ERCO unveils Uniscan: a spotlight range to illuminate galleries and museums

With its new Uniscan spotlights, Germany-based lighting brand ERCO focuses on creating a range of lights with maximum quality, combined with a compact, reduced design. Uniscan, thus, particularly targets the demands of art galleries and museums. The consistently modular design of the spotlights enables both highly individual configurations and extremely flexible all-rounders, for example—tunable white, zoom optics and wireless Casambi Bluetooth control.

The manifestations of art have never been as diverse as they are today, ranging from painting, photography and sculptures in all formats to space-filling installations and the use of electronic media. In terms of lighting design, this poses special challenges for commercial art galleries as well as museums. These require lighting tools that optimally display works of art in a wide diversity of situations and create the desired atmosphere—whilst being as compact, flexible and easy to handle as possible. It is precisely for such requirements that ERCO has developed Uniscan, a new range of versatile and accessible track-mounted spotlights, floodlights and wall washers.

Flexibility is the key

Spotlight track systems are the first choice as infrastructure for illuminating galleries and exhibitions as users can quickly and easily modify the position and alignment of the luminaries. Uniscan features further decisive flexibility—its modular design with interchangeable lenses that allow for subsequent adjustment of light distribution. A number of methods are available for dimming the luminaries individually or in groups, ranging from a rotary control on the luminaire to wireless control via Casambi Bluetooth. The colour temperature can also be adjusted using variable technologies such as tunable white or RGBW to infinitely adjust light colours to match exhibits or to create special atmospheric effects. Filters are also available as accessories for subtle colour temperature corrections.

The Uniscan range, on one hand, enables precisely matching product designs for individual requirements with three sizes consisting of XS (Ø 32mm) S (Ø 60mm) and M (Ø 92mm), six fixed light colours, lens units in twelve light distributions and various dimming options. On the other hand, it includes extremely variable all-rounders that make lighting up a new exhibition incomparably convenient and fast—for example with the combination of zoom optic and tunable white. The fine-tuning of brightness and light colours of the spotlights can be done conveniently in situ via an app on a tablet or smartphone owing to the Casambi Bluetooth.

Light and shadow—in maximum quality

Despite their flexibility, Uniscan spotlights do not compromise when it comes to the quality of light. The clear Darklight lenses not only have a magical effect due to their minimal luminance levels at the light emission surface, but also offer particularly high visual comfort along with state-of-the-art efficiency. With just one point of light, they also generate a defined, uniform beam of light and precise shadowing for museum-quality light. The luminous fluxes of 272 lumens (size XS) to 2673 lumens (size M) are perfectly matched to typical spatial conditions in galleries and exhibitions with ceiling heights of up to five metres. In the form of contour spotlights and lens wall washers, the Uniscan range also includes specialised tools which are highly valued by lighting designers for effectively displaying works of art.

Three adapters, three application scenarios

The cylindrical design of Uniscan is evocative of classic spotlight models. It blends discreetly into highly diverse architecture and precise features, robust mechanics and balanced proportions. As with other current ERCO spotlight ranges, Uniscan comprises three product families, distinguished by different track adapters—Uniscan InTrack has an extra-flat adapter that fits flush with the 3-circuit track. Multi Dim control gear enables control via DALI, Push Dim or phase. In addition, a manual rotary control (On-board Dim) and radio adapter for Zigbee or Casambi Bluetooth are available in the form of interchangeable add-on units on the luminaire housing. Uniscan 48V is suitable for Minirail track and thus exploits the full potential of miniaturisation. Control options include On-Board Dim, Zigbee as well as Casambi Bluetooth which can also be coupled to DALI via a gateway. Uniscan OnTrack is compatible with many existing dimmable lighting installations thanks to its transadapter for 3-circuit track, making it particularly suitable for retrofitting.

Extending on its legacy of international specialisation in high-quality and digital architectural lighting, ERCO adds a new member to its oeuvre. Uniscan, built on the understanding of light as the fourth dimension of architecture, offers perfect illumination geared to the specific requirements of its target client, commercial art galleries.