies and products through an inspiring work environment. The lighting was therefore custom-designed to complement the architecture. Special L-shaped luminaires with 360° light distribution combine high illuminance levels with optimal glare control. When switching to LED, the question arose as to whether it would be possible—and, in line with sustainability efforts, sensible—to continue using the nearly 2,000 existing luminaires.
Lighting is a key factor—both for workplace quality and for energy consumption. Sustainability is very important to us—not only in terms of management, but also regarding the product itself.
Christian Ranacher, Head of Headquarters Human Resources Hilti AG
Christian Ranacher finds strong arguments for a lighting retrofit in the company’s DNA. Hilti is committed to using resources as efficiently as possible and employing durable, recyclable materials in all its buildings—to minimize its carbon footprint. The high-quality luminaires for the Innovation Center, which were originally developed by Zumtobel as a custom solution, are being repurposed through the renovation. This makes it possible to save all the resources and reduce all the emissions that would be incurred in the production of new luminaires.
“We were looking for a sustainable solution to replace the fluorescent lights in our Innovation Center,” says Marco Belleri, Corporate Construction Manager at Hilti, as he begins his review of the lighting renovation. Belleri explains that Zumtobel particularly impressed them by “responding very specifically to our needs,” which is why they chose them.
Before and after the lighting renovation: Optimally balanced illuminance levels and a consistent color temperature make a noticeable difference.
A luminaire is a well-balanced combination of form and function. LEDs do not produce the same light as a fluorescent lamp; one light source cannot simply be replaced by another. The solution for Hilti was found in a specially developed retrofit module in which light from LED strips is coupled laterally into a light guide and directed via light guide plates.
As a result, the luminaire body is evenly illuminated after the retrofit—without a visible light source. The luminaires were also significantly upgraded in terms of color temperature thanks to the LED update. A uniform 4000 Kelvin now creates a homogeneous lighting atmosphere, even when the luminaires are dimmed. The old fluorescent tubes are thus a thing of the past. Another advantage lies in the dimmability of the LEDs. Whereas the luminaires for workstations or traffic zones were previously equipped differently, all luminaires now feature the same LED module, which has been tested in a lighting laboratory. The desired illuminance is flexibly adjusted via the lighting control system, which has a positive effect on the already reduced energy consumption of the LED lighting. It is expected that this will be significantly lower than the connected load. Precise measurements are still being conducted.
Installation Instructions
The Zumtobel complete package for retrofitting includes installation instructions for on-site conversion, a lighting data sheet, and EPDs certifying sustainability.
The light optics, mounting frames, and converters have been pre-assembled at the factory as a retrofit kit and subjected to functional testing. Along with the type-approved components, Zumtobel also provides the retrofit instructions, the declaration of conformity, and the nameplate—and thus assumes product liability. There were also no conflicts regarding trademark and patent protection in this case, as the original luminaire and the retrofit kit come from the same manufacturer.
Hilti achieves transparency regarding environmental performance through the Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) it provides. “We have the ability to create EPDs not only for new products but also for renovation modules,” explains Ines Göbel, Sustainability Manager at the Zumtobel Group. “This allows us to provide a more detailed assessment of the product’s lifetime performance - from production through its useful life to disposal,” she says, outlining the content and purpose of the sustainability declaration. Even during the design and construction of the luminaires, Zumtobel ensures that the products can be reused, refurbished, and recycled.
The large number of light fixtures at the Hilti Innovation Center required a phased renovation. Over a period of three months, 1,750 light fixtures were retrofitted in 32 stages. This allowed employees to work from home or at another workstation while their workstations were being renovated. Each light fixture was dismantled, retrofitted, reconnected, and integrated into the KNX system. The fluorescent lamps, old optics, and control gear that could not be reused or repurposed were collected and handed over to a recycling company, where valuable secondary materials were recovered and hazardous substances were disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner, adhering to the highest ecological standards.
When asked for their assessment, the project managers at Hilti AG expressed great satisfaction with the LED upgrade. “Zumtobel and Hilti are two companies that are a perfect fit. We share the same values when it comes to quality, service, and customer focus. For decades, we have felt that we are highly valued as a customer,” Christian Ranacher concluded.
