Thorn and Zumtobel, lighting brands of the Zumtobel Group, are delighted to announce their partnership with Sunderland Association Football Club (Sunderland AFC) for a comprehensive lighting upgrade at the Stadium of Light. This project represents part of the club's most significant investment in their stadium in over two decades and aligns with Sunderland AFC's long-term sustainability goals, including their aim to become energy self-sufficient by 2028.
The lighting upgrade, which debuted during Sunderland's recent match against Derby County, followed by a highly praised performance during the Leeds United match, delivered a stunning matchday experience for fans, both in-stadium and watching live on Sky Sports. The club's efforts to enhance the atmosphere and visual experience received widespread positive feedback, creating a new level of excitement for fans.
A key factor in Sunderland's decision to partner with Thorn and Zumtobel was the proximity of the Spennymoor manufacturing plant, located just 21 miles from the stadium. This local production enabled faster delivery and installation, supporting the regional economy while providing top-tier, energy-efficient lighting solutions for the club.
The scope of the lighting project extends beyond the stadium itself, encompassing key locations such as the Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground (Hetton Centre) and their training facility, the Academy of Light, including the gym and training barn. Other noteworthy areas include the exterior canopy, public concourse area, and hospitality zones, including Quinns Bar, the Business Lounge, and Montgomery Suite.
Innovative lighting solutions, including Thorn’s Altis—used by renowned clubs like Boca Juniors— as well as Zumtobel's SLOTLIGHT infinity, CRAFT II Performance, and LITECOM lighting management system, were chosen to enhance visibility, lighting quality, and ambience across the venue. The pitch lighting upgrades ensure optimal lighting quality for TV broadcasts through meticulous flicker measurements and light level assessments, leveraging the Group’s advanced technology and expertise.
Paul Kilburn, Managing Director at Thorn and Zumtobel - UK & Ireland, comments; "We are honoured to be a lighting partner for Sunderland Association Football Club, playing a pivotal role in illuminating several key areas. This collaboration reflects years of relationship-building and a shared commitment to delivering cutting-edge lighting solutions. It is a proud moment to return to the Stadium of Light, having been involved in the original Roker Park site and the subsequent Stadium of Light build in 1996/1997, as well as the floodlighting upgrade in 2013 with Altis HID technology. Additionally, with our plant located in Spennymoor, this project is especially close to home."
Strengthening the relationship, Thorn Lighting is a Club Partner, with the Thorn logo prominently featured on Sunderland A.F. C’s website and displayed in the Business Lounge, further solidifying the collaboration. The partnership also includes matchday tickets for key fixtures, underscoring the strong connection between the organisations.
SAFC’s Chief Business Officer, David Bruce said: “Our team are consistently looking to identify new ways to improve experiences for our supporters. In Thorn and Zumtobel we have a core partner who plays an integral role in bringing a new energy to matchdays at the Stadium of Light. The brand’s attention to detail and focus on quality, alongside our Head of Facilities, Chris Ferguson, and his team have resulted in a best-in-class offering for our fans. As a stadium, we pride ourselves in giving visitors the best possible experience, regardless of the occasion. These significant upgrades will enable us to do this across our multi-event calendar, including concerts and other sporting events, and allow us to be at the forefront of in-stadia engagement and experiences.”
Thorn Lighting proudly unveils its latest innovation, the Altis G5 floodlight, engineered to deliver exceptional lighting performance while meeting the demands of challenging environments. Key features such as wind resistance and advanced thermal management set the Altis G5 apart, making it a leading choice for sports venues, industrial spaces, and transportation hubs.
In high-performance lighting, thermal management is critical to ensure safe operation and extend product lifespan. Altis G5’s unique “pin block” heatsink design optimizes airflow and cooling, allowing the luminaire to achieve maximum performance with minimal heat accumulation. Capable of delivering up to 256,000 lumens, the Altis G5 is designed to withstand high wind speeds, offering enhanced durability in demanding outdoor applications.
Thermal Management: A Cornerstone of the Altis G5 Design
Pier Angelo Favarolo, Thorn’s Principal Engineer for Thermal Management, explains the intricate design considerations that went into developing Altis G5: “To manage the high luminous output, we focused on maximizing optical efficiency and minimizing heat absorption. The redesigned heat sink ensures effective heat dissipation, enabling the luminaire to operate safely across different installations.”
Favarolo highlights the Altis G5’s cooling system, which was reimagined from the LED module to the heat sink, incorporating a unique pin block design. “We optimized the geometry of the pins—both size and pattern—to improve airflow and allow flexible installation options. This design not only reduces heat but also enhances the luminaire’s versatility,” he adds.
