Lighting technology has continued to advance in recent years, with developments across the sector from advanced lighting controls to LED systems replacing previous traditional bulb applications. TR Fastenings, one of the leading global suppliers and manufacturers of fastenings and fixings, has been working alongside some of the largest OEM’s in the industry to ensure it can offer the most advanced fastening solutions available, ranging from advanced thread forming screws for both plastic, metals and alloys to lighting connection systems, cable management and PCB hardware fixings.
One of the biggest technology changes for the lighting industry has been the move from conventional incandescent lighting systems to LED systems, which in turn has led to the redesign of existing lighting units and the fasteners used to assemble them
Energy-efficient, lighter and with a much longer lifespan than incandescent lighting systems, fasteners for the new LED lighting designs can offer both space, weight and cost benefits without sacrificing performance. TR Fastenings has been entrenched in the design and development of LED-suitable fasteners.
Outdoor Lighting
Following extensive research and development, TR Fastenings has recently launched its first 1,000 hr salt spray resistant steel fastener. The parts have undergone stringent evaluation using both traditional salt spray test techniques and environmental/atmospheric testing. These parts give designers a choice between the traditional A2/A4 grade stainless options and high corrosion resistant steel fasteners depending on their preference. This highly anti-corrosive steel fastener is ideal for exposed outdoor lighting and luminaires, such as street, stadium and building applications. TR can also supply a wide range of ‘off-the-shelf’ fasteners and Cat “C” parts for other aspects of the lighting unit.
Internal Lighting
Applications cover use in domestic and commercial situations, each demanding different performance and design criteria.
The majority of domestic indoor lighting design is influenced by style and fashion, screws are often visible and TR Fastenings can work with lighting designers to look at various coating options that tie in with the aesthetics of the lighting assembly. Some different issues arise with lights for offices, warehousing and factories. With LED technology strip and individual lighting unit design, will require plastic fasteners in areas that are close to electronics, and TR Fastening’s vast plastics product range offers a wide choice of suitable fasteners, all made in high-quality Nylon 6 and Nylon 6/6. This year TR will be also be introducing an extended range of UL-approved nylon cable ties, together with a new range of push mount and screw mount fasteners, knot ties and releasable cable ties.
The use of thinner metal sheet bodies have lead to the development of a special thread forming screw which performs very well by creating an increased thread engagement area as it is screwed into place.
TR’s range of Hank rivet bushes, Hank self clinch products, blind rivets, Euro rivet bushes, swage nuts, weld nuts and k-series products all offer threads in a variety of materials where the sheet is too thin to be tapped by conventional methods or where the thread forming screw option is not suitable.
Whatever the requirement, TR’s Application Engineers can work alongside product designers and developers to provide technical assistance on materials and product development – a bespoke service for those who request it.
Lighting Sensing and Controls
Good lighting controls can offer the customer major flexibility, energy-saving and sustainability benefits, which range from stand alone presence sensors to intelligent management systems which monitor and control every lighting fitting e.g mood, colour control etc.. The control units, switches and sensors often require screws suitable for plastics, screws with thread angles of 30, 45 and 60 degrees can be considered depending on the plastic material type and performance requirements. The Plas-Fix 30 & 45 are generally the most popular. The 30 has a round body and reduced minor diameter and the 45-degree angle has a Tri-lobular thread form, which makes it ideal for harder plastics, both offering superior screw performance with low drive torque and high pull out strengths.
TR Fastenings’ range of products for plastics also includes a comprehensive selection of brass inserts. Consisting of sixteen different types, both headed and un-headed, these brass inserts are available in sizes ranging from M2 up to M10. The variety of styles offers a number of installation methods with varying performance levels, allowing users to easily find the product to suit their individual application, plus the products meet virtually all assembly requirements within the thermoset and thermoplastic materials and can offer considerable time and cost-saving benefits.
Quality & Reliability
A foremost innovator, TR Fastenings’ unparalleled industry experience and presence serves customers around the world and locally, with 26 locations worldwide TR is able to satisfy the current and future demands of this exciting and growing industry sector. Lighting design engineers have specific needs in both product and quality requirements, so with even greater advances such as personal remote lighting controls through mobile devices already available, the future looks illuminating.
“TR’s Application Engineers regularly work alongside product designer and developers to provide technical assistance on materials and product development – a bespoke service for those who request it.”
Contact
TR Fastenings
Trifast House
Bellbrook Park
Uckfield
East Sussex
TN22 1QW
Tel: +44 (0)8454 811 800
Email: sales@trfastenings.com
