Philips and Ecophon, a leader in sound absorbing ceilings, have collaborated to create Soundlight Comfort, an innovative acoustic ceiling panel integrated with LED lighting from Philips. Soundlight Comfort is the result of a partnership between Philips and Ecophon to create people-focused solutions that enhance employee well-being in the workplace, while delivering on energy efficiency requirements and design aesthetics of green buildings.
Studies show that in good acoustic environments, people make more attempts at solving difficult tasks and increase their accuracy. Good quality white light has also been shown to improve the atmosphere and productivity of workspace, helping concentration.
Philips and Ecophon have worked together to create free-hanging acoustic ceiling panels that incorporate state-of-the-art LED lighting, thus providing an integrated solution that absorbs sound in open-plan offices. The Soundlight Comfort ceiling panel not only provides office compliant and energy-efficient lighting, but has also been designed to reduce ceiling clutter and exhibits a clean and minimalist look that adds to the interior design of the space.
“Both Philips and Ecophon have people and their needs at the heart of their brands, and are thus well suited to jointly create unique people-focused solutions,’’ said Menno Kleingeld, Vice President and Global Segment Manager at Philips Lighting. “The partnership illustrates our approach of teaming up with leading building systems providers to deliver lighting innovation for offices that are centered on employee comfort.”
‘’In the development phase of this partnership it soon became clear that Philips and Ecophon are a good match. We have complementary knowledge; Philips in lighting and Ecophon in acoustics and its effect on people. Ecophon always strives for high end user value and in Philips we have a partner with whom we will be able to develop innovative solutions that give additional value and increased comfort to people in their working environments,” said Peter Kamps, Global Marketing Director for the Saint Gobain Ecophon Group.
The Soundlight Comfort solution is particularly designed for new buildings equipped with Thermally Activated Building Systems (TABS), such as Concrete Core Activation. These thermal management systems work through the ‘concrete core of the building’ (exposed ceilings) which retains heat and also cools the building, and is therefore greener as it saves on heating and cooling requirements.
However, the exposed ceiling structure necessary for this system leads to increased echoing and sound levels which can be uncomfortable for employees, particularly in open plan offices – causing fatigue, disturbance and ultimately impacting their well-being and productivity. The partially exposed ceilings also poses the additional challenge of integrating office lighting in an aesthetic way, while ensuring the quality of light achieved meets the requirements of a work environment.
Shai Dewan
Philips Lighting Communications
Tel : +31 6 20 69 58 22
Email : shai.dewan@signify.com
Jonas Pernet
Ecophon Communication Manager
Tel : +46 42179913
Email : jonas.pernet@ecophon.se
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through timely innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of “sense and simplicity.” Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 122,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 22.6 billion in 2011, the company is a market leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and pleasure with strong leadership positions in male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.
.Ecophon dates back to 1958, when the first sound absorbers from glass wool were produced in Sweden to improve the acoustic working environment. Today the company is a global supplier of acoustic systems that contribute to good room acoustics and a healthy indoor environment with the focus on offices, education, health care and industrial manufacturing premises. Ecophon is part of the Saint-Gobain Group and has sales units and distributors in many countries. Ecophon’s efforts are guided by a vision of earning global leadership in acoustic ceiling and wall absorber systems by providing superior end user value. Ecophon maintains an ongoing dialogue with government agencies, working environment organisations and research institutes, and is involved in formulating national standards in the field of room acoustics where Ecophon contributes to a better working environment wherever people work and communicate. www.ecophon.com
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