Introducing Delta Light

How was Delta Light created?

Before founding Delta Light, Paul Ameloot was the owner of Stereohouse in Roeselare, a company that offered sound solutions for residential, nightlife and hotel projects. In the 1980s, Paul realised that more and more of his customers were looking for lighting solutions.

When he created Delta Light in 1989, he intended to offer his customers complete lighting solutions based on his extensive knowledge of the market. The establishment of Delta Light came at a time when lighting and its applications were becoming increasingly important to building owners. It was the beginning of a new and impressive story.

How many people do you employ?

Delta Light currently employs about 500 people worldwide, of which 330 are at our headquarters in Wevelgem (Belgium). In addition to offices and a production department, our head office includes a spacious showroom, warehouses, laboratories for internal testing and certification and a training centre, The House of Light. The head office is an inspiration and training centre for partners, architects, lighting designers, engineers, installers and end-users from all over the world.

What do lighting and design mean to you? What impact do you think it can have?

In the same vain as the digital revolution is changing the world, artificial lighting has been helping to shape it for thousands of years. A world without it is unthinkable. In living, working and leisure, day and night, artificial lighting is always present.

In addition, light has something magical. Just as music can fill a room, light can add an extra dimension to architecture. From warm coloured light during a dark winter evening to shadows that reinforce the architecture. Light effects can enlarge the perspective of a room and change its appearance. Just as a work of art can trigger emotions, light also has a direct impact on the human mind and mood. To contribute to the human wellbeing of people with our lighting solutions is a key part of our mission.

What do you consider to be the biggest strength of your designs?

For Delta Light, design is not limited to creating a beautiful form or shape. Design within Delta Light also stands for exciting concepts, technical discoveries and innovation in installation, assembly, use, ecological impact and beyond. Together with a sophisticated form, design ensures that Delta Light products remain relevant in a fast-evolving world.

The architectural lighting of Delta Light presents an introverted design, that disappears into the architecture. It supports, compliments and emphasizes the architecture. Our constant exploration of the limits of the technically & economically feasible results in a purified design. Pronounced proportions and sophisticated interventions ensure a contemporary minimalism that remains interesting always. That way we combine the best of both works: lighting technology and design.

You are providing light fixtures for the Belgian pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. What did you take away so far from the cooperative effort between a governmental agency and your company?

The World Expo offers a unique platform to promote Belgian design to an international audience. The mix of Belgian manufacturers that participate in the Belgian pavilion promises exciting cooperation and networking. Moreover, events such as the Dubai Design Week offer even more opportunities at the pavilion.

What do you think of the general design of the Belgian pavilion? Does it complement your designs? 

The contemporary design is a fine example of construction engineering and architecture. By conceiving the building as an 'arch', it invites, brings people together and creates a sense of belonging, which is very relevant in these times. In the arch, several green plateaus reveal the Belgian pavilion’s focus on sustainability.

Like the pavilion’s sophisticated architecture and construction, our Delta Light luminaires combine innovative technology and refined, contemporary design. Our lighting solutions perfectly blend with the architecture of the pavilion and emphasize its striking features.

What is the vision you want to bring to the Belgian pavilion and Expo 2020 Dubai?

Our company vision correlates with that of the Belgian pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. High standards in design and technology and a pursuit of sustainability are also found in the architecture by Assar Architects and Vincent Callebaut Architectures.

Our lighting approach for the pavilion harmonizes with the function of each space. In the seminar space, restaurant and circulation spaces functional lighting is key, with a focus on sleek design. In the restaurant spaces, our Shiftline profiles are donned with gold coloured Hedra luminaires. Momba wall luminaires offer comfortable and atmospheric lighting.

In the exhibition spaces, our Spy and Fragma spotlights on tracks create experience lighting. Both lighting solutions answer the needs of gallery and museum spaces. In the entrance hall, the lighting plan presents a playful and decorative approach. Our Shiftline profiles are equipped with an array of lighting modules, featuring spot lighting, led line lighting and diffuse solutions.

What projects do you have for the future? What are your dreams for the future?

This may sound very old-fashioned, but staying healthy in the current times and circumstances and dealing with the complex pandemic environment in a way where we can still have fun seems like quite a dream.

The main project for the coming years is to continue to develop the Delta Light Group as a global player. The expansion of our network and our customer base is the key to the success of the company. The core of that project is to inspire our specifiers with new solutions and to contribute to an environment where light makes a difference and bring added value. If we continue on that path, our other projects will follow with ease.

A personal goal that gives me great satisfaction is to develop our people in the company. To hand them opportunities and let them grow in what they do. We must continue to invest in our most important asset, our people. We can only be happy if our entire Delta Light team is happy.

What are the biggest challenges you face regarding your work?

The shift to a more sustainable and ecological approach is now happening very quickly. The EU has set clear targets up to 2050, while local authorities are drafting new laws. We have to be quick introducers of the new and proven technologies to make the shift happen.

Digitalisation is another important trend and challenge, which has received an extra boost during the pandemic period. An acceleration in digitalisation is necessary. However, we need to find the right boundaries and ensure that our team is not heavily under pressure during the transition.

On a personal level, finding the right work-life balance is a challenge, especially if you do not see work as anything other than living and enjoying it.

What are the values and objectives that you bring to your work?

A personal key value that I bring every day is to be responsible about what we do and to deliver results. By working hard and working well together with our team, we can achieve great results.

Respect is a value that we should all have. Respect for our colleagues, our suppliers, in fact, all our stakeholders. Mistakes often happen and by all of us. It is about how we solve and prevent our mistakes.

And last but not least, being passionate about what we do. If we are passionate, it is much more fun to do our job. When we lead by example, our whole team becomes passionate.

How has the current pandemic affected your work?

My family is happy to have seen me more in the last two years than in the prior ten.

On a professional level, the fact that personal contact was no longer possible was a huge disadvantage and disruption. Not in the least for our bond with our beloved customers and specifiers, as personal relationships are the most important decision factor in the buying process.

During the last 24 months, it was not possible to meet up in person with our teams abroad. A fundamental discussion about the business is a whole different experience online. In-depth discussions still require physical presence. The same goes for collegial interaction, informal chats with colleagues to check in and see whether they are doing well.

Even though Teams and Zoom can never replace face-to-face personal contact, we should be glad that these technologies exist and help us through this global crisis.

Do you have any advice for others who want to start on the same adventure as you?

Proceed step by step. Make sure you are guided by people with experience. They can be your critical sounding board. If you go, go all the way. Half work or effort always has the same linear outcome.

Have fun with what you do. And take the time to figure out where you get your moments of reflection and inspiration. Some need a time-out to find it, while others need constant interactions and discussions to create ideas. As long as you know what works for you, you will be fine.