Project: Moderna Printing – LED tri-proof lights, DMX facade lighting and LED signage
Moderna Printing in Beringen: 550 LED tri-proof lights in the print hall, DMX RGBW facade lighting and custom illuminated letters. 61.5% less energy, €28,644 saved per year and 160 to 340 lux.
Moderna Printing in Beringen (Belgium) had us relight its 9,500 m² print hall and give its building a new face at night. Inside, 550 fluorescent tube luminaires made way for 550 LED tri-proof lights of 50W. Outside, we added DMX-controlled RGBW line lighting along the roof edges and made the illuminated facade letters and logo to measure. The light in the print hall more than doubled from 160 to 340 lux, with 61.5% less power.
- Print hall: 550 fluorescent luminaires of 130W replaced one for one by 550 LED tri-proof lights 150 cm of 50W, suspended at 8 m.
- Connected load in the hall from 71,500W to 27,500W: 61.5% less energy for lighting.
- Illuminance from 160 to 340 lux over the presses and finishing lines.
- Facade: DMX-controlled RGBW line lighting whose colours can be changed at any time.
- Custom illuminated letters and logo, made to measure and installed by our team.
- €28,644 lower electricity costs and 13.9 tonnes less CO2 per year in the hall alone.
Project facts
| Client | Moderna Printing, printing company |
| Location | Beringen, Belgium |
| Building | Print hall, approx. 9,500 m², with offices |
| Completed | 2024 |
| Old lighting (hall) | 550 × fluorescent tube luminaire, 130W |
| New lighting (hall) | 550 × LED tri-proof light 150 cm, 50W |
| Mounting | 8 m, suspended |
| Facade | DMX-controlled RGBW line lighting, custom illuminated letters and logo |
| Illuminance | 160 lux before, 340 lux after |
| Planning | DIALux light study |
The starting point
Moderna Printing runs offset presses, finishing lines and paper storage in a hall of around 9,500 m². The hall was lit by 550 fluorescent tube luminaires of 130W each: a total of 71,500W. Outside, the black facade disappeared into the dark after sunset.
Too little light for print work
With around 160 lux on the floor, the light was too low for a print shop, where operators check colours, registration and finishing all day. Every failed tube made it worse.
Failing tubes and high consumption
More and more tubes had failed, and since August 2023 T5 and T8 fluorescent tubes may no longer be placed on the EU market. At the same time, 71,500W running 2,100 hours a year meant more than 150,000 kWh and over €46,000 a year for lighting the hall.
A facade without presence at night
For a company that lives from making brands visible, its own building had no identity after dark. Moderna wanted a facade that shows who they are, day and night.
The solution
Light study first
Before ordering, we made a DIALux light study of the print hall. It showed that every old fitting could be replaced one for one by an LED tri-proof light, more than doubling the light level on the work floor.
Print hall: 550 LED tri-proof lights 150 cm
All 550 positions now carry an LED tri-proof light 150 cm of 50W, suspended in rows at 8 m above the presses and finishing lines. At 190 lm/W, each one produces far more light than an old fluorescent fitting at less than 40% of the power. The neutral white 4000K light and the flicker-free driver give a calm, even light for checking print work, and IP65 keeps out the paper dust. Read more in our guide on choosing LED tri-proof lights.
LED luminaires used in this project
Facade: DMX-controlled RGBW line lighting
Along the roof edges of the hall and the office building, we installed linear RGBW lighting controlled via DMX. Every colour can be set and changed dynamically: in the company colours, in a different shade for an event or season, or as a calm white. The line lighting traces the outline of the building, so it stands out from far away at night.
Custom illuminated letters and logo
The "moderna printing – you think, we ink" letters and the logo were made to measure and installed by our team. Before mounting, a full-size template was fixed to the facade to set the exact position, after which the letters were mounted from two boom lifts. The letters light up white at night, while the slogan can follow the colour of the line lighting.
Illuminated letters, logos and DMX line lighting are made to measure for each building. We design, produce and install them on request.
View LED signage on requestEnergy savings in figures
The figures below cover the print hall. The facade lighting and letters are new additions, so there is no old consumption to compare them with.
| Before | After | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luminaires | 550 × 130W fluorescent | 550 × 50W LED tri-proof | one for one |
| Connected load | 71,500W | 27,500W | −61.5% |
| Load per m² | 7.5W/m² | 2.9W/m² | −4.6W/m² |
| Consumption per year | 150,150 kWh | 57,750 kWh | −92,400 kWh |
| Electricity cost per year | €46,547 | €17,903 | −€28,644 |
| CO2 per year | 22.5 t | 8.7 t | −13.9 t |
| Average illuminance | 160 lux | 340 lux | +113% |
How we calculated this
- Before: 550 × 130W = 71,500W × 2,100 h = 150,150 kWh per year.
- After: 550 × 50W = 27,500W × 2,100 h = 57,750 kWh per year.
- Cost: 92,400 kWh × €0.31/kWh = €28,644 per year.
- CO2: 92,400 kWh × 0.15 kg/kWh = 13.9 t per year.
Investment and payback
At current webshop prices, the 550 LED tri-proof lights cost €22,358. Half of the investment was covered by an energy-efficiency subsidy, leaving €11,179. With €28,644 saved per year, the hall lighting paid for itself in under five months. Installation, the facade lighting and the custom letters are not included in that figure.
Calculate the savings for your hall
The calculator below is pre-filled with the Moderna print hall figures. Change the values to see what a switch to LED would save in your own building.
Savings calculator
Pre-filled with this project: 550 fluorescent luminaires of 130W replaced by 550 LED tri-proof lights of 50W.
The result
- More than twice the light: from 160 to 340 lux over the presses and finishing lines.
- 61.5% less power: 27,500W instead of 71,500W for the same 550 light points.
- No more failed tubes: flicker-free LED instead of discontinued fluorescent tubes.
- A building that stands out at night: DMX RGBW line lighting in any colour, plus custom illuminated letters and logo.
- Lower running costs: €28,644 less on electricity every year and 13.9 tonnes less CO2.
Frequently asked questions
What is DMX-controlled RGBW line lighting?
RGBW LEDs combine red, green, blue and a separate white channel, so they can show almost any colour as well as a clean white. DMX is the control protocol that sets each colour and line individually. At Moderna Printing it lets the roof-edge lighting switch between company colours, event colours or plain white at any time.
Can you make custom illuminated letters and logos?
Yes. The letters and logo at Moderna Printing were made to measure and installed by our team, from template to mounting. We make illuminated letters, logos and facade signs on request; see LED signage on request.
Why LED tri-proof lights in a print hall?
Linear tri-proof lights spread the light evenly over long press lines and finishing tables without bright spots. The flicker-free driver and neutral white light are calm on the eyes for colour checking, and IP65 keeps out paper dust.
How was the saving of €28,644 per year calculated?
The old hall installation drew 71,500W, the new one 27,500W. At 2,100 operating hours a year that is 92,400 kWh less. Multiplied by €0.31/kWh, that gives €28,644 a year. The facade lighting is new and not part of the comparison.
Can you make a free light plan for my building?
Yes. Send us a floor plan or a few photos with the ceiling height, and tell us if you also want facade lighting or signage. We make a free DIALux light study and send a non-binding quote at direct-import prices.
Send us your floor plan or a few photos. We prepare a free DIALux light plan and a non-binding quote at direct-import prices, 2 to 4 times below comparable branded luminaires, including facade lighting and custom signage if you want. Delivery throughout the EU, up to 5 years' warranty.
Request free light planning
