"We exude enthusiasm!"
Interview with Kristof Vermeersch, General Manager of Modular Lighting Instruments NV
Functional and aesthetic - for Kristof Vermeersch, General Manager of Modular Lighting Instruments NV and active in the lighting business for over 30 years, these two demands are not a contradiction but a central basis for success: Because the company not only stands for high-quality design, but also for first-class functional solutions and a strong sustainability approach.
Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Vermeersch, at Modular Lighting Instruments, the name says it all – what exactly makes your lighting systems unique?
Kristof Vermeersch: Architectural lighting solutions differ in several aspects from purely decorative lights. They are particularly distinguished by the finely nuanced, perfect interplay of fixtures, lighting elements, and a convincing as well as stylish design language that come together in our products. The modular approach plays a key role: It enables us to offer over 12,000 different individual lighting solutions based on single components, allowing our clients – interior designers and lighting planners – to unleash their creativity and design truly elegant spaces. In addition to the classic residential environment, we also cater to the hospitality sector like boutique hotels and restaurants, as well as office outfitters. Today, employers must be able to create an attractive spatial environment if they want to bring their employees back from the home office to their physical locations.
Wirtschaftsforum: Is there a particular style that Modular Lighting Instruments is known for?
Kristof Vermeersch: Yes and no – we give our internal and external designers a lot of freedom to develop highly functional and aesthetically pleasing lighting solutions. At the same time, our company is backed by a very strong value proposition, which all our products must invariably meet. This includes, for example, paying special attention to every technical detail. After all, the architects who later use our solutions not only have a mature aesthetic sense but also a tremendous appreciation for technical sophistication, in short: for a truly refined product, where it is immediately apparent to the trained eye that everything has been thought of.
Wirtschaftsforum: Complex in development and seemingly simple in result – how does a new product come about at Modular Lighting Instruments?
Kristof Vermeersch: We like to ask 'why' – for example with our recent development called Straw, where our designer was inspired by bamboo: Why do we create this product at all? Why does it need a suspension? Can we rely on already available components to facilitate implementation later? Of course, we do not want to use glue to connect the individual parts – that would not be sustainable. But how can we ensure that no screw heads are visible from the outside? This question about the 'why' is repeated so often until we finally arrive at the optimal extension of our product range – or the process is eventually discontinued if we cannot find a convincing solution.
Wirtschaftsforum: What role does sustainability play for Modular Lighting Instruments today?
Kristof Vermeersch: We design our products not only for maximum durability but also with a view beyond their actual lifespan, as all components are fully recyclable. We keep corresponding spare parts available for at least 15 years. At the same time, we are aware that only 5% of the CO2 footprint of our products comes from the materials, packaging, and shipping. The vast majority arises from the energy used during operation – and continued progress is being made in LED technology, further reducing energy consumption. Therefore, all our products are designed in such a way that the most current and environmentally friendly lighting can be used at any time – even in the future.
Wirtschaftsforum: What does the future hold for Modular Lighting Instruments?
Kristof Vermeersch: We are convinced that end users as well as our customers among architects and lighting designers will increasingly opt for individually customizable solutions than today – because standard products no longer satisfy their trained eye for detail. Even today, we can impress in this context with high flexibility, for example in terms of the beam of light, the color temperature or even the color design of the lights and fixtures, which represents an important feature of customization in the office environment – keyword: Corporate Identity. At the same time, the same lighting solution must function in many different contexts and thus also effortlessly adapt to changed environmental conditions in everyday life: At a nice dinner with friends and family, somewhat dimmed lighting probably sets the ideal atmospheric frame – but it looks quite different in the afternoon when the child is doing homework at the kitchen table. Modular Lighting Instruments wants to provide the right solution for all customer needs at all times – and to design it as elegantly as possible.