Successful trainee project: new lighting technology for greater energy efficiency

A special trainee project was realised in an exciting cooperation with the Schweinfurt Electrical Guild: the modernisation of the lighting in the premises of the Electrical Guild. In addition to technical innovation, the focus was on the practical learning effect for the trainees.

The electrical guild decided to participate in this project due to our many years of trusting cooperation. According to the guild, the constant technical exchange and support in previous projects further strengthened the decision to realise another project together with Regiolux.

The technical implementation presented a few challenges. The choice of lay-in luminaires was obvious due to the existing Odenwald ceiling. However, the structural conditions presented a particular difficulty, as the ceilings have different grid dimensions due to the various years of construction. Careful planning and on-site inspection were therefore essential for a smooth process.

In the end, the decision was made in favour of modern LED lay-in luminaires, which offer significant advantages over the previous T8 fluorescent lamps with electronic ballasts. With a higher light output at a lower power, they were not only more energy efficient but also eligible for funding. Another advantage was the more even illumination of the room, which made for a more pleasant lighting experience and was easier on the eyes.

The apprentices played a significant role in this project. They were directly involved in the installation of the new luminaires, while the connection and conversion of the distributors were carried out by their own trainers. In the inter-company training, the apprentices will also examine the new lighting metrologically and compare it with the old system. This enables a practical demonstration of the before and after effect. This is how theoretical knowledge from training is directly linked to practical experience.

We at Regiolux see great advantages in involving apprentices in real projects. It is important to us to include both apprentices and experienced specialists in the product and development processes. The exchange with the prospective electronics engineers provides valuable insights that range from the planning to the final installation of a product. It is always exciting to see what ideas the future specialists contribute and what challenges they overcome during implementation. The feedback from such projects flows directly into the optimisation of the products and helps to develop practical solutions.

Another example of successful collaboration with apprentices is the conversion of three classrooms at the Georg-Schäfer vocational school in Schweinfurt. Here, old fluorescent tubes were replaced by a modern light band system with DALI control and, in some cases, Tunable White technology. In addition to the energy saving, a more flexible and pleasant lighting design for students and teachers was also achieved. More information on this can be found in the associated blog post.

The project was a complete success for everyone involved. Regiolux was able to intensify its cooperation with the electrical guild and gain valuable experience with the apprentices, while also making a major contribution to energy conservation. This form of cooperation offers an absolute win-win situation for both sides: the apprentices gain valuable practical experience, while we as a company gain a better understanding of the needs and challenges of practical work, which we incorporate into our product development.

Projects like these show how targeted support for young people and innovative technologies can be used to create sustainable solutions. They are not only a win for the companies and the environment, but above all a valuable experience for the young professionals, who start their professional future with real-world experience.