Interior LEDs: The Next Great Growth Market?

LEDs have replaced legacy technology as the standard in non-residential lighting, both inside and outside commercial structures.

With exterior LED lighting sales continuing to grow but at slightly slower rates than previously projected, industry analysts are looking at interior applications as the next great frontier.

"We've seen more and more interest in our interior fixtures," Eleni Lelekis said. "Our exterior lighting demand is still strong, but as that market fills with high quality, long lasting LEDs, we believe we'll continue to see non-residential customers coming to us for indoor LED retrofits."

Six months ago, analysts at Research & Markets forecast the worldwide LED space would grow at a compound annual rate of 18.46% from 2017-2021. The latest reports indicate that while growth should remain robust, it will be closer to 12% through 2022. Industry stalwart Osram recently announced its 2018 revenues will increase, but at about 50% of previous forecasts.

Research & Markets reports indicate interior lighting sales shouldn't moderate as quickly as exterior applications.

According to Arkon Power Technical Manager Graham Brown, the Florida-based company focuses its interior efforts on the more intricate lighting designs of warehouses, car service areas, and some high traffic retail spaces. Arkon recently completed an interior installation for Pet Supermarket in Belleair Bluffs, Fla. The lighting package included 81 4-foot linear low bay lights at 90 watts apiece, four wrap around strip fixtures, two flat panels, three standard wall packs, eight emergency flood lights, four down lights and four exit sign/flood light combos.

Other interior lighting projects Arkon has completed include high bays and LED tubes for Mid-County Collision in Largo, Fla., flat panels for Boos Development Group in Clearwater, Fla., manufacturing area lighting for Vandolah Power Co. in Wauchula, Fla., recessed lighting for Economy Honda in Chattanooga, Tenn., and high bays for Nemak in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

Another area where interior lighting is seeing record growth is in automotive applications and other small, precision spaces. Industry analysts see the LED market moving more and more toward high tech applications, end-to-end energy solutions and plugging into the "internet of things."

Lelekis agreed. "Our existing customers know they have lighting that will last them for decades," she said. "So they're looking at the big picture and thinking long-term about how to light their spaces efficiently and practically. It's remarkable to see."

Email shea@arkonpower.com to learn more about Arkon Power's capabilities and projects.