Industry News
October 2007, WEEE and ROHS directives.
Bernlite is now fully compliant with these two European directives, and with the help from suppliers we can confirm we are fully compliant. Please see environment section for full documents, we outline our current status and we will be updating from time to time as appropriate. Please read our statement below along with other manufacturers.
September 2007, Philips HID-PrimaVision
Bernlite are pleased to announce we are now stocking the latest range of Son electronic control gear from Philips. This is a compact, one piece, electronic ballasts for high-pressure sodium (Son) lamps and metal halide (CDO) lamps available in 70 and 150 watt, please contact the sales office for more details. This adds to our already huge stocks of Philips products.
August 2007, Warehouse expansion completed.
Bernlite have now completed the expansion and refurbishment of its warehouse meaning even more volume and more stock lines held. Collections can be made between 8.30am and 5.30pm. All stock orders dispatched the same day for next day delivery.
May 2006 – Raw material prices continue to rise!!!
Further to our news in February 2005, and January 2006 about the same subject, regrettably, and as mentioned in the article, raw material costs are still rising.
Basically, all products such as magnetic chokes, and wire wound HID ballasts are affected by these increases, as each item uses significant quantities of both copper and electrical steel. Since the last update in January, Philips, Helvar and Venture have now increased ALL prices on their wire wound conventional control gear, some ‘by an unprecedented amount’. The increases are significantly higher than we experienced in January – some products have increased by as much as 25%. However, both Tridonic.Atco and Vossloh Schwabe have had to review their price increases and have now informed us that a further increase will be necessary by July 2006.
http://www.vossloh-schwabe.com/images/news/application_pdf-101-1-617.pdf
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/markets/commodities.html
http://www.lme.co.uk/dec05-article2.asp
http://www.moneyweek.com/file/5201/mm-0512.html
As you can all see, from the attached links to various informative sites about the price rises affecting vast areas of industry, prices continue to rise month on month. Until this trend slow down or reverses, it seems all our suppliers are facing increased costs, and all need to raise their prices accordingly… we will do our utmost to keep these to a minimum.
January 2006 – VIVATRONIC STARTERS ARE IN STOCK
The ORIGINAL Thorn, Atlas, Smart & Brown Vivatronic Starter (known as either G69577.B / G69577.4 / G69675), is in stock!!!!
No matter what other so called distributors or lighting stockists tell you, this item is definitely not obsolete…we should know…we have thousands in stock.
January 2006 – Raw Material prices rise yet further
Further to our news in February 2005 about the same subject, regrettably, and as mentioned in the article, raw material costs are still rising.
Basically, all products such as magnetic chokes, and wire wound HID ballasts are affected by these increases, as each item uses significant quantities of both copper and electrical steel.
Rather than take our word for it, please visit the following sites of Vossloh Schwabe and the worlds press to see the global picture….not just the opinions of us in Watford!
http://www.vossloh-schwabe.com/images/news/application_pdf-101-1-617.pdf
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/markets/commodities.html
http://www.lme.co.uk/dec05-article2.asp
http://www.moneyweek.com/file/5201/mm-0512.html
You can also view the original letter sent by Tridonic.Atco here:
August 2005. CELMA – Directive 2000/55/EC – From November 2005.
CELMA and directive 2000/55/EC on energy efficiency requirements for fluorescent ballasts – And what it means to the lighting industry, Bernlite’s customers, OEM’s and electrical wholesalers and their customers.
There are now just a few months to go before magnetic control gear (also known as chokes or in some cases, ballasts) with energy efficiency index (EEI) C have to be withdrawn from the market. To ensure a smooth transition phase, Bernlite can offer an appropriate product range and sound reliable and impartial advice. Please read as many if not all of the links below or simply call us on 01923 200160.
All manufacturers of fluorescent control gear that supply within the EU via Bernlite, namely TRIDONIC.ATCO, VOSSLOH SCHWABE, & HELVAR are affected by this directive.
Prices for ALL these NEW B class (also known as low loss) products will be available from Bernlite from September 2005. Increases are inevitable as manufacturers have had to incorporate more component material (extra copper and steel) in each item to conform to the stringent guidelines
Click on the following direct links to find out more:
Celma Guide.
