Orion Energy Systems, Inc. , a leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance, energy-efficient retrofit lighting platforms, today announced Vac-Con®, Inc., a Florida-based manufacturer, has again selected Orion lighting for a major facility expansion. The project features a combination of first and second generation HARRIS LED High Bays.

Vac-Con® again selects Orion as partner for major facility expansion. (Orion/LEDinside)

“We selected Orion because they are the subject matter experts in energy-efficient retrofit lighting, particularly in demanding environments. Together we engaged in assessing our current state power usage and wide array of divergent lighting types in use at our facility,” said Bill Barnes, Six Sigma Black Belt and Continuous Improvement Manager at Vac-Con. “Orion helped us meet our energy reduction goals as we have incrementally engaged in continuous improvement projects by both standardizing our installed lighting types and in reducing our power footprint.”

Through previous expansions and building acquisitions, the company had become burdened with maintaining a varied and complex lighting system that required significant investments in technical knowledge, warehouse space for spare parts and waste, as well as capital spending.

Over the last ten years, Vac-Con implemented higher efficiency fluorescent lighting from Orion to replace the mixture of sodium vapor and metal halide on all interior fixtures. The company found further improvement using inductive fluorescent fixtures provided by Orion to replace their aging metal halide exterior fixtures across the 17-acre campus. The lighting upgrades also boosted productivity and reduced flaws in finished products due to inadequate light levels, avoiding time and resources spent on paint, assembly, and fabrication re-work.

When the company decided to move forward on a major new construction project last year, it again turned to Orion to provide the LED lighting for the 60,000 square foot expansion that would increase its production capacity by 15 percent.

“Vac-Con experienced greater than 48% energy demand reduction through both of these evolutions, and the current implementation of Orion LED technology furthers these ongoing energy savings efforts,” continued Barnes. “Our partnership with a dedicated and tireless vendor continues to pay forward as we complete our plant expansion project currently underway. Real project data makes lighting savings more beneficial and we’ve been able to think more strategically about lighting by providing measurable results with Orion.”

“For this new construction project, we returned to Orion because they got us the light levels and energy efficiency we needed, and on the timeline we required. It’s about getting the best value, and Orion has always been there to support us,” said Barnes.

Vac-Con has been recognized by Florida Governor Rick Scott and regional business associations for its contributions to both Florida economic development and sustainability. For two consecutive years, Vac-Con received the prestigious Manufacturer of the Year Award from the First Coast Manufacturers Association.

“Orion is delighted to continue our long-standing partnership with Vac-Con,” said E.W. Dovel, Divisional Vice President of Orion Energy Systems, Inc. “Lighting technology continues to evolve, with more exponential change in the last few years than perhaps the last fifty, making it increasingly important to choose expert partners with deep understanding of the unique requirements of the industrial sector. The projects we’ve undertaken together over the last decade are a testament to the results you can achieve with a true lighting partnership.”

The HARRIS High Bay, the lowest up front cost offering in Orion’s latest LED High Bay Suite, sets a new standard for performance in its class with up to 148 lumens per watt. The fixture is upgradeable and interchangeable, allowing maintenance crews to meet changing light distribution requirements, such as moving from an open area to aisle lighting. By simply turning off the power to the luminaire, internal teams can use quick attachments to easily switch out aisle illuminators and modular power packs for driver replacement.