News

GRE Alpha is proud to announce the opening of its newest office location in Tokyo, Japan. With offices in Hong Kong, United Kingdom and the United States, the addition of a Tokyo branch bolsters the presence of GRE Alpha products in one of the fastest-growing LED lighting markets in the world.

“The office was opened to better serve the needs of our Japanese lighting clients,” said Richard Fong, GRE Alpha’s Executive Director. “We had to find the right people with intimate knowledge of the lighting industry—as well as a strong technical background—to follow up with our Japanese clients and work with distributors to help our products spread throughout the region.”

The Tokyo office will allow GRE Alpha more intimate knowledge of the Japanese market, provide improved market access, allow for better technology exchange with Japanese firms, and expand the company’s global market presence. It will also aid in spreading brand awareness, something that is very important to the LED lighting components manufacturer.

“The Tokyo office furthers our goal of providing quality LED power solutions to different corners of the world,” said Fong. “It’s something we believe in, and we’re excited to see where the expansion takes us.”

Beyond offering better service to clients in Japan, GRE Alpha also looks forward to taking part in the growth of the Japanese LED lighting market due to the expansion of new products and buildings in preparation for the summer 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

For more information on GRE Alpha, or to contact a GRE Alpha service representative and schedule a one-on-one appointment with a technical expert, visit https://www.grealpha.com/contact.

GRE Alpha recently completed a successful showing at the March 2017 Nikkei Messe Tokyo Big Sight Lighting Fair held in Tokyo, Japan. The event, one of the largest comprehensive lighting exhibitions in Japan, ran from March 7 to March 10.

The lighting fair was organized by the Japan Lighting Manufacturers Association and Nikkei, Inc. and played host to 212 total exhibitors from 9 countries and regions, 712 total booths, and more than 70,000 visitors. This was GRE Alpha’s first year displaying at the lighting show.

“It was a good event and generated a lot of interest,” said Richard Fong, Executive Director at GRE Alpha. “We networked with other companies and unveiled several new products for the Japan market.”

GRE Alpha’s team gave demonstrations of products such as LED drivers and LED dimming modules. Products displayed in the company’s booth included the PWM dimming module, Tunable White dimming module, phase dimmable LED driver, DALI dimming modules, and constant voltage LED drivers. New products for the Japanese market included the GRE Alpha PWM dimming module featuring compatibility with Matsushita products, and an introduction to the Japan product-friendly DALI and DMX dimming modules.

“It was very rewarding to share our products that have been retrofitted with compatibility for uniquely Japanese designs,” said Fong. “There was increased interest in using smart lighting and dimming control. The emphasis of the Fair was more on human-centric lighting with ease of use rather than on efficiency. Our products offer both.”

In addition to a successful showing at the Japan event, GRE Alpha is proud to announce the opening of its newest office location in Tokyo, Japan. The new office was launched to provide better support for Japanese customers. GRE Alpha also looks forward to taking part in the growth of the Japanese LED lighting market due to the expansion of new products and buildings in preparation for the summer 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

GRE Alpha looks forward to showcasing even more innovative LED products at future tradeshows and events, including the upcoming 2017 LIGHTFAIR International event in Philadelphia, PA, USA. The LFI conference and tradeshow will be held from May 9 to May 11, 2017.

“We will be showcasing LED drivers specifically for grow lighting and horticultural lighting applications,” said Fong. “We will also be unveiling multi-mode dimming modules for SMART lighting—such as our 7-in-1-dimming module—that support multiple dimming functions.”

For more information on GRE Alpha, or to contact a GRE Alpha service representative and schedule a one-on-one appointment with a technical expert, visit https://grealpha.com/contact/.

GRE Alpha is proud to announce its participation in the March 2017 Nikkei Messe Tokyo Big Sight Lighting Fair in Tokyo, Japan, from Tuesday, March 7, to Friday, March 10, 2017. Past participants in Japan’s LED/OLED Lighting Technology Expo held annually in January, this will be GRE Alpha’s first time in the Nikkei Messe Fair.

“Japan boasts some of the most vibrant and unique lighting designs and lighting firms in the world,” says Richard Fong, Executive Director at GRE Alpha. “Steeped in a culture of constant innovation, GRE Alpha’s products are a good fit with the Japanese lighting industry.”

Pioneers in LED technology, GRE Alpha staff will be providing live demonstrations of several of their products, including the XLAV, 7-in-1 LED dimming module, XLAV Driver, SLD-DIM-PWM dimming module, and its new Tunable White SLD-DimTW Dim-to-Warm dimming module. Additionally, team members will be offering information and a showcase on Japanese certification-compliant, PSE-certified LED drivers including the XLD series, XLA series, and GLC/GLV series products.