Tridonic Atco.
Vossloh Schwabe.
Top Magnetic.(a combined group including Tridonic, Vossloh, Helvar and ERC ).
February 2005. Global plastics (and raw materials) prices hit the roof.
On the 4th January 2005, Bernlite, with reluctance, has had to increase prices on all lampholders from Vossloh Schwabe, BJB and Thorn Lighting (from 1st March 2005). The increase follows increases to Bernlite from the manufacturers, and details of the reasons and explanations of these necessary rises can be found by directly accessing the following market report from vossloh-schwabe.
Bernlite, in conjunction with ALL their suppliers, has limited these increases to an absolute minimum, but unfortunately it has not been possible to absorb all of these increases. Please contact the Bernlite sales office should you have any questions relating to this area.
February 2005. Wire wound products to increase in price!
From August 2004 most, if not all, the manufactures of copper wired wound products such as magnetic chokes and H.I.D wire wound ballasts have started to increase their prices. These include Vossloh Schwabe, Tridonic.Atco, Philips Lighting and Helvar.
You can read more about this here.
All of Bernlite’s major suppliers of conventional wire wound control gear have seen dramatic rises in the cost of raw materials used to make wire wound products.
Copper, for example, is an extremely significant commodity in the construction of a magnetic product. In a wire wound fluorescent choke, copper is the main material used in the core stack and is ‘wound’ several times. As an example of how much of this copper is used in each product please see the table following showing the most popular standard chokes:
| Tridonic.Atco Product | Copper content per each choke (g) |
| EC18 A502k 18/20w 240v | 68.8g |
| EC36 A502k 36/40w 240v | 69.5g |
| EC58 A502k 58/65w 240v | 113.3g |
Copper prices have risen by some 40% and electrical quality sheet metal, used as the main construction of the case, has risen some 20%. According to not only Vossloh Schwabe, but Tridonic.Atco, Philips and Helvar, these increases could well be as much as 50% over the next year.
As a result the entire lighting industry has seen the price of ALL conventional wire wound gear increase from between 7 – 15%, depending on the manufacturer and the product.
Further to wire wound items being increased, Bernlite has also been informed by manufacturers such as Orbik Electronics that they too are suffering from these increases in raw material costs. It is now expected that prices will also see small increases from October, and we are expecting other manufacturers to follow suit over the next 6 months
However, in conjunction with our manufacturers, Bernlite has sought to limit this increase as much as possible, and in some cases have absorbed much of the increase ourselves. Regrettably, it is impossible to absorb it all, and prices of our wire wound gear, and any products containing these raw materials, from all will inevitably increase in price.
For up to date price changes, please contact the Bernlite sales office directly.
For more information of these price rises from our manufacturers please follow the following links to their official web sites and their official company statements/reports.
Vossloh Schwabe
January 2005. WEEE and ROHS directives.
Bernlite Limited is currently working towards compliance with these two new European directives and will be compliant prior to the legal deadlines. This document outlines our current status and will be updated from time to time as appropriate up to the compliance deadline or until the actions are complete. The UK government has not yet finalised all of the details of how the directives will be implemented into UK law, therefore, some things may change. Bernlite Limited is using the facts released to date as a basis for its statement and action plan, read our statement below, along with other manufacturers.
Bernlite.
Helvar.
Huco.
Tridonic.
Vossloh-Schwabe.
Bernlite Archive News.
August 2004. Bernlite to celebrate its 20th year in August 2004:We are more than pleased to announce our Platinum anniversary on the 1st of August 2004. For 20 years, Bernlite has distributed quality lighting components (amongst other products) to the electrical wholesaler and Original Equipment manufacturers, and have grown from strength to strength. During this 20 years we have seen a vast amount of change in terms of product, the lighting fixtures market, the electrical wholesale sector, and we have adapted to these changes to offer a first class service, essential in today’s world of fast turnaround requirements. Just a few letters of congratulations from leading names in our industry: Tridonic, Osram, Vossloh, Philips and Lite-Plan.
