On Saturday, February 19, 2011, the fashion contingent turned its focus to Joburg Fashion Week, which took place on one of South Africa's newest and most iconic landmarks, the Nelson Mandela Bridge. Through its lighting solutions, Philips helped accessorise David Thlale's Autumn collection with a lighting display that framed the show and accentuated the theme.
In 2010, Philips collaborated with energy provider, City Power Johannesburg, to design and deliver a distinct LED lighting solution for the city's Nelson Mandela Bridge - an important road link between Newtown, in the heart of Johannesburg, and Braamfontein to the north.
With a passion for lighting, Philips general manager Jeroen Janssen said: 'Philips was excited to be involved in the most memorable Joburg Fashion Week yet. Having this event against the canvas of the iconic Nelson Mandela Bridge, was very special, and Philips were honoured to have lit the way for this momentous occasion.'
lighting the skies
Philips provided a range of LED lighting solutions to transform the bridge at night in a colorful and extremely sustainable way. An array of bright LED lights were installed along the bridge's pylons and anchorage cables, as well as on the handrails of the pedestrian walkways of the 284-metre span - ensuring that the bridge dominates the Johannesburg skyline at night, as well as providing safe passage for motorists and pedestrians.
LED lighting is increasingly being used in cities and urban spaces like Johannesburg to distinguish landmarks with unlimited possibilities for colour, while at the same time lowering energy consumption by up to 80% when compared with older outdoor lighting technologies. Furthermore, the Philips ColorReach Powercore LED floodlighting solution used for the Nelson Mandela Bridge combines networked data management with long lamp lifetimes ensuring considerably lower maintenance costs for the bridge operators.
The Nelson Mandela Bridge joins a prestigious list of global landmarks lit by Philips, including LED solutions used by the London Eye, the CN Tower in Toronto and Philadelphia's Avenue of the Arts.
About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people's lives through timely innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of 'sense and simplicity'. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 116,000 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 23 billion in 2009, the company is a market leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and pleasure with strong leadership positions in flat TV, male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.
