Lightapalooza 2024 has closed out and despite its small size, it was surprising how much news there was to cover while at the show. There were plenty of new product launches that graced the show floor (a surprising first), and an equal number of newcomers that were turning some heads with all that they were offering.

Linear lighting played a massive role at many of the booths, as did landscape lighting, while plenty of buzz formed around power options, once that nut had been cracked during educational sessions.

While I was off touring the show floor and attending sessions, the CE Pro team back home was diligently reporting on all the news that was being sent their way, so here, we’re compiling all of the most important (and interesting) bits we saw coming out of Lightapalooza 2024.

Lucetta Offers a Linear Light You Can Cut Anywhere

Yes, you heard that right. Lucetta offers a linear light product that is meant to be cut in the field and can be done so anywhere. No pre-marked cut lines. No problem. How does it work? We’re still not entirely sure. What we do know, however, is that it had integrators captivated by such a simple and straightforward setup.

The lighting manufacturer always showed off the unique split light set-up it has in some of its other linear fixtures. This way, the strips could have something essentially pressed up against them and it wouldn’t impact their lighting coverage of an area. Very cool stuff!

2024 Lighting Controls and Fixtures Report

Lightapalooza took place in late February, and the growth of the event has mirrored the rapid ascension lighting fixtures and controls.

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WAC’s Colorscaping System is a Seriously Advanced Landscape Lighting System

One of the new releases for Lightapalooza 2024 was Colosrscaping by WAC, and while the idea of bringing color-tunable fixtures into landscape lighting is cool in it of itself, the control arm of the system is where it gets really interesting.

The transformer box that helps run the show offers two-line communication for data and power that allows it to intelligently identify individual fixtures connected to it, assign names based on their factory models and add them to the controller interface. It also comes with surge protection in case of lightning strikes, and works with legacy fixtures.

Speaking of Color Tunable Outdoor Lighting

In general, color tunable outdoor lighting seemed to be a miniature theme for Lightapalooza 2024, with plenty of the big outdoor lighting manufacturers introducing either new or new to the show products that provide a splash of color to outdoor spaces. WAC had perhaps the biggest announcement, however, Garden Light LED had its own special color-tunable fixture which it said news for that would coming as a more formal announcement once Lightapalooza 2024 has wrapped up.

Additionally there was FX Luminaire–who has been selling color tunable outdoor fixtures for some time–as well as Coastal Source with its recently released Keta-ready outdoor fixtures. As for why the sudden push for CT in outdoor spaces, many have noted its value as both a necessity for healthy outdoor lighting that won’t trigger a circadian response, as well as a potent tool for lighting plants, sculptures and other outdoor fixtures in the same way one might light artwork in the home.

A Program that Colormaps Ketra Fixtures? What?

I would’ve missed this one had it not been pointed out to me, as the booth it was situated in was tucked away in the back corner of the tradeshow hall. Created by Craig Douglass, CEO of Converging Systems, the software the company had on display could take the profile of a single Ketra fixture and mapping it so that every other fixture on the system (regardless of if it was Ketra or not) matched.

According to his associate, who was there representing the company Clarte, the software takes a few hours to fully map the fixture at first, but once it does, the results speak for itself. Clarte itself is another company worth noting for its custom lighting fixtures across all sorts of different types.

Séura Debuted a Color Tunable Smart Mirror

News of Séura’s Smart Lights caught my attention at Lightapalooza 2024, and they were nothing short of breathtaking, highlighting the uniqueness of the brand with its products. Originally known for its mirror TVs, the brand has really ran with the mirror lighting concept, now elevating it from simple task lighting to a controllable, customizable mood lighting fixture that would be perfect in any spa setting.

Proluxe Shows Special Love for DMX Lighting

While Proluxe had plenty of goodies on display at its booth, including some playful, color-tunable rope lights dangling from a pergola in the back, the company’s big reveal was its ChromaDMX, smart color-tunable downlighting, powered by DMX.

According to Proluxe, the fixture is completely modifiable in the field and can be installed either as a static downlight, or as a hot-aiming downlight with adjustable gimbal and optical lens accessories. It also uses RGB+TW COB LED technology, leading it to be able to produce over one trillion different colors.

USAI Debuts LittleTwos

A companion to its LittleOnes series, USAI Lighting launched its LittleTwos while at the show, bringing forward a selection of 2-inch aperture Pinhole and 2-inch diameter Cylinder products. According to USAI, the products produce 2,000 lumens of brightness with glare control capabilities that help the products blend right into home environments with minimal issues.

Coastal Source EVOlves Its Bollard Lighting Lineup

While Coastal Source also had its Ketra-ready landscape lights on display, it was really its EVO bollards that stole the show. With a self-contained lighting driver and modular design, these lights are completely customizable and offer some striking designs right out the gate with an all brass housing that is designed to be durable, and patinas over time to add some extra character to the fixture.

Batteries, Conditioners, and Surge Protectors Oh My!

With power having a noteworthy presence in the show’s education, the exhibitors really knocked it out of the park in their lineup. Featuring Rosewater, Apex Technologies, TPD and BrightVault, energy alley—as I’m taking to calling it—garnered a lot of attention from integrators curious about the category, and rightfully so.

Rather than being a row of competitors, each exhibitor fit a different role within the home power equation, with Rosewater providing batteries, Apex providing conditioning, TPD providing protection, and BrightVault providing management and control.

Each of the brands also offer white glove service when it comes to installation of their respective products, meaning integrators don’t even need to have an electrician’s license to install these products. The manufacturer handles it for them.

SI’s Revolve Curtains Are Certainly a Head Turner

While first introduced at CEDIA Expo 2023, SI’s Revolve Curtains made a return appearance to Lightapalooza 2024 with their mesmerizing movements. Taking the appearance of a traditional curtain rod, the loops of the curtains actually employs specialized hooks that move along the grooves of the rod as it rotates to guide the curtains along the path of opening or closing.

DMF Replaces iX, DID Series

While DMF Lighting announced the Artafex series a while back, Lightapalooza 2024 marked the official debut of the integrator-focused series, and the official retiring of the iX series, with the Artafex 2-inch line. The 4-inch line will also complement the DID series until that eventually gets retired as well.

A few noteworthy features of the Artafex line that they incorporate hyperbolic and pinhole trims in addition to offering both Micro Flange and flangeless housing making for some truly seamless installations.

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