In this month’s Face to Face we speak with John Lyons, Divisional Director at Zumtobel Group, about lighting industry trends and the company’s future plans.

Q1: What is your industry background and how did you get involved with Thorn Lighting?

I began my career in the lighting industry in 1995 with Philips Lighting, spending eight remarkable years at the Hamilton, Scotland factory specialising in outdoor solutions. During this time, I gained extensive experience across multiple departments, including quality, production, purchasing and procurement, warehousing, distribution, and transportation. This comprehensive exposure provided me with an in-depth understanding of the complexities involved in aligning production with customer supply and demand needs.

In 2003, I relocated to Guildford to join Philips Lighting’s commercial sales organisation. Initially, I served as Logistics, Operations, and Supply Chain Manager, overseeing the Professional Luminaires, Lamps, OEM, and Consumer divisions. I later transitioned into a customer-facing role as Regional Specification Manager. After nearly 18 successful years, I embraced an opportunity to collaborate with former colleagues and joined Thorn Lighting in November 2012.

Throughout my career, I have managed both specification and trade teams, leveraging my expertise to support various aspects of the business. Currently, my focus is on the trade sector, where I collaborate closely with the end user, specification, contractor, controls and services sales teams and specialists. I am fortunate to have the fantastic support of a dedicated internal team that spans the entire organisation.

Q2: What are the lighting growth areas to keep an eye on? 

We’re seeing key growth in areas like sports lighting, data centres, and education. As demand for energy-efficient, high-performance lighting increases, we’re innovating solutions that meet these needs while focusing on sustainability. Digitalisation is also a big trend, with asset tracking and monitoring becoming more integral in managing lighting systems efficiently. Thorn is leading the way with connected controls that optimise performance and reduce energy use. Overall, sustainability remains a central focus across all these sectors, and we’re committed to driving forward with smart, sustainable solutions.

Q3: How does the THORNeco range differ from Thorn’s standard product offerings?

At Thorn, we’ve always been about creating efficient, high-quality lighting solutions, but with THORNeco, we specifically cater to wholesalers. The THORNeco range is all about providing great value for money, ease of installation, and ease of stocking. It’s designed with the needs of today’s customers in mind, offering a sustainable solution that’s practical and cost-effective. For instance, we’ve ensured the packaging is 100% recycled and plastic-free, reinforcing our commitment to sustainability.

While Thorn’s standard offerings cover a wide range of industries – from healthcare and education to transportation and sports – the THORNeco range really channels the expertise we’ve built over nearly 100 years, but it’s packaged in a way that makes it easy for wholesalers to sell. The luminaires are simple to stock, are energy-efficient, and help wholesalers provide sustainable options to their customers, without compromising on quality. It’s about making light work for everyone in the supply chain.

Q4: How has Thorn integrated sustainable manufacturing processes into its UK operations?

At Thorn, sustainability is deeply ingrained in our operations and the way we approach manufacturing. A great example of this is our Spennymoor factory, which recently won the prestigious Sustainable Manufacturing Award at The Manufacturer MX Awards 2024. This recognition really highlights the strides we’ve made in embedding sustainability into our operations. From reducing our energy consumption by 1.3 million kWh between FY21/22 and FY22/23 to cutting water usage by 50% since 2021, we’re proud of our tangible results.

We’re not stopping there, though. We’ve got ambitious plans to continue improving. For example, we’re implementing optimisations to our paint plant, which should reduce gas usage by 900,000 kWh. Sustainability is also built into our product design – with innovations like the Chalice downlight, Avenue outdoor luminaire, and Omega Moduline, we’re embracing circular design principles, making sure our products are durable, recyclable, and upgradable.

This commitment is all part of our journey to net-zero and reducing our overall environmental impact. Our team is incredibly passionate about sustainability, and it’s great to see those efforts recognised as we continue to lead by example in the lighting industry.

Q5: Thorn has been involved in some major sports lighting projects – what are the key aspects to consider when planning and designing a lighting installation at a sports venue?

Sports lighting is an interesting challenge, especially when you consider the different needs of athletes, spectators, and broadcast professionals. At Thorn, we approach each project with a focus on three main areas: performance, sustainability, and safety.

Safety and visibility are, of course, at the forefront of any design. We carefully select optical systems that minimise glare and ensure light is directed precisely where it’s needed – whether it’s on the field or around the venue. This also reduces light spill, protecting the local community and the night sky. For example, our Altis floodlights, with high-quality LEDs and mixed optics, are designed to minimise the number of floodlights required, making the installation more efficient without sacrificing quality.

Flexible control systems, like UrbaSens, allow us to adjust lighting levels for everything from training fields to professional events.

We’ve seen the impact of these solutions in some of our larger projects, such as the Sunderland Football Association installation. We also have dedicated sports lighting guides on our website that cover everything from design principles to control systems, ensuring our customers have the resources they need for a successful installation. 

Q6: What are Thorn’s primary aims and objectives for the years ahead?

We’re excited to drive multiple product launches across our portfolio, focusing on delivering energy-efficient, high-performance solutions.

Products aside, we also aim to deepen our engagement with local charities and organisations, reinforcing our Corporate Social Responsibility efforts and making a positive impact in the communities where we operate. This goes hand in hand with building stronger relationships with our clients, ensuring we continue to meet their evolving needs with the right solutions and support.

Additionally, we’re focused on investment with our factory to maintain operational efficiency and investing in training for our employees, ensuring they have the skills to continue innovating and supporting our customers effectively.

Find out more about Thorn Lighting here

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