Innovative lighting products for industrial environments
Outdoor lights on industrial sites and public street lights typically take 2-4 hours to replace, in addition to requiring power isolation and the risks associated with working at height for long hours. 300K Enterprises has developed new energy and labour saving light fittings for industrial and commercial use. The invention enables outdoor industrial lights to be replaced without switching off the power and can reduce replacement time to less than 5 minutes. These innovative lighting products will mean large savings in maintenance and operating costs, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and greatly improved safety for customers in industrial markets.
300K Enterprises was founded by electricians Chris Trewin and Bruce Christian in 2009 with the aim of developing and selling a range of innovative industrial lighting products. Chris and Bruce experienced the problems and costs associated with lighting maintenance at mine sites around Australia, and saw an opportunity to create a universal solution to these problems.
The company’s core technology is an engineering polymer adapter which enables pole-mounted industrial lights to be hot swapped, ie faulty light fittings can be replaced while the power remains connected. This means that individual lights can be replaced quickly and safely without isolating whole areas of the site, saving production time and maintenance cost, and eliminating the risk of electrical shock.
[Pictures courtesy of 300K Enterprises Pty Ltd]
Branded as Connex, this patented product is claimed to be the only one of its type in the world. BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto have conducted Connex trials at selected mine sites and facilities and have validated the benefits of this technology for industry.
300K has been awarded a Commercialisation Australia proof-of-concept grant to commercialise three new products based on the Connex technology. “The assistance of Commercialisation Australia at this stage of our development is invaluable”, according to CEO, Bruce Christian. “We have made a very significant investment of our own personal resources and we have raised “seed” investment funds from committed investors. But given the strong interest in our technology from Australian industry, we need to fast-track the commercialisation of these new products – which would be very difficult without our Commercialisation Australia grant”.
The company also sees great benefit in other aspects of the Commercialisation Australia program. “We have received great support from our Case Manager and we will seek his advice and guidance as we move forward. As an early-stage company, we will also be keen to tap into Commercialisation Australia’s wider network of industry contacts, expertise and business mentors”, notes Bruce.