
Category: News

enLIGHTenment Magazine is the content leader for news, trends, and important information affecting the residential lighting community. Their award-winning editorial team works diligently to curate content with a product-driven approach.
At LFI2019, they interviewed a select group of industry leaders and manufacturers to discuss how options and controls are revolutionizing downlights.
Recessed downlight are going through some dramatic changes.
BY DAVID SHILLER
Before we jump into all the latest trends in recessed lighting, letâs remember why downlights are so important. In short, theyâre the best-selling luminaire type by units sold. According to market research by IMARC, the global LED downlight market reached $17.3 billion in 2018, and is projected to reach $29 billion by 2024. Thatâs a healthy compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4 percent. Downlights have helped lead LED adoption due to being directional and their very high volume. Downlights have become increasingly popular in both new construction and retrofit applications, both for general and accent lighting and in all market categories: residential, hospitality, retail, corporate, municipal, and healthcare.
All the various trends in downlight can be summed up in two words, âoptionsâ and âcontrolâ. Here are some of the trends occurring lately in downlights.
Mechanical Trends
- Greater range of aperture sizes. While downlight used to be primarily 5 and 6 inches, they are now also offered in 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 inches.
- Easier installation methods
- Slim profiles are now offered by many manufacturers, some as thin as 0.5″-thick flush mounts that don’t require any recessed housing. This can significantly reduce labor without a recessed can to install.
- Mudded-in/trimless installation for the ultimate clean ceiling look
- New linear format downlights
- More and more trim options
Photometric Trends
- Increased lumen outputs. You can now find 4-inch downlights up to 8,000 lumens and 8-inch downlights up to 20,000 lumens
- More adjustable beam pattern options
- Lower glare / more diffuse reflectors
- Higher CRI LEDs (90+) due to CA Title 24 requirements, and to better compete with halogen sources
- Increased use of chip on board (COB) sources, as a single point source with greater optical control
Control Trends
- More wireless beam shaping, whether using motors (i.e. Forma Lighting) or LCD lenses (i.e. LensVector)
- Increased aiming through gimbals and motors
- 0-10V, phase control, and wireless mobile app dimming
- CCT switchable, dim-to-warm, color tuning, and color changing
- Connected capabilities are now going beyond IoT wireless app control to Juno’s integration of Alexa into the Juno AI, as well as downlights streaming LiFi (i.e.Lucibel)
- Integration of other devices & functionalities, such as music speakers, security features, etc.
At Lightfair, DMF Lighting was a great example of a downlight manufacturer offering a wide variety of options along with very high performance. When asked about the most important trends, Susie Minton, Director/Marketing & Business Development for DMF Lighting said âA smaller footprint and modular systemsâŚsuch an approach adds significant flexibility in the design, installation, and maintenance of the fixtures. The installation and updating of downlights used to be a construction project. Todayâs compact and modular designs ensure the downlight meets the needs of the space today and into the future.â
Jeff Spencer, Acuity Brands Lighting VP & General Manager/Residential shared, âThe use of downlights in a space is growing in popularity, particularly for new homes as they make spaces look larger and more modern, and designers believe they can decrease the time it takes to sell a home while increasing its perceived value. Current downlighting product trends take advantage of the new properties of LED technology relative to traditional sources with features such as switchable lumens, switchable color temperatures, can-less downlights, and shallow plenumâŚwhile maintaining the desired performance of the traditional sources with features like warm dim and 90 CRI.â
Looking to the future, Acuityâs Spencer added, âMuch like smart phones are used for so much more than making phone calls, downlights will be used for so much more than lighting a room. In addition to coming with sophisticated lighting controls built in, they will stream music, provide home security, provide health and wellness benefits, control all of the other connected devices in the spaceâŚ.and light the room.â
“For the future, I think we will continue to see smaller-scale fixtures that can still emit light in a similar way as todayâs downlights.”
