Thursday, 09 Jun 2016 14:17 GMT

Macer Bridges

Jo Golding speaks to Macer Bridges, general manager of Vink Lighting about the resurgence of neon and setting up its own digital signage division as part of its growth strategy

The one stop sign lighting shop

What is your role at Vink Lighting and how has it changed over time?

I joined Vink in 2014 as UK sales manager. For many years prior to this I had worked in a similar role with another organisation, specialising in sales and distribution of LED lighting for signage applications. In March of this year, the opportunity to take overall control of the company presented itself, and I became the general manager of Vink Lighting, looking after all aspects of running a busy, successful organisation.

Vink Lighting Solutions is a division of Amari Plastics PLC, and whilst the company ethos encourages an independent spirit within its separate divisions, I have been able to call on the support, help, and advice of the industry’s top professionals within our group to assist me in my new role.
 
What is Vink’s long-term strategy for growth?

Vink Lighting’s reputation has been built over a twelve year period on a strategy of always endeavouring to supply the best products, with the best service levels, and the best technical back-up.

We are a completely independent distributor and not tied to one particular manufacturer. This has enabled us to continually search for and supply the latest innovations in products for our market sector.

This policy has meant that we have had to let some manufacturers go as their products have not evolved in line with market demand, whereas our relationship with companies such as Agilight and Osram on the LED side, and Fabbrica Apparecchi Radioelettrici Treviso on the neon side has endured throughout.

In the last two years, we have added the Agilight range of LED modules to our product offering. This range has a number of very interesting unique features and is quickly becoming a market favourite.

Agilight has just acquired the Austrian LED manufacturer Tridonic. The combined experience within the two companies will inevitably lead to some very exciting research and development innovations.

As a company, we are always looking for the next new development to add to our portfolio, and our new partnership with Lumaire, manufacturers of LED light sheets and LED illuminated trough lights is beginning to open up new opportunities for us.


Vink Lighting has taken steps to expand by hiring new members of staff, especially in sales, adding new products, and setting up Vink Digital Signage



As part of our long-term growth strategy, we have set up a separate division, Vink Digital Signage, supplying Philips Screens, Peerless brackets, and Lime Green/Digital Appetite software, with a complete technical support package enabling sign-makers to explore this rapidly expanding area of visual communication comfortable in the knowledge that they have a partner who can guide them along the way.

Have you noticed any trends for particular types of lighting recently?

The sign industry is a curious mix of tradition and innovation. Five years ago, neon (or cold cathode) was considered to be ‘dead in the water’, but of late this sector has seen a resurgence. The neon retro look is once again becoming popular, and it is not uncommon to see, for example, a new restaurant/diner open up with lots of exposed neon features, LED back-lit letters, and digital screen menu boards. Vink is the only company in the UK who can supply a full range of modular LED systems, high voltage neon transformers, glass, gas, and electrodes, and from the same warehouse a full range of high quality digital screens and software. This ‘one stop shop’ approach has proved to be very popular with our clients who know that they can rely on us for pretty much all of their sign lighting needs.

Five years ago, neon (or cold cathode) was considered to be ‘dead in the water’, but of late this sector has seen a resurgence”


The sign industry has also experienced much larger demand for solid acrylic block illuminated letters. These types of letters have in the past, proved to be very difficult to illuminate successfully with even illumination that will endure for any length of time, especially if these letters are fitted outdoors. Vink Lighting are currently testing and will be shortly launching an exciting new Micro Mini LED Module from Agilight for this very application. The unique optical lens technology will allow the module to illuminate Acrylic Block Letters brightly and evenly at very shallow depths. Installation will be much more straightforward and more flexible in its design capabilities than the original tape LEDs, and the modular characteristics will provide a more robust and better weather protected solution. As with all the Agilight LED range, colour consistency in its white LEDs will be second to none.

Coupled with this exciting new LED, we also have the Block Acrylic Sheet available within our group from any of the Amari Plastic Profit Centres up and down the country.

Sustainability is a key debate in the sign industry. How does Vink Lighting cater to those who are looking for environmentally-friendly solutions?

Sustainability is a big part of Vink Lighting in everything we do. We are a business that has been awarded a ‘Greener Path Award’ certificate for achieving ‘Zero Waste to Landfill’ in 2015.

Supplying very efficient LED lighting to illuminate signage is our way of helping our customers and their customers achieve environmentally-friendly illuminated signage, but our LED supplier technologies help us further reduce the quantity of LEDs required to illuminate signs, further reducing the power consumption even more.

Supplying very efficient LED lighting to illuminate signage is our way of helping our customers and their customers achieve environmentally-friendly illuminated signage”


We are also developing a relationship with the UK’s leading supplier of solar panels and controls to further enhance the sustainability of end user signage solutions.

What makes you stand out in the competitive sign illumination market?

Vink Lighting is the UK’s leading distributor of LED and neon sign lighting systems and accessories. We are committed to ensuring we continue to deliver the very best solutions, knowledge, and support to our customers.

We constantly aim to deliver unrivalled performance and cost-effective solutions. Our strong relationships with the industry’s leading manufacturers allow us to have an influence on how they approach product design and innovation.


Vink Lighting has independently distributed sign illumination products for more than twelve years



In addition to the above, the diversity of product range that Vink can offer including Lumaire Light Sheet, Lumaire Trough Light, Vink LEDFlex, and the digital signage range, means that our customers will be hard pressed to find anyone else who can offer so much under one roof.



Key Stats

  • Bridges joined in 2014 as UK sales manager
  • ‘Greener Path Award’ for achieving ‘Zero Waste to Landfill’ in 2015
  • Bridges became general manager in 2016
  • Added Agilight LED modules 2 years ago


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