LED suppliers AAA-LUX has recently completed a contract to re-fit the Rietlanden Terminal with a series of LED floodlights that promote greener energy use and safety for all employees.
Suspended from a record height of 45 metres, the new lights combine innovative technology to ensure the best visibility possible.
In designing the new LED’s, AAA-LUX managed to defeat any degrading any decay in light quality by using the best components available and developing the lenses themselves.
Each of the eight posts set up across the 300,000 metre-squared site consists of six AAA-LUX armatures. By limiting the number of posts, Rietlanden Terminal management aim to optimise the area and reduce the likelihood of any collisions by constantly active transport vehicles in the area.
Rietlanden, who owns the terminal alongside several others in the Western section of the Port of Amsterdam, sought to promote environmental efficiency, whilst ensuring the involvement of all staff during the selection process.
Jeroen van Bakkum, operational director, Rietlanden, explains “It was essential for us that the new floodlights would use less energy. Our company has a clear environmental policy in which energy-savings and environmental-friendliness are well-defined. And as we aim to achieve the ISO 51 000 standard we certainly would need to consider these aspects as environmental-friendliness is an important element of this standard.”
Furthermore, a team of staff representatives were asked to participate in the evaluation of all proposed alternatives.
After a visit to the marshalling yard of P&O Ferries in the Port of Rotterdam, who have a contract with AAA-LUX, a decision was made.
Staff were impressed with the quality of the lighting, and an absence of any adverse affects working underneath manufactured light sources, such as fatigue.
The installation at Rietlanden perfectly suits the terminals location in the Dutch capital; Amsterdam is steadily standing out as one of the greenest cities in the world, an ambition supported by the Amsterdam ArenA, the National Museum and the local port authorities.
As such, Amsterdam port authority helped provide financing for the project. Micha Hes, Port of Amsterdam said “To be eligible to a grant it required the project to innovative and to contribute to the sustainability of the port. As nowhere in the world LED floodlights of this magnitude and impact had been installed, it was decided to award the grant.”
Sustainability is equally important to the Port Authority. “It is impossible to create growth without recognising the need for sustainability. The Port of Amsterdam has identified three levels of operating in a socially responsible way; our own activities, the entire port area and the logistical chain. We take action at each level to improve sustainability. With regards to the port area, we try to increase the turnover and activity without emitting too much noise, dust or light.”
Since the projects completion, the Port of Amsterdam has made every attempt possible to phase out conventional floodlights and have them replaced with new LED systems.
Bakkum confirmed this, saying “The washing bay and parking areas are now also illuminated by LED floodlights. Our next step is to phase out conventional floodlight and have them replaced by LED floodlights.”
“Our staff are extremely happy with the new lights as it illuminates the area much better and improves their alertness as it results in less fatigue. We now receive complaints every so often as the change from LED illuminated areas to areas illuminated by conventional lights, is considered to be annoying and a risk. We, therefore, will continue to invest in more LED floodlights for economic reasons but also to improve employee satisfaction.”
See also Rail Terminal LED Flood Ligting by AAA-LUX
