For most of us in this industry, keeping up to date with the latest legislation, spending cuts and energy efficiency targets can feel like an uphill battle, but noncompliance is not an issue and therefore we have to look to ways of working together to make everyone’s life a bit easier.
But this can often be easier said than done because in any project there are numerous different products to be specified and while you may be up to date on most of the legislation it is impossible to have in-depth technical knowledge for every product which you need to specify.
If we take lamps as an example, we all know that we need to make the switch to compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) technology, but with so many different products and a huge amount of (sometimes differing) information available how do you know that you have made the right decision.
Put simply, CFLs are the way forward. As well as lasting up to 15 times longer than traditional lamps (which also reduces your maintenance costs), they can help you to make energy savings of up to 80%, and that’s before you start on their environmental credentials.
Thanks to the latest technology CFL’s are now also available in numerous different shapes and sizes and contrary to popular belief the newest types of CFL’s are no longer big and ugly, but in fact are designed to fit into even the most compact light fittings.
Another popular misconception is the use of dimming technology with CFL’sand while many people still believe that this isn’t an option, we have made this technology available through our DorS Dimming series which allows you to create the right ambience in numerous applications.
But with so many apparently similar products on the market, the problem arises when you have to start making a decision about which manufacturer will offer the best product for your application and in ensuring that you get the best value for money. Sadly not all manufacturers have your best interests at heart, and with many people taking advantage of the current economic situation there are a lot of cut price products available which simply won’t stand up to the test of time.
You shouldn’t have to make a choice between quality and price because any responsible manufacturer will be able to provide you with a product which meets your requirements in all areas, the key is in finding a manufacturer who you can trust and who has the ability to provide the latest technology at a price which suits your budget.
Megaman has a long history of meeting the demands of this industry and because of our new product development strategy we have been able to provide the latest technology to suit the demanding applications which are common today. Take for example our unique Ingenium Technology which is the next step in the evolution of compact fluorescent technology. This new development applies advanced integrated circuit (IC) technology to each lamp to enhance the operating life, shorten preheating times and increase the luminous efficacy of our range of second-generation compact fluorescents.
This is just one way that we have been able to work with the industry to provide a product which meets the ever increasing demands of new applications and which will stand the test of time. But it is only by working closely with people like you that we have been able to offer the best advice and the best products.
For the true professionals in our industry there has never been a time when choosing price over quality was an option, and with the demands which are currently being placed on this industry this will become ever more important over the coming months. There will always be a number of unscrupulous people who will try to make a quick buck – but do you really want to be the person who specified or installed a cheap alternative which ultimately proves to be more hassle than it was worth.
The key is to find a respected manufacturer that you can trust, and while it may seem as though it’s a case of ‘every man for himself’ that doesn’t have to be the reality. The manufacturer should be as much a part of the project as the architect, the specifier and the installer and there are still many manufacturers like ourselves who place a lot of value in their brand and who will work with you to ensure that you achieve the right results.
So next time you’re struggling with a specification remember that manufacturers are there to help and can be an invaluable source of information which you should use at every available opportunity.