Project: Drankenhal Gijbels – LED light lines in a drinks warehouse

Drinks wholesaler Drankenhal Gijbels in Paal (Belgium) relit its 4,000 m² storage hall with 98 LED tri-proof lights, mounted in light lines at 6 m above the aisles between the pallet racks. They replace 98 twin fluorescent fittings one for one. The light level rose from 210 to 320 lux, while the power dropped by 65%. With more than 3,000 operating hours a year, the investment was earned back in under three months.

Project facts

Client	Drankenhal Gijbels, drinks wholesale
Location	Paal, Belgium
Building	Drinks warehouse with pallet racking, approx. 4,000 m²
Completed	2026
Old lighting	98 × twin fluorescent fitting, 130W
New lighting	98 × LED tri-proof light 150 cm, 45W, 4000K
Mounting	6 m, mounting brackets, in light lines above the aisles
Control	On/off
Illuminance	210 → 320 lux
Operating hours	Approx. 3,300 hours per year
Planning	DIALux light study

The starting point

Drankenhal Gijbels stores and sells beer, soft drinks, water and wine from a hall of around 4,000 m². Pallets sit in racks up to the roof, crates are stacked on the floor, and staff pick orders all day with pallet trucks. The hall was lit by 98 twin fluorescent fittings of around 130W each, including ballast.

Dark aisles, hard-to-read labels

With 210 lux on average and several tubes burnt out, the aisles between the racks were dim. In a drinks warehouse that matters: staff have to read labels, tell similar crates apart and check expiry dates quickly while picking.

Long hours, high bills

The hall is lit for around 3,300 hours a year. At 12,740W for the old fittings, that comes to more than 42,000 kWh per year for lighting alone, which makes the hall a clear case for LED.

The solution

Light lines above the picking aisles

The DIALux light study placed the new fittings in lines above the aisles between the pallet racks, so that the light reaches the floor and the lower rack levels where most picking happens. As with a trunking system, the light runs in lines, but the fittings are mounted directly on brackets, so no rail was needed. Every fluorescent fitting was replaced by one LED fitting at the same position. More on planning light lines in our guide to LED light lines and trunking systems.

98 LED tri-proof lights 150 cm

Each LED tri-proof light 150 cm of 45W delivers 9,000 lumen at 200 lm/W. Neutral white 4000K with Ra>80 shows labels and crate colours clearly without the harshness of cool white. The closed IP65 housing protects against dust and the occasional splash in a hall full of liquids. See our tri-proof light guide or all tri-proof lights 150 cm.

LED luminaire used in this project

Energy savings in figures

Every fluorescent fitting was replaced by one LED tri-proof light. The table compares the old installation with the new one.

	Old	LED	Difference
Luminaires	98 × 130W twin fluorescent	98 × 45W LED tri-proof light	−85W per fitting
Connected load	12,740W	4,410W	−65%
Load per m²	3.2W/m²	1.1W/m²	−2.1W/m²
Illuminance	210 lux	320 lux	+52%
Consumption per year	42,042 kWh	14,553 kWh	−27,489 kWh
Electricity cost per year	€13,453	€4,657	−€8,796
CO2 per year	6.3 t	2.2 t	−4.1 t

How we calculated this

• Old: 98 × 130W = 12,740W × 3,300 h = 42,042 kWh per year.
• LED: 98 × 45W = 4,410W × 3,300 h = 14,553 kWh per year.
• Cost: 27,489 kWh × €0.32/kWh = €8,796 per year.
• CO2: 27,489 kWh × 0.15 kg/kWh = 4.1 t per year.

The saving comes with 52% more light in the aisles. Replacing tubes above the racks is no longer needed either.

Investment and payback

At current webshop prices, the 98 LED tri-proof lights cost €4,199. Half of the investment was covered by a relighting subsidy, leaving €2,100. With €8,796 lower electricity costs per year, that amount is earned back in under three months. Installation is not included in that figure, and no trunking rail had to be bought.

Calculate the savings for your warehouse

The calculator below is pre-filled with the figures of this project. Change the values to see what LED tri-proof lights would save in your own warehouse or wholesale hall.

The result

• Brighter aisles: 320 lux instead of 210 lux, with clear light on labels and crates.
• 65% less power: 4,410W instead of 12,740W for the same 98 light points.
• Fast payback: long operating hours turn every saved watt into money, so the investment was earned back in under three months.
• No more tube replacement: no burnt-out fluorescent tubes above the racks, and 5 years' warranty on the new fittings.
• Lower running costs: €8,796 less on electricity every year and 4.1 tonnes less CO2.

Related projects with light lines: the Detrez storage hall at 6 m and the BME racking warehouse at 10 m.

Frequently asked questions

Which lighting suits a drinks wholesale warehouse?

Closed IP65 luminaires in light lines above the aisles work well: they light the floor and the lower rack levels where staff pick, and they cope with dust and splashes. At Drankenhal Gijbels, 45W tri-proof lights at 6 m give 320 lux in the aisles.

Why do long operating hours shorten the payback time?

The saving per year is the saved power multiplied by the hours the light is on. At around 3,300 hours a year, the 8,330W saved here is worth €8,796 per year, so the investment after subsidy is earned back in under three months. A hall lit for only 1,500 hours would take about twice as long.

4000K or 5000K in a warehouse with products?

4000K neutral white is the usual choice where people read labels and judge colours of packaging and crates. It is clear without feeling cold. 5000K is common in halls where machines dominate and colour judgement matters less.

How far apart should light lines be in a racking warehouse at 6 m?

The lines follow the aisles, so the spacing is set by the rack layout, usually one line per aisle. The distance between fittings within a line follows from the required lux level. A DIALux light study gives the exact positions for your hall.

Is there a subsidy for replacing fluorescent lighting in a warehouse?

That depends on the country and region. On this project half of the luminaire investment was covered by a relighting subsidy. We tell you which schemes apply to your hall and supply the technical data needed for the application.

Can you make a free light plan for my warehouse?

Yes. Send us the floor plan with racking layout and ceiling height. We make a free DIALux light study, work out how many luminaires you need and send a non-binding quote at direct-import prices.