Interchangeable LED light sources and standardized components of LED luminaires, which are enabled by Zhaga interface specifications, offer a number of benefits for different user groups within the lighting industry.

BENEFITS FOR LED LUMINAIRE MANUFACTURERS

Download "Benefits for LED Luminiare Makers" as a PDF file.

Zhaga specifications provide many potential benefits for LED luminaire manufacturers.

The availability of compatible components from multiple suppliers can reduce supply-chain risks and bottlenecks, while making procurement easer. Interchangeable components can allow OEMs to use a platform model to offer a broad portfolio of luminaires with diverse properties. And Zhaga-based products can reduce time to market, reduce development and production costs, and make it easier to keep pace with technology evolution in the LED market.

These benefits are explained below in more detail:

Improved supply chain

• Reduced risk of supply bottlenecks due to availability of alternative suppliers of compatible products.

• Lower inventory levels: Reduced diversity of components, and availability of alternative suppliers, means that luminaire maker has to hold less inventory.

• Lower risk of obsolescence: Upgraded generations of standardized LED light engines (LLEs) can be easily integrated into existing luminaire designs, ensuring minimal obsolete inventory designed around old LED technology.

Easier procurement of components

• Easier to compare properties of interchangeable components where some characteristics, such as dimensions, are standardized.

• Negotiations with suppliers are simpler when interchangeable components are involved and it is easier and inexpensive to change suppliers.

Broad luminaire portfolio without large development costs

• Possibility to offer a broad range of luminaires by selecting LLEs with different characteristics such as colour temperature, lumen output, CRI, reliability, stability or lifetime.

• Opportunity to segment luminaire portfolio into different price-performance categories.

Cost-saving potential in production

• Use of interchangeable components enables a platform approach to luminaire production, with reduced complexity and more flexibility.

• Mechanical compatibility means that the amount of production tools can be reduced, e. g. stamps or drilling tools for fixation holes for the LED module.

• Reduced tooling cost in other areas such as housing, optics and packaging of integrated circuits.

Lower development costs

• New LLEs or upgraded generations of current LLEs can be adopted into existing luminaire designs with less re-engineering and fewer modifications.

Faster time to market

• Ability to easily adopt new or upgraded LLEs allows luminaires to keep pace with short innovation cycles in LED technology.

Future proofing

• Technology upgrades can take place inside the interchangeable LLE, so that luminaires are future-proofed against technology evolution.
  
  

BENEFITS FOR SPECIFIERS AND END-USERS

Reduced risk and future-proofing

• Zhaga-based luminaires are future-proof because light sources can be purchased from multiple suppliers.

• Customer is not reliant on original supplier if maintenance and/or replacement is required.

Easier upgrades

• Latest-generation technology (e.g. LED light engines with higher efficiency) can be adopted easily.

• Luminaires are future-proofed against rapid LED technology evolution.

Avoiding installation/ specification of obsolete luminaires

• Luminaires can be specified for future projects in the knowledge that a current, up-to-date LED light source can be fitted when the project is actually installed.
  
  

Easier procurement

• If maintenance or upgrades are necessary, standardized parts will be in stock from numerous suppliers.
  
  

Unprecedented flexibility

• Socketable LED light sources enable tool-free interchangeability in the field. This allows different options for color temperature, CRI, and – in some cases – lumen levels.
  
  

BENEFITS FOR MANUFACTURERS OF LIGHT ENGINES, MODULES AND DRIVERS

Lower R&D costs

• Suppliers can focus efforts on product differentiation and technology innovation inside the LED module. Meanwhile, compliance with Zhaga takes care of aspects relating to the interface between the module and the luminaire.
  
  

Higher volumes

• Standardization leads to a reduction in complexity of product mix, and results in a higher quantity per type.
  
  

Prolonged demand

• Servicing demand for replacement parts may continue further into the life of future-proof luminaires.