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PROJECT CASE

Heat-resistant LED lighting for the Rockwool factory in Croatia

A custom lighting solution that reliably continues to perform at ambient temperatures above 110 °C and exposure to infrared radiation.

PROJECT CONTEXT

Reliable lighting in a factory with extreme heat

in the Rockwool factory in Croatia, lighting was sought that would withstand the extremely hot ambient temperature and against the infrared radiation released during the production process.

A second problem arose: in the summer, the surrounding area becomes extremely hot, which led to LED driver failures. The driver solution therefore had to be designed and tested separately in these extreme conditions, outdoors in the heat, independent of the production process where drivers cannot be placed.

THE CHALLENGE

Staying cool at over 110 °C and infrared radiation

The biggest challenge was keeping the lighting cool despite an ambient temperature above 110°C and the additional heat load from infrared radiation. Standard LED lighting fails quickly under those conditions.

At the same time, the LED drivers were not allowed to exceed 50 °C, in a country where outdoor temperatures in the summer can reach 40 °C. The thermal design of both the luminaires and the driver placement was therefore crucial to the project’s success.

CURRENT SITUATION

From a lighting question to a custom heating solution

The requirement was clear: lighting that could withstand extreme heat and infrared radiation in the Rockwool factory. But standard LED lighting—and even many heat-resistant models—fails under these conditions.

JEL therefore approached it as a custom solution: high-temperature fixtures, a separately designed driver solution, and a lighting design engineered outside existing standards.

Discuss a similar project

Please contact our engineering team to discuss high-temperature lighting, heat-resistant fixtures, or a complete lighting solution.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Project Type

Industrial production environment, high-temperature LED lighting (customizable)

Location

Rabbits, Croatia

Type of client

Rockwool

Environment

Production environment >110 °C, infrared radiation, outdoor summer temperatures up to ~40 °C

Current situation

Standard and even much of the heat-resistant LED lighting failed under these conditions.

Scope of JEL Products

Lighting design and engineering, installation design, fixture supply.

Used products

>50× Barracuda HT, >20× Snapper HT, >30× Linear HT

Technical result

>100 lux on the work floor; continues to function at >110 °C and in the presence of infrared radiation.

Relevant standards and requirements

EN 12464-1; many aspects custom-engineered beyond existing standards.

OUR ENGINEERING-FIRST APPROACH

First the environment, then the system, then the product

JEL designed the system based on the actual factory conditions: ambient temperatures above 110 °C, infrared radiation from the production process, and summer temperatures that can reach 40 °C outdoors.

By first determining those conditions and the thermal design, and only then selecting the fixtures and drivers, an installation was created that achieves over 100 lux on the work floor and continues to perform under extreme thermal load.

Scope Van Jel Products

From thermal lighting design to the delivery of high-temperature luminaires

JEL provided the complete custom solution for the Rockwool factory: from thermal lighting design and engineering to the delivery of the high-temperature fixtures.

Custom lighting design for extreme heat

JEL designed the system as a custom solution, tailored to the required illuminance on the work floor and the extreme thermal conditions in the factory.

HT fixtures that stay cool

The selected HT fixtures (Barracuda HT, Snapper HT, and Linear HT) are engineered with materials that allow them to remain cool and operate reliably at ambient temperatures above 110 °C.

Drivers designed and tested

The LED drivers must not exceed 50 °C. The driver placement and cooling system have therefore been designed and tested in practice separately from the hot production zones.

BA-48 'Barracuda' HT High-Temperature LED Lighting

Resistant to infrared radiation

The fixtures are resistant to the infrared radiation emitted during the manufacturing process, ensuring that their service life and light output are maintained.

Three product types for each zone

By combining three product types, each zone could be illuminated appropriately: from general work area lighting (Linear HT) to directional spotlights (Barracuda HT and Snapper HT).

Custom engineering beyond the norm

Many aspects of this project fell outside existing standards and were entirely custom-engineered; the lighting design was tested against EN 12464-1.

SOLUTION AND RESULT

Sustainable lighting that withstands extreme heat

The installation delivers more than 100 lux on the work floor, in accordance with EN 12464-1, with luminaires that maintain this performance under extreme thermal load.

The result is durable LED lighting that continues to operate at ambient temperatures above 110 °C and when exposed to infrared radiation, with a 5-year warranty, even in this demanding environment.

USED PRODUCT

Barracuda HT, Snapper HT, and Linear HT

For this project, over one hundred fixtures have been supplied: more than 50 Barracuda HT, over 20 Snapper HT and over 30 Linear HT. The HT versions (high temperature) are specifically developed for environments where regular and even most resistant lighting fails.

The combination of three product types made it possible to provide appropriate lighting for every area of the factory, from general shop floor lighting (Linear HT) to directional spotlights (Barracuda HT and Snapper HT).

Project-related questions

Standard LED lighting fails quickly under such conditions. For Rockwool, we supplied Barracuda HT, Snapper HT, and Linear HT: luminaires specifically designed to stay cool and operate reliably at ambient temperatures above 110 °C and when exposed to infrared radiation.

The drivers must not exceed 50 °C, while outside in Croatia in the summer it's already nearing 40 °C. We have designed and tested the driver positioning and cooling separately, away from the hot production zones, so that the electronics remain within safe temperatures.

During the production process, heat radiation (infrared) is released, which heats the fixtures additionally, on top of the high ambient temperature. Our HT fixtures are designed to withstand this from a material technology perspective, thereby preserving their lifespan and light output.

More than 100 lux on the work floor, in accordance with EN 12464-1, with luminaires that maintain this performance under extreme thermal load.

Yes, this installation comes with a 5-year warranty, even in this high-temperature environment.

Discuss a similar project with us

Are you working on an lighting project in a factory, foundry, or other extreme heat environment? JEL designs and supplies custom heat-resistant LED lighting, certified and tested for the toughest thermal conditions.

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