Yorkshire project to revolutionise airport lighting

A YORKSHIRE manufacturer is aiming to revolutionise airport lighting on a global scale after entering into a collaborative design project.

Doncaster -based ASM Group – which specialises in producing ground lighting and signage equipment for use on airfields, particularly runways and taxiway – is working with Business Link South Yorkshire's Design Works programme.

The company currently produces lighting using fluorescent tubes which are used to guide aeroplanes to and from the airport docking bays but it is keen to work on more efficient energy sources which could be more sustainable.

Technical manager Robert Price said: “We were sure that LED (light-emitting diode) lighting would be a ground-breaking solution, but it needs rigorous testing, particularly because of the safety issues involved with an airport environment. Working with Design Works meant we could develop our ideas and although we are still at the prototype stage, we have already had interest from airports all over the world.”

The design project was the result of market research carried out with help from Business Link South Yorkshire to better understand ASM's target market.

Design Works associate Evan Kitsell introduced ASM to product development agency PD-M International.

He said: “The project has succeeded in proving that LED technology is sufficiently advanced to be used in these demanding applications. Not only is it more energy efficient, it also has a lifespan of up to 11 years – that's four times the life of fluorescent tubes. As you can imagine, replacing lighting on a busy runway is not a simple operation, but LED provides a solution for that.”

Design Works is a collaborative project between Business Link South Yorkshire and the Design Council, funded by Yorkshire Forward and Objective 1.