The partnership brings together Signify’s established Xitanium and D4i technology platform with Aluwave’s experience of developing electronics for hazardous, offshore and Arctic environments within the Barel product portfolio.
Together, the companies are developing new Explosion Proof Xitanium Sensor Ready / D4i LED driver solutions, designed to become an important part of BGx – Aluwave’s upcoming generation of Ex lighting technology.
BGx will bring together a broader range of technologies and components for future Ex lighting solutions, including drivers, ARC LED modules, batteries and more.
– It is about future-proofing the technology. We see great value in combining Signify’s proven technology platform with the specialist Ex competence we have built through Barel. Instead of trying to reinvent everything ourselves, we can use the best from both sides and focus our energy on creating better solutions for demanding environments. That is when 1 + 1 becomes 3, says Bård Gamnes, CEO at Aluwave.
Combining proven technology with specialist Ex expertise
In Ex environments, electronics must meet exceptionally high requirements for safety, reliability and certification. At the same time, lighting technology is evolving rapidly, with connectivity, sensors and intelligent control becoming increasingly important.
For Aluwave, the collaboration creates a way to bring those developments into applications where technical and safety requirements are particularly demanding – while also building an important technological foundation for the upcoming BGx generation.
– What makes this partnership strong is that we bring different things to the table. Signify has a proven technology platform with global scale, while we have deep experience of what electronics need to withstand in hazardous environments. By combining those strengths, we can move faster and create better solutions for our customers, says Bård Gamnes.
From robust lighting to connected Ex lighting
The collaboration is intended to support the development of connected, energy-efficient and Ex-certified lighting solutions, including applications in Zone 1 and Zone 2.
Through the D4i interface, the new solutions also create opportunities for sensors, intelligent control and wireless connectivity in environments where introducing new electronics is considerably more complex than in conventional buildings.
The ambition is therefore not simply to develop another generation of LED drivers. It is to bring more of the possibilities of modern lighting systems into some of the world’s most demanding environments – and to create a platform for a broader new generation of Ex lighting technology. – Customers want the reliability and safety they have always depended on, but they also want access to the possibilities that come with connected lighting, sensors and smarter control. Our ambition is to help bridge those two worlds, says Bård Gamnes.
Ready for what comes next
For manufacturers of Ex luminaires, technology choices can have consequences for many years. A driver affects system architecture, functionality, certification and the possibilities for future development.
By combining proven driver technology with Aluwave’s broader expertise in Ex electronics, BGx is being developed as a foundation for the next generation of Barel solutions – bringing together drivers, LED modules, batteries and other key technologies within one future-focused product family.
The full BGx portfolio is planned for launch in the first half of 2027. More details will follow as we get closer…