CASABLANCA, Morocco, May 29, 2014 – Royal Philips, the global leader in lighting, today unveiled a stunning lighting makeover of the historic, Wilaya building in Casablanca, as part of its fifth consecutive pan-African Cairo to Cape Town roadshow (http://www.philipsafricaroadshow.com).
Philips has installed its latest range of LED luminaires providing a palette of 16 million colours that can create an inspiring lighting show and highlight the Wilaya’s features as never before. The innovative LED lighting allows energy savings of up to 80% and has a lifetime of up to 100,000 hours compared to 12,000 hours with conventional lighting solutions(1).
Philips is committed to significantly expanding its business footprint in Morocco
- Energy demand in Morocco is expected to double by 2020 and triple by 2030
- Morocco aims to save 12% of energy by 2020
- Philips expansion and continued growth in Morocco is part of the strategic vision of Africa as an important growth market for Philips
All of the installed luminaires are dimmable and colour-changing making it possible to modify the lighting according to the event taking place (ceremonies, concerts, prayers, etc.), the time of day or the season. The illumination of the Wilaya has contributed to the beautification of the city, while significantly reducing energy consumption, which is aligned to the ambitions of the Moroccan government to be more energy efficient.
Making a difference with innovative lighting solutions
“As our regional headquarters for the Maghreb region, Morocco has always been very important to Philips. We enthusiastically support Morocco’s ambitious energy efficiency goals”, says Eric Heutinck, CEO, Philips Maghreb. Energy demand in Morocco is expected to double by 2020 and triple by 2030. As part of their ambitious energy strategy, Morocco aims to save 12% of energy by 2020(2). “We wanted to illuminate the Wilaya monument to demonstrate that our cutting-edge LED lighting technology can save energy and enhance the beauty of a city; they can both go hand in hand”, says Heutinck.
“In addition and to reiterate how innovative lighting solutions can make a real difference in Morocco, we will officially open a Philips community light center (http://www.lighting.philips.com/main/application_areas/solarlighting/light-centers/) on 30th May in Quartier Fath, Rabat. A Philips community light center is an area of 1000m2, or the size of a small soccer pitch, which is lit up with the latest solar-powered LED lighting. The light center “extends the day” using the power of the sun thus providing safety and security and enabling community life after dark”, Eric Heutinck adds.
Philips strengthens its business presence in Morocco
Philips is committed to significantly expanding its business footprint in Morocco in the coming years by addressing local needs with meaningful innovations. The Philips Casablanca office serves as the regional headquarters for Maghreb. The company is making substantial investments in hiring local talent and brand building and will inaugurate a new office in Casablanca in the second half of the year to broaden its reach and expand the range of product offerings and customer services. “Our expansion and continued growth in Morocco is a testament to our unwavering commitment to the Maghreb region, and is part of the strategic vision of Africa as an important growth market for Philips,” concludes Eric Heutinck.
21st century light technology shines on Casablanca’s city hall
Philips is placing its state-of-the-art LED technology at the service of the iconic Wilaya building in Casablanca. Located on the Mohammed V Square, Casablanca’s city hall Wilaya is the city’s primary place of government. It was designed by French architect Marius Boyer (http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marius_Boyer) and completed in 1927.
The building is considered one of Casablanca’s architectural assets. The design is a combination of Muslim and Moorish styles with remarkable intricate mosaics and archways. Philips’ use of LED lighting will enhance the beauty of this iconic local monument and will undoubtedly contribute to the tourism value of the Wilaya.
The advantages of the LED lighting installed at Wilaya include:
Philips strengthens its business presence in Morocco
Philips is committed to significantly expanding its business footprint in Morocco in the coming years by addressing local needs with meaningful innovations. The Philips Casablanca office serves as the regional headquarters for Maghreb. The company is making substantial investments in hiring local talent and brand building and will inaugurate a new office in Casablanca in the second half of the year to broaden its reach and expand the range of product offerings and customer services. “Our expansion and continued growth in Morocco is a testament to our unwavering commitment to the Maghreb region, and is part of the strategic vision of Africa as an important growth market for Philips,” concludes Eric Heutinck.
21st century light technology shines on Casablanca’s city hall
Philips is placing its state-of-the-art LED technology at the service of the iconic Wilaya building in Casablanca. Located on the Mohammed V Square, Casablanca’s city hall Wilaya is the city’s primary place of government. It was designed by French architect Marius Boyer (http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marius_Boyer) and completed in 1927.
The building is considered one of Casablanca’s architectural assets. The design is a combination of Muslim and Moorish styles with remarkable intricate mosaics and archways. Philips’ use of LED lighting will enhance the beauty of this iconic local monument and will undoubtedly contribute to the tourism value of the Wilaya.
The advantages of the LED lighting installed at Wilaya include:
- Dynamic lighting makes it possible to adjust the atmosphere of the site (change of intensity and color).
- The LED lighting system reduces energy consumption up to 80% compared to conventional lighting.
- A far longer lifespan: around 100,000 hours compared to 12,000 hours with conventional lighting.
- A reduction in maintenance costs: LED luminaires require little maintenance.
The fifth pan-African Cairo to Cape Town Roadshow
Casablanca is the third destination on Philips’ annual flagship Cairo to Cape Town Roadshow (http://www.philips.com/africaroadshow) (from 14th April to 3rd September 2014) which focuses on two key challenges facing Africa today – the need for energy-efficient lighting and the revitalization of African healthcare infrastructure. Philips has committed to illuminating one iconic monument in every city visited during the roadshow with the latest LED technology. As the number one LED lighting company in the world, Philips will now provide a stunning lighting makeover of historic, well-recognized monuments in African cities.
The Roadshow will make its way across seven countries and ten cities in Africa. The next stop will be in Nairobi, Kenya on the 17th of June.
For more information please follow the Cairo to Cape Town Roadshow on: http://www.philips.com/africaroadshow
Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Royal Philips.
(1) Subject to : lumen maintenance L50 at 25 degrees.
Casablanca is the third destination on Philips’ annual flagship Cairo to Cape Town Roadshow (http://www.philips.com/africaroadshow) (from 14th April to 3rd September 2014) which focuses on two key challenges facing Africa today – the need for energy-efficient lighting and the revitalization of African healthcare infrastructure. Philips has committed to illuminating one iconic monument in every city visited during the roadshow with the latest LED technology. As the number one LED lighting company in the world, Philips will now provide a stunning lighting makeover of historic, well-recognized monuments in African cities.
The Roadshow will make its way across seven countries and ten cities in Africa. The next stop will be in Nairobi, Kenya on the 17th of June.
For more information please follow the Cairo to Cape Town Roadshow on: http://www.philips.com/africaroadshow
Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Royal Philips.
(1) Subject to : lumen maintenance L50 at 25 degrees.
(2) Source: Ministry of energy, mines, water and environment (MEM) of Morocco, Renewable energy in Morocco: large-scale deployment, June 2013
For further information, please contact:
Radhika Choksey
For further information, please contact:
Radhika Choksey
Philips Group Communications – Africa
Tel: +31 62525 9000
E-mail: radhika.choksey@philips.com
About Royal Philips
Royal Philips is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through meaningful innovation in the areas of Healthcare, Consumer Lifestyle and Lighting. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips posted 2013 sales of EUR 23.3 billion and employs approximately 112,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. The company is a leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as male shaving and grooming and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at http://www.philips.com/newscenter.
