Company
IonizersPanasonic makes light work at Westminster Underground
26 Jan 2006
which opened in December 1999, has 28 Panasonic Electric Works UK (MEW UK) luxlift installed in the 40 metre deep passenger escalator hall.
luxlift is an innovative solution to securing pendant lighting in inaccessible locations as well as a simple and cost reducing alternative to ladders and scissor lifts for maintenance requirements.
With the appearance of a set from a Tim Burton-Batman-film, The concourse and escalators soar above the traveller. On this backdrop of towering naked concrete and grey steel girders the large free-hanging lights are suspended from the ceiling using the luxlift system. Encased in a specially designed cover, the luxlift has been designed as a feature within the futuristic surroundings of this new underground station.
The luxlift allows light fittings weighing up to 20kg to be securely fastened to its electric lift mechanism and then automatically lowered and raised up to 20 metres. The 20 lights are operated from three control panels that allow individual or sections of lights to be lowered for replacement or maintenance. Engineers are able to cordon-off smaller areas of the concourse and therefore ensure minimal inconvenience to the passengers during maintenance tasks.
London Underground chose the luxlift as the solution to its deep box shaft lighting early in the design of the steel and concrete showpiece. The luxlift"!s high quality aluminium construction meets the stringent safety specification required by London Underground. The system uses high tensile stainless steel cable and a sophisticated failsafe system to ensure up to ten years trouble free operation and total safety even if power to the unit fails.
The ability to simplify maintenance procedures and reduce costs were two major in factors in the choice of the luxlift for the Westminster underground project. The luxlift eliminates the need for heavy scissor lifts, high ladders or scaffold for maintenance. At the flick of a switch on the luxlift control panel, individual light fittings can be lowered to the floor for maintenance or replacement and then raised back into position.
Panasonic believes that the luxlift can reduce maintenance costs in most in-situ environments through reduced machine down time in factories and eliminating customer disruption in public areas. luxlift also offers increased operator safety in buildings where the only alternative is ladders, such as cinemas and theatres.
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