“These products provide a comprehensive, one-stop lighting solution that simplifies installation, and provides innovative enhancements to lighting system reliability as well as performance,” says Fong.

GRE Alpha’s booth will feature interactive displays of many of its products, allowing users to experience firsthand the craftsmanship and quality that GRE Alpha brings to its LED power solution designs.

Nikkei Messe, held once every two years in Tokyo, is the largest lighting event in Japan. Hong Kong-based GRE Alpha will have Japanese speaking representatives at its booth to help with networking between staff and Japanese clients. Team members are most looking forward to a great show and to introducing their exciting LED products to the Japan market.

“User experience is very important to us,” says Fong. “Working in tandem with our distributors, we will have knowledgeable, Japanese speaking product experts stationed at our booth to help introduce and share our products with clients.”

Visit https://messe.nikkei.co.jp/ for more information on the 2017 Nikkei Messe Tokyo Big Sight Lighting Fair. For more information on GRE Alpha, or to speak with a service representative and set up a one-on-one appointment with a technical expert, visit https://grealpha.com/contact/a/.

Light emitting diode (LED) drivers, the electrical devices regulating the power of LED lights, are the lifeblood of LED lighting systems. Helping with conversions from alternating current(AC) to direct current (DC), LED drivers play an integral part in lighting control and system lifespan.  As the market continues to expand and new products are released, LED drivers for different types of applications have been optimized for cost, efficiency, and reliability.

LED lighting management continues to evolve, and some LED drivers are now built directly into the lighting systems themselves. Typically, though, external LED drivers are still used for applications requiring higher reliability and better lighting system performance. Most LED drivers are comprised of variations of switched mode power supplies (SMPS)—an electronic power supply featuring a switching regular to efficiently convert electrical power. SMPS offers either a constant voltage or constant current to LED lights, depending on the type of LED luminaire used. Constant current power supplies vary voltage across electronic circuits to maintain constant electric current, whereas constant voltage creates an ability to fluctuate current to maintain a set voltage. These distinctions become particularly useful as LED lighting management systems grow in popularity and use.

LED Drivers and Their Use Today

As the world continues to adapt to increasing levels of environmentally- and economically-friendly options, and SMART technology implementation continues to rise, understanding the possible applications of LED dimmers becomes progressively more important. For example, for downlights, tracklights and LED lights that utilize chips on board(COB), constant current LED drivers provide better current regulation and avoid overloading LEDs. In contrast, constant voltage LED drivers are used in LED strip lighting and linear lighting applications so that LED installations will not be limited by the length of the lighting strip used. No matter the application, evolutions in technology are enabling LED lighting to offer a viable solution.

LED Drivers Addressing a Variety of Lighting Market Applications

GRE Alpha has been at the forefront of LED driver innovation and development. Designed with flexibility in mind, GRE Alpha offers a series of LED drivers that operate in dual mode, allowing the units to be used in both constant current and constant voltage application and minimize stock keeping units (SKUs). The XLD Series LED drivers come in a patented enclosure design with integral wiring compartments to drastically simplify installation and reduce installation costs by eliminating the need for Junction boxes.

For applications requiring advanced lighting control and dimming applications, GRE Alpha pioneered products that support two-wire AC phase dimming (TRIAC) and a wide selection of dimming module systems to support DALI, DMX, 0-10V and Switch Dim dimming protocols. The newest product launched is the Tunable White SLD-DimTW dimming module, a unique dim-to-warm dimming module that allows for LED fixtures to change from a relatively cool color temperature to a warm color temperature.

An LED Driver for Every Project

When choosing the right LED driver for a project, GRE Alpha knows it is important to consider both the costs of the LED driver itself and those of the entire lighting system. For example, when using an XLD series LED Driver with patented easy-install enclosure, the per unit-cost of driver may be higher, but the overall costs of the lighting system is much lower due to cost savings. This particular project would not require a junction box, and installation times would be greatly reduced.

GRE Alpha prides itself on innovative products like these that enhance customers’ experience and create a brighter world. Several new products will be launched soon, featuring IoT-enabled options like the ZigBee SMART dimming module to allow for device connected lighting.

Constant Innovation in LED Lighting

GRE Alpha is excited to announce that it will exhibit at the March 2017 Nikkei Messe Tokyo Big Sight Lighting Fair in Japan. From March 7 to 10, 2017, the company will be unveiling new products, networking with potential customers, visiting with current customers and partners, and offering demonstrations of innovative LED lighting solutions. For more information on the Tokyo Big Sight Lighting Fair, click here.