–Â Susie Minton
DMF Lighting Director of Marketing & Business DevelopmentÂ
DMFâs Minton remarked, âFor the future, I think we will continue to see smaller-scale fixtures that can still emit light in a similar way as todayâs downlights. This will require continued mechanical and optical technology advances to achieve. Color will also continue to be a trend, not just light color, but the color of the trims as well. With modular systems, it will be easy to change trims to accent a spaceâs decor and not just blend into the ceiling.â
Advice for showrooms
Both executives had advice for showrooms trying to display and sell recessed downlights. DMFâs Minton commented, âIt is important to give customers choices â not just budget options, but high-quality options. It is difficult to assess downlighting in a âdisplay format and is much easier to experience in a realistic application space.’ This means using areas of the showroom to exemplify different lighting options or using a dimming system to turn on/off groups of lights for a more realistic experience. Not all downlights are created equal. Depending on optics, lighting can feel really different. Color temperature and color quality can vary as well. In general, I have noticed a decrease in downlighting quality, as carried and shown by lighting showrooms. At the same time â especially in the higher-end residential market â we are seeing increased demand by customers for higher-quality downlighting, even when they are more expensive. Downlighting often costs as much to install as the product itself. Thus, unlike a sconce or chandelier, designers and consumers want to choose quality product that will last.â
Acuityâs Spencer advised showrooms to âdisplay lighting with unique features in a way to maximize the impact of the demo, and therefore your success. For example, if youâre displaying downlights with a sound system or built-in voice assistant, be sure to find a space that stimulates the final application. This will give the customer a better feel for the quality of the sound system, changing color temperatures, the microphones, etc..,â he said. âBasically, itâs the same as retailers have been doing for years when selling speakers. Iâd also recommend making sure the customer fully understands the entire value proposition. Because thereâs so much more to downlights now than before, telling only half the story will not justify the adoption. People pay $1000 for a smart phone, because they understand why itâs worth so much more than a telephone.â
View the entire article at enLIGHTenment.
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Sharefest aims to build strong communities by fostering volunteerism and preparing youth to lead positive change. The non-profit organization recently celebrated the grand opening of an all-new youth center.
Youth Development Center
Built in an abandoned jail in the San Pedro Municipal Building, the space has been completely transformed into a safe place for youth. There, they can meet with mentors, gain leadership skills, find their voice, and prepare for college and careers. Thousands of youth will enter the doors in the coming years.
“With the grand opening, we can fulfill our mission of helping youth break the cycle of poverty.”
DMF Lighting is proud to work with PLP SoCal to help contribute to this worthy cause with a donation of LED lighting products for the Center. We hope that this small contribution can help create a warm, inviting place for Los Angeles youth.
Learn more about Sharefest here.
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PRODUCTS is a news site and quarterly magazine that brings the latest in building product and material news to residential builders, architects, and remodelers.
Recently, the site featured a two-part series on the industry labor shortage. The second part of the series features 19 products, including the DRD5S, that can reduce installation times. Below is an excerpt from the article:
19 EFFICIENT PRODUCTS TO EASE THE SKILLED LABOR SHORTAGE
By Amanda Hermans
The U.S. construction industry is undeniably experiencing an acute shortage of skilled labor, but manufacturers are developing products to help professionals maximize the time and workers they have.
Home Innovations Research Labs recently outlined ways in which building product manufacturers can help ease the labor stress on residential construction professionals through smart product design. The suggestions include reducing the skill needed to install products, combining complementary products into a single unit, and creating products that can be installed by less people.
From factory-produced prefab building components to tools that work faster for longer, there are already solutions in a number of product categories that can help builders and contractors cut down on the hours needed to complete a project. Many product manufacturers are looking for ways to make processes more efficient, by packaging products in ready-to-install kits or rethinking product design specifically for retrofits.
One thing is certain, manufacturers will have to find ways to solve the labor shortage on their own. Whether by proactive choice or as a survival necessity, residential construction professionals across the country will have to adapt to do more with less. Incorporating a few of the efficient products below (or the countless time-saving solutions that are not listed) just might be the place to start.
18. DRD5S
The DRD5S is a new take on recessed lighting, installing with just two inches of plenum space when paired with the companyâs SurfaceFrame junction box. It is also compatible with most metallic octagonal and non-metallic round junction boxes. The light requires a mounting bracket and two screws, and then easily snaps into place, the company says. The 90+ CRI LED comes in round or square units and extends just 0.6 inches beyond the ceiling.
Learn more about the DRD5S.
View the entire article at Products.
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In July of 2018, the Office of the United States Trade Representative imposed a 25% Section 301 tariff on certain goods imported into the U.S. from China.
Now, the White House has announced a tariff will be imposed on goods from Mexico. Effective June 10, 2019, the tariff will start at 5% and can increase to as much as 25% in the coming months. While it is common for companies in our industry to use these tariffs as a justification to raise prices, DMF is committed to delivering the same excellent products and value that you have come to expect.
â Our intention is to keep our prices at the same levels despite tariffs. We understand how important it is for our customers to move forward without interrupting ongoing projects or disrupting future plans.â
Ian Ibbitson, CTO/CFO
By making this promise to you, we seek to give you the confidence to continue working with our company. DMFâs greatest asset is the trust our customers place in us, and we hope to continue our successful relationships far into the future.
If you have any questions regarding this or any other DMF policies, please contact us at info@dmflighting.com.
