SGM Reports Robust Sales for LED Strobe

SGM reports having been so overwhelmed by the reaction to its X-5 white strobe -- the world's first professional LED strobe -- that the Italian company has increased its scheduled production in order to meet the demands of the market.

The white light X-5 was previewed as part of SGM's streamlined new range, showcased for the first time at Frankfurt's ProLight + Sound Show in April.

"We believed the concept of an LED strobe would revolutionize the market ... but even we had not anticipated this level of response from lighting designers and the global rental community, or the large number of orders we would receive," declared SGM's commercial director, Giorgio Radice.

Head of R&D, Peter Johansen, added that prospective customers had noted the compactness of the fixture, the fact that it would deliver the same output as conventional high-wattage strobes at a fifth of the power and were environmentally friendly. "Rental companies can save on two gensets of 150kW each by replacing 100 conventional strobes with our versions," he noted. "That represents a huge cost saving.

"The X-5 consumes 80% less than conventional strobe lights while producing similar light output -- but the new range of features gives the LD a complete toolbox of light effects that has never been seen before. This enables him to deliver top-quality entertainment while contributing heavily towards saving the planet by reducing CO2 emissions by 80%."

Put simply, SGM's white strobe contains 3,000 LEDs with a 50,000-hour lamp life; rather than requiring 1,600 amps to drive 100 conventional strobes the X-5 only requires a 300-amp draw.

Doubts as to whether the same impact could be achieved with LEDs as with a conventional xenon flash lamp were quickly dispelled. "Hire companies appreciated that the waveform would give LDs a lot more creativity, with thousands of new effects, and take up half the space of a similar strobe," continued Radice. "Because power consumption is no longer an issue, at last there is no limit on how many strobes can be used in a show."

The X-5 white LED strobe utilizes 3,000 Welly Power LEDs, housed in a black, slim aluminum chassis. It also contains 160-degree lens as standard, tilt of 0-180 degrees, one or four DMX channels and set up is via OLED five-button graphic display.

Other features include: simple menu structure; upgradeable software (via DMX); IP20 rated; standard Neutrik powerCON connectors and standard five-pin XLR for DMX in/out, with dimensions (HWD) of 268 x 500 x 120mm.

As with all SGM's new LED models, cooling methods have been improved via rectangular heat sinks, set-up and address procedures improved with the aid of internal diagnostics, and control procedures implemented to ensure that lamps run flicker-free.

Summing up, Johansen says, "The X-5 gives the event hire industry worldwide a real opportunity -- not only to make considerable cost savings, but at the same time help protect the environment."