Acuity Brands unveiled a new LED lighting system concept during LIGHTFAIR International 2013 in Philadelphia. Acuity Brands also announced expanded access to its eldoLED Driver portfolio. The Aera system uses wall-recessed LED luminaires to offer a combination of indirect ambient illumination and luminous presentations that can be customized for the occupant and the space. The company says that the trim-less wall integration and daylight appearance of the lighting system add to its appeal. The Aera LED luminaire system features a discreetly hidden white light engine for indirect, ambient illumination that Acuity says can serve as an alternative to overhead luminaires.

The Aera™ LED luminaire system will be offered by Winona®. Acuity has made the Aera system programmable to easily select colors, luminance and gradients. Aera LED luminaires have three control functions to manage the white ambient light independently from the upper and lower controls allowing the aperture to be painted with bold or subtle colors. It is compliant with industry standard DMX and RDM protocols such as those available from Axion™ Controls from Acuity Brands. Aera reportedly allows users to select from hundreds of preset appearances, or create their own custom color palettes. Aera luminaires will be suitable for office, healthcare, hospitality, education, and specialty retail spaces. According to Acuity, the Aera LED lighting system, which is intended to be mounted above eye level, is suggestive of the sky as viewed through a transom window, clerestory or glass block.

“This lighting system is truly unique,” said Scott Sorensen, Acuity Brands Lighting vice president and general manager, Hydrel and Winona Lighting. “The Aera LED lighting system provides soft illumination – reminiscent of daylight from a sun that is low on the horizon. Each luminaire blends this high quality, glare-free illumination with a breathtaking visual appearance, and is capable of creating and displaying almost an infinite variety of looks.”

Acuity announced that it has extended its business partnership with OEM Lighting Sales agency to represent the complete eldoLED® LED driver portfolio across the United States and Canada. Located in Flushing, New York, OEM Lighting Sales agency, a manufacturer's representative with more than 30 years experience, represents premier sources of component technology to lighting equipment manufacturers.

Acuity says that the extended partnership will give original equipment manufacturers access to the eldoLED comprehensive line-up of intelligent, full dimming LED drivers for white and dynamic color LED applications.

“With this partnership, Acuity Brands is expanding its ability to serve the needs of lighting fixture manufacturers by providing increased access to its broad eldoLED portfolio of best-in-class dimming with the industry’s most versatile driver for use on nearly any LED platform,“ said Gilles Abrahamse, Vice President, eldoLED America.

Acuity says it will continue to offer technical support through the U.S.-based eldoLED team, who will be working closely with OEM Lighting Sales to support existing and new customers.

“We are pleased to add the eldoLED driver product portfolio to our expanding breadth of components that serve lighting manufacturers,” said Larry Bloch, President, OEM Lighting Sales. “Adding these LED drivers allows us to serve customers we know well with a new and innovative offering.”