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That’s all folks! The 30th Annual LIGHTFAIR International officially wrapped up last week. We’d like to thank everyone who made it possible, from our helpful vendors to our dedicated sales team. Additionally, thank you to everyone who visited our booth, we hope you had a great time exploring our latest lighting innovations.
Check out some of our favorite moments from the show below.
LIGHTFAIR International 2019 – Philadelphia, PA
We’ll see you next year in Las Vegas!
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Technology Designer Magazine explores the world where technology meets design. Written by and for the design-build community, the magazine features unique team profiles and in-depth project case studies.
DMF Lighting is proud to be featured in the publication:
OneFrame
Sexy and sleek. A lighting fixture you need to know about.
BY STEPHANIE CASIMIRO
Once upon a time⌠you only had a few options when it came to lighting your living room. There were several sizes of incandescent lights/fixtures (size of the projected beam/flood), several wattages to pick from (level of overall brightness), and if you really wanted to go custom, you could put in a dimmer switch.
Well, today thatâs all changed. Just for downlighting purposes your options include a wide range of lighting components and in-ceiling frames that run the gamut from flood to narrow flood, wall wash to accent lighting.
And thatâs not all! With tunable lighting and lighting control systems that allow the homeowner to make on-the-fly changes to their lighting schemes, the complexity of hardware on the market poses a real challenge for lighting and interior designers. Which is why weâve fallen head-over-heels with DMFâs OneFrame.
The OneFrame is an LED housing that was created with multiple disciplines encoded into its DNA. From residential to multi-family (MDU) to commercial, itâs a cost-effective solution that requires less than 4âł of ceiling space. What sets it apart is the versatility and functionality that adds up to a value-add thatâs hard to beat.
Letâs first consider DMFâs primary led downlights
The DRD2 is a powerful chip-on-board LED that delivers up to 1,000 lumens of general lighting true color representation. The DRD2X incorporates advanced optics for a precise, targeted beam of low glare illumination. The DRD4 incorporates an integral driver and 20°, 30°, and 40° beam options with full 360° directional aiming.
Whatâs cool about the OneFrame is that their downlights are completely interchangeable. Letâs say youâre a builder and you spec lighting into each of the units in an MDU. Who knows what each resident will opt for when it comes to lighting their space? Now you have the option of installing DMFâs in-ceiling housing and giving the new tenants options when it comes to customizing their environment.
Homeowners also benefit from this modular concept. Who knows when you might choose to switch up any given room dĂŠcor. With a modular approach to the lighting infrastructure â the actual housing unit â you can change from wall wash to accent lighting in minutes. As customers redecorate their home, the lighting can now seamlessly change as well.
But wait! Thereâs more! Besides the versatility of offering a modular housing approach to downlighting, DMF has been smart to engineer in some well thought out features that add to the OneFrameâs versatility.
Learn more about the OneFrame.
View original article on Technology Designer.
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Each year, DMF honors a special selection from our network of representatives for all the great work they do. The Brilliance Awards celebrate not just great performance, but a partnerâs outstanding dedication to reflecting all that DMF stands for, from knowledge and partnership to loyalty and professionalism.
Diamond Award
The Diamond Award celebrates representatives without equal. Diamond Award winners excel at communicating with the whole DMF organization and are constantly learning more about our products and policies. Their excellence reflects amazing sales performances, especially across different business segments. Their passion and dedication makes them more than just partners, it makes them key members of the DMF Family.
Prism Award
The Prism Award goes to the Representative that achieved great success in their first year with DMF. These remarkable reps go beyond the day to day to successfully integrate themselves into the DMF ecosystem, quickly and effectively building relationships and knowledge. Prism Award winners demonstrate their hard work and potential for growth. They have a bright future together with DMF.
Crystal Award
The Crystal Award recognizes Representatives, who achieve their agreed sales quota goals. Such commitment and achievement are essential to our DMF business success. Crystal Award winners help us invest consistently in our business, growing our products, people, and impact to the market. Their partnership excellence is recognized and greatly appreciated.
Vision Award
The Vision Award is given to individuals who demonstrate an unparalleled bond with DMF in ways both large and small. They champion our products, our brand, and our spirit in everything that they do. Vision Award winners help DMF and our customers achieve great things because their insight solves problems and illuminates new approaches. Their excellence is a beacon that inspires our team and beyond.
Congratulations to the 2018 recipients
Our manufacturerâs representatives are the cornerstone of our business and we are proud to bestow the very best of them these Brilliance Awards. Congratulations to the winners and thank you everyone for your effort and dedication.
We look forward to another year of continued success and creativity from next year’s award winners!
