Gillinder Glass Produces Glass for LED Airfield Fixtures; LED Lighting Market Continues to Grow

In 2017, Gillinder Glass shipped over 100,000 glass prisms and globes for use in airfield fixtures using light-emitting diodes (LEDs), according to the custom glass manufacturing company.

According to a report from LEDinside, a division of TrendForce, the LED lighting market will reach $32.72 billion in 2018 and $33.3 billion in 2019.

Gillinder Glass’ continuing engineering efforts have led to multiple product lines of customized colors for airfield lighting that meet standards for FAA, ICAO, and Transport Canada. These include colors for incandescent and halogen sources, colors for use with colored LEDs, and colors for use with 3000K and 4000K white LED sources.

Historically, incandescent bulbs were used to illuminate airfields and continue to do so today. Gillinder Glass globes and lenses are in use at a majority of airfields in the United States and around the world.

However, light-emitting diodes (LED) are fast becoming the medium of choice due to their efficiency of operation. A quick review of the different light sources – incandescent bulbs, halogen bulbs and light emitting diodes – helps explain the differences:

INCANDESCENT BULBS:

• Use approximately 10 percent of the energy they consume to make visible light; the other 90 percent produces heat.

• Are designed to last approximately just 1,200 hours.

• Produce a considerable amount of infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

• Are relatively inexpensive but consume a great deal of energy.

• Create a warm yellow light and a low color temperature.

Whether the need was for taxiway lights, center line prisms, or runway lights (high-intensity HIRL), medium-intensity (MIRL) or low-intensity, general aviation (GA), when glass lenses, domes, covers, globes, or prisms were required to bring the color of the light generated by incandescent bulbs within FAA and ICAO standards, Gillinder Glass’ experienced team of chemists and engineers accomplished the task.

When these lenses required designs using prisms and fresnels to direct the light to proper circumferences and elevations above the horizon, Gillinder Glass’ team found a way.

HALOGEN BULBS:

• Are technically incandescent light bulbs – illumination is produced in both when a tungsten filament is heated sufficiently to emit light (“incandescence”). The difference between the two is in the composition of the glass envelope and the gas inside the envelope.

• Come in many shapes but are commonly used as PAR, BR, AR, and MR spotlight or flood light bulbs.

• Last approximately 3,600 hours — three times longer than incandescent bulbs — but are not as energy efficient as compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) or LED bulbs.

• Produce a considerable amount of infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

• Require an extremely hot running temperature to produce light; the high temperature also prevents these bulbs from functioning as well in cold environments.

• Operate at higher temperatures, have higher color temperatures and produce brighter light than incandescent bulbs.

Whether the need was for taxiway lights, center line prisms or runway lights (high-intensity (HIRL), medium-intensity (MIRL) or low-intensity general aviation (GA) (LIRL) when glass lenses, domes, globes or prisms were required to bring the color of the light generated by halogen bulbs within FAA and ICAO standards, Gillinder Glass completed the project.

When these lenses required designs using prisms and fresnels to direct the light to proper circumferences and elevations above the horizon, Gillinder Glass accomplished the work.

LIGHT EMITTING DIODES (LEDs):

• Run much cooler than incandescent and halogen bulbs, which greatly increases their longevity and enables them to function in cold temperatures.

• Can last up to 50,000 hours — 42 times longer than incandescent bulbs and 13 times longer than halogen bulbs.

• Produce little or no infrared (IR) or ultraviolet (UV) signature and unless they are specifically made to do so.

• Power consumption is the lowest compared to all other lighting technologies — 80 percent less than incandescent bulbs and 75 percent less than halogen bulbs.

• Require higher initial investment but produce greater energy returns over time.

• Are available in many different white color temperature and many different colors.

Regardless of whether the lighting fixture manufacturer chose white or color LEDs for use in taxiway lights, center line prisms, or runway lights (high-intensity (HIRL), medium-intensity (MIRL) or low-intensity general aviation (GA)(LIRL), they turned to Gillinder Glass for help.

The color of LEDs is not always consistent, and it degrades over time, plus the color of glass changes slightly as it warms, so bringing the color of the light generated by LEDs within FAA and ICAO standards was no simple challenge, but Gillinder Glass did it.

Dave Fox, vice president of engineering and sales for Gillinder Glass, commented that recently, “ADB Safegate announced that it had installed over 1.2 million LED lighting fixtures on airfields. They estimated that 1.8 million LED fixtures have been installed on airfields throughout the world. Gillinder is proud to have been a part of this paradigm shift.”

Chris Michael, optical engineer for Gillinder Glass, said, “Airfields use LEDs to decrease operational costs, increase lighting system reliability and improve airfield visibility for pilots. However, some airfields cannot absorb the initial cost of installing LED based systems nor do they always work as well as incandescent in colder climates. Gillinder is pleased to be able to supply both products for heritage lighting systems as well as the latest technologically advanced systems.”

Bart Winkler, Gillinder Glass chemist, said, “We are very proud of our accomplishments to date and look forward to the challenges of tomorrow because when they arrive, and new glasses are required, Gillinder Glass will do it!”

About Gillinder Glass

Gillinder Glass is a custom glass manufacturer based in Port Jervis, New York. The company specializes in custom-molded, hand-pressed, clear and colored glass as well as optical prism processing and engineering. Airfield products comply with ICAO standards and FAA regulations. For more information, visit the Gillinder Glass website, http://www.GillinderGlass.com, or call (845) 856-5375. Also, follow our LinkedIn Company page at https://www.linkedin.com/company/5190684/.