OTICON A/S — RETROFIT OF 800 LIGHT FIXTURES
Oticon A/S, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of hearing aids, headquartered in Denmark, decided in 2026 to modernize the lighting at its Danish headquarters. The goal was not to tear down the ceiling and start from scratch. It was to do it right—without discarding high-quality products that were still in working order.
The Starting Point
The existing installation consisted of 800 Glamox 60×60 fixtures with 2×21W T5 fluorescent tubes. System power, including ballasts: 58W per fixture. The light quality was acceptable but not optimal—CRI 80 and UGR below 20. The fluorescent tubes’ 10,000-hour lifespan resulted in frequent replacements and operating costs. Total annual electricity consumption for lighting: 104,400 kWh.
The Solution
Lumega supplied 1,600 LED inserts—two per fixture—that snap directly into the existing Glamox fixture housing. No new fixture housing. No ceiling repairs. No construction mess. The electrician finished installing each fixture in 5 minutes.
Specifikationer på den nye LED indsats: 2×20W, systemeffektivitet 100 lm/W, 4.000 lm, 3.000K, CRI90, UGR<16 med optimeret reflektorteknik. DALI-2 DT6 med Winsta Wago 5-pol stik til hurtig og fejlsikker tilslutning. Fuldt CE-certificeret som komplet enhed — armatur og indsats samlet. Derudover skal nævnes uplight blev tilføjet, så det originale Glamox design kunne komme til sin ret. Uplight funktionen giver mere dybde og sikre en bedre visuel komfort som helhed. UGR værdien er under 16, det er ekstremt lavt i kontormiljøer og gav et fantastisk resultat. Lyset kan ikke ses fra armaturet (kun uplight), men lyset kan i den grad ses i rummet, idet luxværdien næsten blev fordoblet på trods af energibesparelsen.
Results
Energy consumption has been reduced by 39 percent. Oticon saves 40,716 kWh per year and reduces its CO₂ emissions from lighting by 4,886 kg CO₂e annually, equivalent to approximately 4.9 metric tons. Over 20 years, the total energy-related CO₂ savings amount to 98 metric tons.
The payback period is estimated at 2 years and 6 months, excluding installation work, and 3 years and 2 months, including the electrician's work.
The light quality has improved significantly—from CRI 80 fluorescent lighting to CRI 90 LED lighting. Colors in the work environment appear more lifelike, contrast is sharper, and employees’ perception of the space has changed. The LED modules are supplied with the driver on the market that has the absolute lowest flicker value—well below the European requirement—which eliminates the subconscious strain that high-frequency flicker can cause during prolonged computer work.
The lux level has increased from 255 lux to a full 509 lux—nearly double the previous level. This also means the facility now meets the new European requirements, whereas the previous fluorescent lighting system did not even meet the older lighting standards. In addition, the system is fully ready for BR18 and data collection, ensuring that the building is well-positioned not only as part of a future energy-efficient building stock but also in the event of a sale.
The Circular Calculation
The alternative to the LED inserts would have been to install 800 new LED fixtures. A new fixture weighs 4.2 kg. The Glamox fixture weighs 5.6 kg and has been reused 100 percent. The Lumega solution added only 640 kg of new material in the form of LED inserts. The alternative would have required 3,360 kg of new aluminum production and left behind 4,480 kg of old luminaire waste. The avoided material production alone corresponds to a CO₂ reduction of approximately 19 metric tons.
The renovation took place on site. The fixtures never left the building. There was no need to transport them to a sandblasting, painting, or recycling facility. This is the circular economy in practice—not just as a marketing concept, but as a technical and logistical reality.
The time saved during installation is 3,200 minutes, which is equivalent to 53 hours. This corresponds to a reduction in installation costs of approximately 35,000 DKK.
Over the next 20 years, Oticon will also avoid having to replace approximately 7,200 T5 fluorescent tubes, which would otherwise have had to be replaced four times during that period. Fluorescent tubes have been phased out and are no longer manufactured; obviously, it would not even be possible to purchase 7,200 T5 fluorescent tubes.
Lumega as a supplier
Lumega is the only manufacturer of non-OEM LED inserts with full CE certification as a complete unit—luminaire and insert combined. This is no small matter. It’s the difference between a product that can legally be sold and installed in Europe and one that cannot. Lumega’s award-winning AI-powered configuration model ensures that the right insert is matched to the existing luminaire with the correct photometric and electrical parameters. No incorrect orders. No returns. No surprises on installation day.
Oticon achieved better lighting, lower operating costs, and a documented reduction in CO₂ emissions—all while retaining their existing fixtures. It wasn’t a compromise. It was the best solution.
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