The more things change, the more they stay the same. This 1800s epigram could easily be describing the award-winning Halo line of products, introduced by Eaton Cooper in 1956. Despite turning 60 this year, Halo — a go-to solution for homeowners and businesses alike — continues to stay true to its original guiding principles while keeping an eye toward the future and on the latest technologies.
“Early on, we pioneered the ‘fit-all’ housing concept, which allowed one housing to accommodate a multitude of trims,” says Glenn Siegel, director of marketing and product management for Eaton’s Lighting Division. This early commitment to versatility can be seen in applications across the country in homes and businesses alike, where Halo products are delineating spaces while maintaining a clean aesthetic. The “fit-all” concept also impacts designs as it enables easier installation to meet multiple demands on one or many projects.
While that basic concept of Halo has not changed, Siegel points to its seamless implementation of evolving LED technology as an indicator that the brand has kept up with changing times and continues to meet new needs. In particular, designers faced with shrinking plenum spaces in new construction can turn to the Surface LED Downlight (SLD). “Based on our proprietary WaveStream™ LED technology, what appears to be a downlight is actually a surface-mounted LED ‘disk,’” reveals Siegel. “Our unique design creates a beam pattern very similar to a traditional downlight yet can be mounted to a junction box or recessed housing. It’s a real problem solver.”
Eaton has also been innovating for unusual ceilings and sharp angles where adequate lighting can be a struggle. “One of our hidden gems within the Halo product offering is our dedicated LED slope ceiling fixtures, the ALLSLOPE LED Downlight System,” says Siegel. Designed to accommodate ceilings with pitches ranging from 2/12 (10 degrees) up to 12/12 (45 degrees), ALLSLOPE is not only a great alternative to traditional flat-ceiling lighting, but is also versatile enough to adapt with changing designs. “The fixture is field adjustable, so even if the plans change, the installer can still set the pitch on the job.”
Beyond aesthetics and versatility, Halo products have also made major strides in energy efficiency. In fact, the EPA announced Eaton as a 2016 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year, due to the company’s impressive offering of over 150,000 configurable models of ENERGY STAR-certified products and strong energy-education programs for its employees, distributors and consumers. Eaton also ensures that previous models benefit from green advances. “We believe in continuity,” says Siegel, “so Halo housings that may have been installed 30 years ago can now accept the latest technologies including a Halo LED retrofit module, bringing the total system up to the most energy-efficient standard.”
That kind of forward thinking is not going to stop or slow down for Eaton as it celebrates a milestone birthday. To foster innovation, Eaton offers its annual SOURCE Awards competition, which recognizes excellence in lighting design that incorporates its products. The manufacturer is continually developing new Halo designs that cater to the evolving LED market. Architects and designers looking for even more great solutions, for instance, can expect better-integrated lighting, new aperture sizes, more CCTs and more lumen options. Of course, just as they have done for the last 60 years, Siegel says they’ll also simply “improve the quality of the light, as well,” staying bright in the industry for years to come.