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LOS ANGELES, CA â March 12, 2019 â DMF LightingÂŽ (DMF), a leader in LED downlighting innovation, announced today the United States District Court for the Central District of California granted DMFâs motion for a preliminary injunction against AMP Plus, Inc. d/b/a ELCO Lighting and ELCO Lighting, Inc. (ELCO), based on recessed lighting products that DMF alleged infringed DMFâs U.S. Patent No. 9,964,266 (âthe â266 Patentâ). The Court ruled that ELCO and âall those acting in concert with themâ shall âimmediately cease all manufacture, use, sales, offers for sale or importation of all three versions of the ELL LED Module or any other products that infringe the Patent.â This ruling not only impacts ELCO, but sales representatives, distributors, online retailers, and others who are acting in concert with ELCO to offer for sale or sell the infringing products.
As the Court noted, the â266 Patent protects DMFâs invention of a modular LED recessed lighting system that includes a compact LED module with a low-profile heat conducting casting. The LED module fits into traditional âcansâ or other lighting fixtures but is also small enough to fit into standard junction boxes. The LED lighting system also includes a twist-and-lock connection so that trims of different sizes and designs can be attached to the LED module by hand without tools.
Observing that a preliminary injunction is an âextraordinary remedy,â the Court found that, among other things, a preliminary injunction is warranted because DMF âhas shown that it is more likely than not that it will prevail on infringementâ and ELCO had not raised a substantial question about the patentâs validity. Further, DMF âdemonstrated a likelihood of irreparable harmâ to DMF by ELCOâs infringement. The Court also found that the public interest weighed in favor of enforcing DMFâs patent rights.
The evidence showed that DMF has a reputation as a âspecification grade manufacturerâ whose products have garnered many awards for innovation. ELCO, by contrast, is a âlight commercial gradeâ vendor that sells commodity products. Evidence showed that ELCO âdeveloped a scheme to increase its LED market presence by directly copying DMFâs DRD2 LED Module lighting system and started selling its infringing products â ELCOâs ELL LED Modules â two years after DMF publicly introduced its LED lighting system.â As the Court noted, rather than stop infringing sales in response to DMFâs cease and desist letters, evidence showed that ELCOâs President urged ELCO sales representatives to increase their sales efforts and âdominate the market.â
Although ELCO argued that a preliminary injunction would be a âharsh consequenceâ for ELCO, the Court found that the record indicates âELCO intentionally copied DMFâs productâ and â[o]ne who elects to build a business on a product found to infringe cannot be heard to complain if an injunction against continuing infringement destroys the business so elected.â
“This ruling affirms the strength of DMFâs patent protection for its DRD2 Module, offered under DMFâs OneFrame and OneLED brands,â said Michael Danesh, Vice President and inventor of the â266 Patent. “DMF invests heavily in research and development and is proud of the training and skill of its employees who are dedicated to delivering premium, innovative products to the industry. We will enforce our patent rights to protect our investments and our employees.â
DMF filed this patent infringement action against ELCO on August 15, 2018 in the federal court for the Central District of California. In addition to an injunction, DMF is seeking monetary damages, enhanced damages due to ELCOâs willful infringement, and attorneysâ fees.
Link to DMF Order Granting Preliminary Injunction
About DMF
DMF Lighting designs and builds LED downlighting that sets the bar for simplicity, flexibility and quality. At our in-house R&D lab, our engineers and designers are at work constantly pushing boundaries and refining products to ensure that your light and lighting consistently exceeds expectations. Every DMF product delivers outstanding performance and aesthetics while saving you time and money year after year.
Please report imitation DMF products to legal@dmflighting.com.

Brilliant New Products
Another Year of Awards
What an honor to receive continued praise by others within the industry. A true testament to our brilliant engineers.
OneFrame System
Architectural SSL Product Innovation Award
DRD5S Surface Mount
Architectural SSL Product Innovation Award
DRD4 Adjustable
IES Progress Report Selection
DRD5S Surface Mount
IES Progress Report Selection
Our Team Continues to Grow
With further additions to our DMF family in 2018, we continue to invest in our most important asset.
Looking Forward
Though 2018 was a year for the books, much of our time and effort has been focused on the future. As we enter the first quarter of 2019, our attention is turned to new products, new projects and a broader distribution of our full catalog.
âIf you want to see the latest in LED downlight innovation, keep an eye out for our new products rolling out in the next few monthsâ
Ian Ibbitson Chief Operating Officer
To experience these upcoming products first hand, join us at:
LEDucation New York, Mar 12-13
LIGHTFAIR Philadelphia, May 21-23
Thank You.
It was a big year for DMF Lighting, but we couldn’t have done it without the support of our reps and customers. Thank you for making all of our accomplishments possible and for being a part of the DMF community.
It truly was a brilliant year, we couldn’t have done it without you!