NuaLight, the leading European provider of LED lighting solutions to the retail display case industry, has partnered with Irish display case manufacturer Astron Engineering to develop illumination for their latest range of fresh produce and salad bars, which are currently being installed at the leading Irish food retailers Supervalu, Centra, Spar, Fresh and others.

Light-emitting-diodes (LEDs) are semiconductor chips which emit light when connected to a low voltage. They use less energy than traditional light bulbs, are light and compact, and are fuelling the development of a new generation of lighting fixtures.

Using the latest in warm white LED technology, the NuaLight CryoLED solution has been designed to minimize electrical energy consumption and maximize the shelf life of fresh salad produce, through the elimination of ultra violet light and radiated heat.

NuaLight’s CryoLED technology is now a standard feature in Astron’s Salad Bars

Commenting on the development of the case using CryoLED and the success it has achieved to date, Astron managing director Mr. Tommy O’Dowd stated “this is a significant move for our company as it makes the Astron Engineering salad bar range one of the most energy efficient on the market. Combining this with the extended shelf life that retailers will experience makes it one of the most effective merchandising tools of its kind, ensuring fresh produce looks good but more importantly stays good for longer”. Mr O’Dowd went on to say “this new technology is now standard in our salad bar cases and we have discontinued the used of traditional incandescent light sources such as halogen spotlights to illuminate our cases”.

“…technology that prolongs shelf life and improves quality of fresh produce…”

To date Astron Engineering has shipped over 50 cases using the NuaLight CryoLED solution to Supervalu and other customers and have received a very positive reception from both retailer and shopper alike.

Mr. Eugene Scally owner of the innovative Supervalu store in Clonakilty, Co Cork, and winner of the “Best in Fresh” award 2006 said “We are pleased to be one of the first food retailers to install this innovative and energy efficient technology and look forward to future developments with Astron Engineering and NuaLight in delivering additional products for other display case applications. Any technology that reduces energy consumption, prolongs shelf life and improves the quality of fresh produce, is a technology that all retailers should be considering”