Display case
Display case
LED display case lighting – bright and versatile in the smallest of spaces
Not every exhibit can be freely arranged and presented in a museum. Often the optimal presentation only works with the help of a display case, which brings many advantages but poses some challenges for the technology. Above all, light plays an even greater role here than is already the case with exhibitions. Hoffmeister offers the solution with small-format luminaires and recessed spotlights. With our ak.tina luminaire series, we transfer the possibilities of comprehensive museum lighting to the limited environment of a display case.
Why display cases at all?
There are many reasons for a display case as the means of choice for a successful presentation. Design aspects are just as much in focus as technical concerns and requirements:
— protection of objects from access
— generation of a stable climate for sensitive exhibits
— the possibility of grouping exhibits together or adding information within a clearly defined framework
— quick changeability of the exhibition by rearranging the showcases
Why display cases at all?
There are many reasons for a display case as the means of choice for a successful presentation. Design aspects are just as much in focus as technical concerns and requirements:
— protection of objects from access
— generation of a stable climate for sensitive exhibits
— the possibility of grouping exhibits together or adding information within a clearly defined framework
— quick changeability of the exhibition by rearranging the showcases
The display case – a challenge for exhibition lighting
Besides its many advantages, the use of a display case also brings with it various challenges – because the clear spatial separation of exhibits also calls for special lighting. An exhibition showcase represents a kind of separate exhibition space in miniature format that requires its own planning and equipment.
Display case interior lighting versus display case lighting from the outside – why luminaires in the display case have advantages
When it comes to lighting, the showcase becomes a real challenge. Just like the exhibits displayed freely in the showroom, objects in a display case should also be optimally presented. This is achieved above all by appropriate lighting. However, there is only little space available inside the showcase. When implementing a lighting solution with luminaires inside the showcase, more precise planning is required because of the spatial proximity of exhibit and technology. Glass hardly disturbs the viewing of exhibits as long as it does not become visible as a separating plane due to reflections and mirroring. When positioning light sources, whether inside or outside the display case, care should therefore be taken to ensure that they are not reflected on the glass surfaces when viewed from the observer’s angle. Dark back walls as well as a subdued background brightness in the room also reduce reflection effects – as does the use of anti-reflective glass.
The challenge of showcase lighting
Despite all its advantages, showcase lighting is and remains a challenge. The most promising option is to create a small lighting concept for each individual showcase. This is because even identical showcases require their own, individually aligned lighting technology if they are differently equipped. Essential aspects of this lighting concept are two things in particular:
Glare-free illumination
The ak.tina spotlights can be rotated through 360° and swivelled through 90°. Thanks to this flexibility, optimal adjustment of the luminaire to the illuminated exhibit is guaranteed. Precise light control through lens technology ensures perfect staging without disturbing reflections. If, due to unfavourable angles or positioning of the miniaturised spotlights, it should ever be possible to see into the luminaire, the extensive range of accessories with mounting rings, visors, anti-glare attachments, anti-glare flaps or even honeycomb louvres provides a quick remedy.
Effective temperature management
When working with light in a confined space, temperature always plays a role. The generation of light is associated with heat. Under unfavourable conditions, this heat can accumulate in the limited air volume of the showcase interior. Long before possible heat damage to the display case or technology occurs, a change in the climate of the display case may occur. Temperature in particular is one of the factors that rapidly changes the value of humidity. However, both components must be kept within certain parameters to preserve sensitive exhibits. Functional showcase lighting can therefore hardly do without effective temperature management.
Miniature spotlights and recessed luminaires from Hoffmeister – the optimal LED display case lighting
We respond to the specific requirements of showcase lighting with our ak.tina luminaire series. Although this was not developed exclusively for showcases, it has all the product characteristics to equip exhibition display cases and even to retrofit lighting in a display case with little effort.
Small size for a positive showcase design
In order for luminaires to be installed sensibly inside a display case, they must be of a suitable size so that they do not distract from the exhibit. Both our ak.tina spotlight and the ak.tina recessed luminaires impress with their small size. And this without limiting functionality or the option to add accessories. Added to this is the possibility of mounting the spotlights both with screws and by means of magnetic fixing. This fixation is non-destructive and can therefore be installed, changed and removed from any display case particularly easily. This is ak.tina’s response to the high fluctuation of exhibits. The ak.tina offers a solution that is as simple as it is effective.
Full-featured lighting technology – the guarantee for effective lighting in the smallest of spaces
In combination with the small dimensions, luminaires of the ak.tina series convince with full functionality that is fully comparable with larger models. LED luminous fluxes of approx. 200 lumens and a selectable light colour of 2700, 3000 or 4000 Kelvin make it possible to design showcase lighting individually. Lenses, connection rings, visors, anti-glare attachments, anti-glare flaps or even honeycomb louvres offer the option of perfectly adapting the light to the respective exhibit. Thanks to the precise lighting technology and the high quality of light (CRI > 90), the exhibits are accentuated without distortion.
Precise lighting
AK.TINA
SURFACE MOUNTED
AK.TINA
TOP
AK.TINA
FURNITURE RECESSED
All information can also be found clearly in our PDF, which we are happy to offer you for download.
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