LIGHTING THE WAY

Everywhere you look today there are reports online, on television and radio about rising energy prices and the terrible consequences of climate change. Governments, businesses and even families are having to rise to the challenge to make the way we live and work more sustainable.

Eurolux is one of the companies making this possible. For 20 years Eurolux has been selling and distributing energy efficient lighting to electrical wholesalers, retail chain outlets and specialised lighting stores. The company has been pivotal in bringing the latest innovations in the lighting industry to South African businesses and consumers since it was founded in 1991. Eurolux has been on the front line of energy efficiency with products such as Compact Fluorescent Lamps that produce five times as much light per watt as a standard incandescent, while using only a fifth of the electricity, or the increasingly popular LEDs that can last for up to 30,000 hours.

Those solutions are needed now more than ever. Fifteen per cent of the electricity used in most homes goes towards keeping the lights on and that number jumps to 25% for commercial buildings. South Africa has begun introducing energy efficiency requirements for lighting, aiming to help people keep their energy bills down and soften their impact on the environment. As a well known innovator in the industry, Eurolux has fortunately only had to make minor changes to meet these new requirements.

Eurolux

Last November we featured Eurolux and touched on their new developments and changes. This month Brand Manager Andrew Wex, talks to us about the ways Eurolux are expanding their LED projects, moving into energy efficiency and diversifying the market.

“These savings have a massive knock-on effect throughout the market and not just on the end consumer; large businesses, architects, subcontractors and factories are positively affected by energy savings of this sort,” Andrew Wex, Eurolux Brand Manager.

Valued PartnersAs well as sourcing products designed to meet the new

energy needs of Southern Africa, Eurolux has put in place a logistics network that ensures those products are readily available. This is achieved with Eurolux’s own in-house couriers and the assistance of distribution companies such as Zultrans and MPS. These couriers have their own area within the dispatch section of each warehouse and are given a specific area of responsibility, whether geographic or client based, and this system seems to work remarkably well.

Specialising in imports and distribution, Eurolux depends on strong relationships with its business partners to get its products to the general public. With this in mind all distributors are given the chance to inspect the products at Eurolux’s unique lifestyle showrooms in Johannesburg and Cape Town. These showrooms have been designed to display the light fittings in their intended habitat - homes and retail environments.

In the interest of quality assurance, Eurolux works with companies that include major European manufacturers such as ELGO Leuchten and SG Armaturen and are always on the lookout for companies whose products could find a market in South Africa. As a rule they do not deal with factories or manufacturers unless they have visited their facilities and made sure they are not dealing with sweatshops or trading companies. Care is always taken to align the Eurolux brand with reputable manufacturers and once they have decided to work with someone, they stay loyal to them.

Eurolux products also carry the SABS stamp of approval, ensuring that all imports are in compliance with the necessary safety standards.

Building for the FutureNo pun intended, but the future is looking bright for

Eurolux. The strategies that saw the company grow its business even throughout the recession look to continue bringing Eurolux success in the years to come.

While the global economy was taking a beating, Eurolux was able to thrive by expanding its product range and looking for business in new market sectors. Going forward, Eurolux is going to build on those achievements.

As well as meeting the rising demand for energy efficient lighting, the company has recently started expanding into the project lighting sector. Earlier this year it introduced a project lighting range that includes high bays, pendants and downlights for commercial, retail and manufacturing environments.

Eurolux has become a name synonymous with quality lighting.

“We are growing every day and are on the forefront of lighting technology and energy efficiency,” Andrew says, “The focus on green businesses and fuel economy is greater than ever and we are at the front of the wave. It is the best place to be.”

And there is no doubt that Eurolux will be there for a long time, lighting the way.

Eurolux

The fastest overnight delivery service between Gauteng and KZN and Gauteng and NelspruitDurban (Head Office) Johannesburg69 Riverhorse Road 66 Malcolm Moodie CrescentRiverhorse Valley Durban Jet ParkT:(031) 569 1669 T:(011) 397 8365/6/7F:(031) 569 1695 F:(011) 397 8364C:083 390 4772 C:083 457 9823 E:info@zultrans.co.za

+27 11 974 8028

Eurolux (PTY) Ltdwww.eurolux.co.za+27 (21) 528 8400 Written by Daemon Sands

www.littlegatepublishing.com