Optimized for Wind Resistance
Windage, or wind resistance, is a critical factor for outdoor luminaires, especially when mounted at high elevations in sports or industrial settings. The Altis G5’s shape and pin configuration were optimized to reduce drag forces, requiring less mounting infrastructure and increasing installation flexibility. A standout feature of the Altis G5 is its independently tiltable light modules, enabling tailored lighting designs while minimizing drag.
This thoughtful design approach earned Altis G5 two IP patents, underscoring Thorn’s commitment to innovation and quality.
Efficient Power Supply with the “Fish-Bone” Heatsink
Another notable innovation in the Altis G5 is the remote gearbox, designed to handle approximately 1.8 kW of power. Unlike conventional units, which often use longitudinal fins, Thorn’s team developed a “fish-bone” heatsink for effective heat dissipation across all mounting positions. This feature supports diverse installation options and simplifies setup for customers.
Windage Calculation for Project-Specific Needs
To assist customers with project-specific windage requirements, Thorn offers computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software for optimizing the configuration of Altis G5 luminaires. This analysis allows precise adjustment of tilt and module position to reduce SCx (drag area) while meeting desired lighting requirements. This service is especially valuable for retrofit projects, ensuring compatibility with existing mounting systems.
A Comprehensive Solution for High-Performance Outdoor Lighting
Thorn’s Altis G5 floodlight raises the standard for outdoor lighting, providing customers with a robust, efficient solution that excels in performance, longevity, and adaptability. With in-house R&D and patented designs, Thorn offers turnkey solutions that combine optimized thermal and windage performance with unrivaled lighting quality. As Thorn continues to innovate, the future of outdoor lighting grows even brighter.
Product Specifications
The Altis G5 is a high-power LED floodlight designed for sports and area lighting, with a range of CCT/CRI/TLCI options (3000K, 4000K, 5700K; CRI from 70 to 90+) suitable for HDTV broadcasting. Features include tiltable LED modules for flexible lighting design, compact construction (available in multiple configurations), IP66 and IK08 resistance, and a die-cast aluminum gearbox housing with a “fishbone” fin design for optimal thermal management. The Altis G5 is engineered for operation in temperatures from -40°C to +45°C, with a lifetime exceeding 50,000 hours and surge protection up to 10kV.
Omega Moduline is Thorn’s new sustainable recessed panel with replaceable LED modules and driver. Designed for the demands of today’s world, Omega Moduline is a stylish recessed LED panel perfect for education and office usage. Not only is it high-performance, the luminaire features replaceable LED modules and is easy to install.
Available in three panel sizes (600x600, 625x625 and 300x1200 mm), Omega Moduline features two linear LED modules both containing 12 cells with primary lens optics. It also features an output of up to 5000 lm that is carefully controlled to provide low-glare light (UGR <19) as well as a high efficacy of up to 153 lm/W.
- The key feature of OMEGA MODULINE is the ability to replace LED modules, drivers & sensors making it an upgradeable, more environmentally friendly option with prolonged lifetime with careful maintenance.
- Each complete linear LED module can be easily replaced tool-free and offers a simple click-in mechanism, this allows a change of LED modules at end of life or the change of colour temperature or colour rendering if desired.
- A combination of deep cells with primary lenses provide high quality lighting with even light distribution and efficient glare control at very high brightness of the LED modules.
- Available in sizes 600 x 600 mm, 625 x 625 mm, 1200 x 300 mm in different lumen packages (3300, 4100, 4800 lumen), colour temperatures of 3000 K, 4000 K and VCT 2700 K…6500 K and options of CRI 80 and CRI 90.
- The design allows the clean integration of sensors, controls and emergency options into the front of the panel with all components neatly stored within a gear tray on the back of the panel.
A choice of colour temperatures are offered, including 3000 K and 4000 K. In addition, Omega Moduline is available with Variable Colour Temperature (VCT) technology which uses high-quality LEDs to tune the colour temperature from a warm 2700 K up to a very cool 6500 K, depending on the needs of a space. To learn more, click here.
Beta Cell combines a distinctive cellular design with high efficacy and excellent glare control. Thorn’s newest recessed indoor luminaire is designed for quick and easy installation and benefits from a cellular design with prismatic lenses. As a stylish alternative to a typical LED flat panel, Beta Cell easily meets the demands of office and academic settings.
