NEWS
Thorn Lighting opens the Thorn Academy of Light Competence Sharing Centre in its new plant in Spennymoor (UK)
The 5th of February 2009, Helen Goodman, MP for Bishop Auckland, officially opened Thorn’s £32m factory and Academy of Light, which represents the largest investment in lighting equipment manufacture and training in the UK since the 1940’s.
When Helen Goodman, UK Member of Parliament - Bishop Auckland, opened Thorn’s new 40,000 sq m factory and Academy of Light at Spennymoor in North-East England on 5 February, she described it as 'fantastic news.’ Helen Goodman, who was welcomed by Andreas Ludwig, CEO of Thorn’s parent company Zumtobel Group said: "I am particularly pleased that the new site will include the Academy of Light training facility, which will help to maintain skills.”
The new Academy of Light competence sharing centre, which fronts the factory and its laboratory at Spennymoor, aims to ensure that those engaged in the built environment and public realm have a good working knowledge of professional lighting.
Built at a cost of £1.3 million, this structure has a floor space of 2,000 m² on two levels. Up to 100 customers and staff can experience light at work, view exhibitions and attend workshops and CPD seminars.
Thorn is targeting lighting designers and municipality engineers, electrical specifiers and installers, developers and end users, and even local students who can gain practical and theoretical knowledge about the principles of good lighting, the products and their application.
The Academy director is Christophe Richon and Martin Thompson has been appointed training manager. The first training modules cover topics such as Sustainability, Basic Lighting Design and EU Norms and Standards. Half the fees raised from the Sustainability course will be donated to a lighting education trust.
The heart of the Academy is the 37m long demonstration zone tailored to specific applications, product introductions and new technologies. Each is supported with an information video playing on a flat panel display. It is approached via an exhibition area - currently featuring sustainability in architecture and engineering.
Outside, there is a 500m² section where exterior fittings can be studied – and remotely controlled - through the end wall glazing. The site’s roadways and pathways illustrate state-of-the art lanterns, columns and controls.
A 92-seat demonstration theatre, with four meeting / breakout rooms, is on the first floor. An adjacent area houses the cafeteria, which is glazed facing the factory thus giving a panoramic view of the production area below.
"New Spennymoor" in facts & figures
Investment "New Spennymoor": approx. GBP 28 million
Investment Thorn Academy of Light: GBP 1.3 million
Surface area: 40,000 m2
Production capacity: 3 light fittings per second
Output of the largest machine – WEMO: 2,500 luminaire bodies per day
Recycling quota: 95%
No. of employees: approx. 700
photo credit : Joss Guest, Photography Manager, Thorn Lighting Limited