July 2004. Tridonic to launch new generation of electronic ballasts for T8 lamps:
Called T8 PC PRO, these will replace current PC-E and the old PC-C001 ranges. Please contact Bernlite sales for up to date information on size and product reference changes. The new range will have the following new functional features:
· Intelligent Voltage Guard-
· Adapted preheating time
· Reduced inrush current
· Better Powerfactor
· Further EMC improvements
This range is - Available by July 2004.
July 2004. Philips Lighting to replace range of Basic (HFB) and Performer (HFP) HF electronic ballasts:
Philips will incorporate new Electronic Integrated Circuit Technology and as they are the second generation products the term E11 will be adopted. Please contact Bernlite sales for up to date information on size and product reference changes. Among the advantages are:
· Smaller dimensions
· Cooler running
· Reduced losses
· New IDC connectors added to facilitate both manual and automatic wiring
This range is – Available by July 2004.
February 2004. Bernlite successfully completes transition from ISO9002:1994 to the new standard ISO9001:2000:
Bernlite completed the transition via our governing body NQA without any complications at all. Being heavily computerised, our office & despatch procedures were quite straight forward in relating to the new standard. Whilst internally we have operated in full to the new standard since April 2003, the back log of work for the NQA assessors meant that we had to wait until February 2004 for our audit and our new certification detailing the above. The new standard involves an area named as continual improvement, where Bernlite must show yet further commitment to continually improving their efficiency and customer service, something we pride ourselves in being able to admit we were already doing long before this standard arrived. Rest assured, we will not be taking it easy in this area, in fact we are constantly striving to improve our service wherever and whenever we can. If, however you feel there is something we are missing, please let us know.
February 2004. Magnetek Italy discontinue CBC compact range of HF ballasts: (Early 2004)
Unfortunately, the Magnetek factory in Italy has ceased producing their entire range of compact fluorescent ballasts, known as the CBC range. Bernlite still has stock of some of the popular products but these will undoubtedly not last very long on our shelves. The good news is that nearly every item is identical in size to current products manufactured by Tridonic.Atco, Osram, Philips and Huco, all of which are standard stock items for Bernlite. Please contact the Bernlite sales office by phone or email, for further information
January 2004. Emergency Lighting products for new TL5 lamps:
Bernlite is now stocking a complete range of inverters/modules complete with batteries for all the TL5 lamps from 14-54w. Products include ranges from Lite-Plan, Orbik, Existalite and Mackwell, along with our existing products from Tridonic.Atco. For more information of specific lamps (as it is lamp specific) emergency gear please contact the Bernlite sales office.
December 2003. Helvar Phase dimming FD range:
One of the most bizarre decisions in recent years is Helvar’s deletion of their FD phase/mains dimming range of ballasts. The problem with this deletion is that there is NO easy replacement as it is a system no other manufacturer produces. The product, using 2 filter chokes, can dim both T8 and T12 tubes and is often found in many stage and theatrical productions, as well as libraries and other public areas.
Bernlite, together with Helvar UK, with help from Helvar Oy Finland (the Head office) have managed to pool all the existing items product across Europe, some 4000 ballasts (and the 8000 filters to go with it!!!!). These are now available direct from our stock and include the very popular
EL1x18 FD + 2xL18DF filter chokes – limited stock available
EL1x36 / 2x18 FD + 2xL36DF filter chokes – excellent stock availability
EL1x58 FD + 2xL58DF filter chokes – excellent stock availability
EL1x70 FD + 2xL58DF filter chokes – limited stock availability
EL2x36 FD + 2xL2x36DF filter chokes – fairly limited stock availability
Unfortunately both the EL2x58 & EL2x70 FD have now sold out…completely.
Having already checked stock with every Helvar facility in Europe, and as mentioned brought them back to the UK, it is most unlikely that Helvar or Bernlite will ever find anymore. The only way of changing over your existing 2x58 or 2x70 FD is to use 2 of the singles or completely change the dimming system! For more information on the FD range, please contact the Bernlite sales office for up to date stock availability.