Available in two different sizes (600 x 600 mm and 625 x 625 mm) and colour temperatures (3000 K and 4000 K), the luminaire has an efficacy of up to 133 lm/W and a durable 50,000 hour lifetime. Additionally, Beta Cell offers carefully controlled glare levels and fixed output or DALI dimmable options along with CRI 80 and high colour rendering CRI 90 LEDs. The result? An aesthetically pleasing option that’s different to the norm. Click here for more information.
- Available in square 600 and 625 sizes suitable for modular ceilings and when combined with the required mounting accessories can be suspended, surface mounted or installed in plasterboard ceilings
- Offering a modern, alternative appearance to standard flat panels, Beta Cell is an ideal, cost effective solution, for replacing old existing luminaires during a refurbishment project
- The 36 LED cells (arranged in a 6x6 pattern) each have a prismatic primary lens to allow for higher light output with low glare and user comfort
- Easy to install with twist and lock wiring connectors to the LED driver
A high efficient and sustainable LED downlight range with recessed height <100mm, cut out of 100mm, 150mm or 200mm, and output of up to 5000 lm. The refined downlight family where performance meets state-of-the-art efficiency with durability, ingress protection and circular design quality.
Improving on the best of Chalice and Chalice Pro, the newly launched third-generation Chalice delivers an adaptable, in-depth range that can meet a plethora of demanding downlighting needs, ensuring it is suitable for installation in numerous applications. This includes office, education, retail health and care, residential, as well as industry and transportation (plus many others).
High efficient thermal management from diecast aluminium with recycling content >90%. IP54 as standard or IP65 with pre-mounted cover. IK09 rating. Fixed or dimmable driver (EHF, HFIX, COR, NLX) optional in combination with emergency E3/E3D. Colour temperature is 3000K/4000K/ with CRI >80 or CRI >90. Reflector made from PC with three surfaces: RSB in satinbrite finish with wide beam, RMB in high glossy/specular finish (UGR19 according to EN12464), RWH in white finish with wide beam. Luminaire luminous flux: 800–5000 lm. Lifetime is 50,000 hours at L90 (Ta 25°C).
Features
- Highest possible luminaire efficiency for the application with up to 155lm/W for reduced energy cost
- Complete with colour temperature 3000K, 4000K LED in CRI80 or CRI90. Available lumen packages between 800 and 5000 lm (depending on size)
- Three smooth reflector surfaces: RSB in satinbrite finish with wide beam, RMB in high glossy/specular finish for improved glare control UGR19 according to EN 12464), RWH in white finish with wide beam
- Tool free spring clip installation, out of the box for mounting in a wide range of ceiling types with ceiling thicknesses of 1-40mm. Remote pluggable driver makes installation quick and easy. Through-wiring possible
- IP54 as standard for recessed luminaires, IP65 available in myProduct. High ceiling (5000lm) luminaire in IP20, IP43 available in myProduct. Surface mounted IP43 as standard, IP54 available.
The latest generation of our HiPak high bay is a highly efficient one-for-one replacement for conventional industrial luminaires. But with an efficacy of up to 180 lm/W – it promises the quickest payback than ever before.
With a choice of three sizes and six lumen outputs up to 35,000 lm, the next generation of HiPak is a solid option for refurbishment and retrofit projects. Its perfectly crafted optics and refractor accessories also mean that HiPak can just as easily be used in retail applications where appearance and visual comfort are essential, as well as logistics, manufacturing or warehouse facilities.
But we’ve not forgotten about sustainability. HiPak features a range of control options to enable even greater energy savings.
The new generation of Thorn’s innovative industrial high bay luminaire offers stunning performance and a compelling ROI
- Introducing our new high bay luminaire with two light distributions: wide beam for open spaces and rack beam for high shelves. Illuminate your space with precision and efficiency.
- Highly efficient one-for-one replacement for conventional industrial luminaires – and with a higher efficacy than its predecessors, it promises a quicker payback than ever.
- With three sizes and six lumen outputs ranging up to 35000 lm, HiPak is an ideal option for point-for-point replacements on retrofit projects.
- With wide beam (WB) and rack beam (RK) light distributions available, and specially designed reflectors, HiPak is also suitable for applications such as retail, where appearance and visual comfort are high priorities.
- HiPak enables greater energy savings through DALI versions, and motion and daylight sensor integration. Emergency option is also available.
- For even higher energy-saving potential, a sensor can also be combined with basicDIM wireless. This offers a simple and convenient way to connect the luminaires wirelessly across our portfolio.
