World's widest, thinnest longest lamp now available in UK

A new light source, which is flexible and thinner than a credit card, and which provides a truly novel opportunity to integrate light on nearly any surface, contour or object, is now available in the UK for the first time.

Described as "the world's widest, thinnest, longest lightbulb", FLATLITE® can be fitted where traditional light sources cannot, such as under tables, round columns, and used to light previously difficult areas to illuminate on exhibition stands or stage sets. The FLATLITE® material is simply pulled off a roll, cut to size and secured to whatever surface with adhesive or acrylic. It can also be used instead of florescent tubes to back-light graphics.

The first production electroluminescent (EL) lamp, FLATLITE® comprises processed phosphor crystals sandwiched between a very thin aluminium electrode and a clear top electrode. When these two panels are connected to an AC power source the resulting field causes the phosphor to glow.

FLATLITE® is different from other EL technologies because it is manufactured in long continuous rolls that are up 760mm wide and more than 365-metres long. This unique manufacturing process means that - unlike other EL products, which are silk screen printed and are therefore limited to a specific size, shape and connection location ‚ FLATLITE® has the ability to be easily fabricated into a choice of widths, lengths and shapes and provides an enormous range of applications.

It also appears brighter than other light sources since, unlike traditional lamps, FLATLITE® does not emit light as a point source, but as a field source. This means that the decrease in perceived brightness over distance is considerably less and that FLATLITE® will outperform a lamp of greater point brilliance in practical use.

In addition, operating costs are a fraction of other light sources. It is approximately 6% of the cost of running a neon or florescent light; 12% the cost of fibreoptics; and 18% the cost of an LED stripe.

FLATLITE® is manufactured in two basic colours: aqua or white. The green lamp uses a mix of natural blue and green phosphor crystals which, when combined, give the best brightness and life available. To make the white lamp, a dye is added to the phosphor-mix during manufacture. When energised, the blue/green colour is then shifted by the dye to appear as a pure white.

For lamp widths of 152.4mm or less, other colours can be created by adhering and laminating coloured gel material to the standard green and white FLATLITE® lamp. Currently, six fluorescent colour overlays are available: yellow, red, magenta, green, blue and orange.

An outdoor version, protected inside a plastic extrusion, of FLATLITE® is also available. The useful life of a FLATLITE® lamp varies by application, brightness, duty cycle and ambient temperature. However, unlike other light sources, FLATLITE® never burns out completely, but slowly loses brightness over time. It is recommended that for most common applications the lamp be replaced every 5,000 to 20,000 hours.

FLATLITE® is manufactured in the United States to ISO standard 9002 by E-Lite Technologies, Inc; and is now available in the UK from leading live events agency Amber & Green, Airport House, Purley Way, Croydon, CR0 0XZ; tel: 0208 228 3565; www.amberandgreen.com