The Appliance Alliance

High street banking group The Alliance and Leicester have dominated the high street banking scene with the clever use of led illumination, their browser wall, atm wall and the external atm windows have all been synchronised using blue to amber lighting, the effect is eye catching and very modern in appearance.

Stevie Watts (Head marketer for Abstract) added "that in a fast paced world full of competition and rivalry the decision to use the low cost energy solution that is led was a very wise one" this has not only allowed a radiant energising experience for surrounding viewers but put A & L at the forefront of lighting technology.

The most important factor for the bank was that they did not wish to see any other colour than blue or amber. Abstract was commissioned to achieve this ambitious project while at the same time keeping both colours balanced in lux output to the eye. This was not an easy task especially when you add direct sunlight into the equation!

Abstracts development team headed by Glenn Bancroft and Steve Watts set to work on the arduous task in hand “power is needed before we start” agreed Steve Watts. His 17 years of experience in the field of professional lighting told him that. The decision was made to use the Luxeon K2 led, although both Glenn and Steve understood the K2 had handling issues due to the soft dome that replaced the hard plastic dome of the previous Luxeon 1 led.

The handling issues came to light when Abstracts project manager David Watts discussed the logistics of the overall roll out program and how many different hands the product would pass through during the refits.  Taking this comment on board the decision to implement an Alliance and Leicester support team was made. Jamie Johnson was appointed head of support, he would then undertake the job of training the entire workforce of main electrical contractors Sissons and Allen.

Glenn Willis, Owner of the long established family run electrical contractors Sissons and Allen have been appointed for many years as main contractors for the Alliance and Leicester bank. His project management has been beyond the call of duty according to Steve Watts, “ both of our companies care very much about the total satisfaction of our clients”.

The concept was first conceived over a year ago when design for retail developed the idea with their client the Alliance and Leicester, various options were considered including neon, however the use of led became the most cost effective option when all was said and done. The project was not an easy project as led was still an un chartered territory and some of the prototype branched showed this, but once the correct combination of supplier, contractor and final design was established the program could then begin to roll out.

“Abstracts main concern was that they could deliver the same product time and time again, experience with led in the early stages showed only too well the pit falls of led batch consistency” Steve Watts explained. It was time to call in UK sole distributor of Luxeon K2 led's and a business meeting was set up between Steve Watts, Dave watts and UK branch manager Elliot from Future Electronics Europe, other high ranking parties would also attend. The outcome of the meeting chaired by Steve Watts on behalf of Abstracts holdings company “Steve Watts Holdings” had to be beneficial for all concerned but consistency to price was absolutely paramount for the project to succeed, this became the main topic for discussion and a satisfactory conclusion was reached that would ultimately benefit their client.