GRE Alpha is committed to innovation and to delivering high-quality, leading edge LED lighting solutions. For more information about LED drivers, dimming modules and accessories, or to speak with a GRE Alpha product expert, visit the Enquiries page and fill out the Enquiry Form. Sign up for the GRE Alpha newsletter to stay up-to-date on new products and for early access to other GRE Alpha news.

2016 was a great year for GRE Alpha, and our company appreciates the support received from our many valued customers and partners. In fact, GRE Alpha launched several new, innovative LED dimming and power supply products last year, providing even more state-of-the-art lighting solutions for a wide range of residential and commercial projects. In case you missed the launches of these LED dimming modules and drivers, we put together a quick reference list of GRE Alpha LED products released in 2016.

Tunable White SLD-DimTW Dimming Module

GRE Alpha’s Tunable White SLD-DIMTW Dimming Module is the perfect solution for VC-type dim-to-warm and warm dimming applications. A constant voltage tunable white LED dimming module, this unique 0-10V/1-10V device provides a control signal and enables smooth, dynamic color temperature shifts of 2000K to 8000K. Depending on the application situation, this plug-and-play dimming module creates eye-catching, color temperature changing effects without color distortion.

SLD-DIM DALI Dimming Module

The SLD-DIM DALI Dimming Module offers wide range DC input at 8 to 48 volts, DALI control input, integrated strain relief and terminal cover, spring-loaded terminals for easy installation, 255 dimming levels, a zero to 100 percent dimming range, duplicate terminals for parallel connection, and 97 percent efficiency.

SLD-DIM DMX Dimming Module

With a simple plug-and-play design that works with CV systems, GRE Alpha’s DMX Dimming Module is a remote device management (RDM)-enabled dimmer that can upgrade existing non-dimmable systems to work with DMX lighting protocol. It follows the latest DMX 512-A protocol, allows for two-way communication with DMX devices and lighting consoles, and uses a 4-in-1 LED chip offering four color channels.

7-in-1 Dimming Module

GRE Alpha’s 7-in-1 LED Dimming Module (model XDL-7DV1-48V5A) provides full range zero to 100 percent high resolution dimming performance for constant voltage LED dimming applications. Boasting flexibility and easy installation, the 7-in-1 has a multi-colored LED indicator, integrated strain release cover, settable dimming transfer characteristics (both linear and logarithmic), and built-in thermal shutdown with auto restart and overload protection.

SLD-DIM-PWM Dimming Module

Designed to provide flicker-free, pulse wide modulate (PWM) dimming in PWM dimming applications, the SLD-DIM-PWM Dimming Modulemaintains over 95 percent efficiency, extreme flexibility, easy use and compatibility with commercial PWM dimmer controls. It can be combined with AC-DC drivers to enable LED dimming, and incorporated into SLD/XLD series enclosure to eliminate the need for external junction boxes.

LED Wireless SLD-SmartDIM Dimming Module

The wireless SmartDIM Dimming Module offers constant voltage, wireless and ZigBee-enabled dimming that supports up to 240 Watts of power, wide range DC input at 8 to 48 volts, up to 95 percent efficiency, a high precision ratio, compatibility with IEEE 802.15.4 ZigBee Light Link-enabled devices, suitability for LED lighting and signage applications, easy installation and a compact size.

XLAV Series Driver

The GRE Alpha XLAV Driver is a UL Class II constant voltage, phase dimmable LED driver capable of providing full-range, zero to 100 percent smooth, flicker-free dimming. An ideal dimmable powering solution for linear lighting applications, the XLAV is compatible with over 70 dimmer brands, works with both forward and reverse phase-type dimmers, and comes in two versions (compact and UL-listed SSB).

XSP300 LED Driver

Offering dual-mode constant current and constant voltage, this next generation, e-capless XSP 300 LED Driver is equipped with patented thermal-core technology -25 to 80 degrees Celsius full-load operation, built-in 20kV surge protection, a universal AC input, user programmable output current and voltage via trim pots, five combinable channels of output, dimming options through other GRE Alpha dimming modules, and efficiency up to 92 percent.

More LED Products are Coming Soon

GRE Alpha is excited to announce that it will exhibit at the March 2017 Nikkei Messe Tokyo Big Sight Lighting Fair in Japan. From March 7 to 10, 2017, the company will be unveiling new products, networking with potential customers, visiting with current customers and partners, and offering demonstrations of innovative LED lighting solutions. For more information on the Tokyo Big Sight Lighting Fair, click here.

Innovators in LED Lighting Technology

GRE Alpha is committed to innovation and to delivering high-quality, leading-edge LED lighting solutions. For more information about LED drivers, dimming modules and accessories, or to speak with a GRE Alpha product expert, visit the Enquiries page and fill out the Enquiry Form. Sign up for the GRE Alpha newsletter to stay up-to-date on new products and for early access to other GRE Alpha news.