UK - Astera’s new LunaBulb product – launched in May – won a coveted PLASA Award for Innovation earlier this month during the PLASA at Olympia in London.
This adds to the product’s growing collection of accolades which has also recently included a Best of Show award conferred by film-tv-video at the EuroCine expo in Munich in July.
PLASA’s Awards for Innovation judging panel commented that LunaBulb “combines a broad feature-set in a much-loved conventional aesthetic”, which clearly impressed them as much as it has many Astera customers and users.
LunaBulb weighs in at just 81 grams (0.179 lbs) and is designed for indoor and outdoor use. Key features are DMX control, full-colour RGBMA and a CCT range from 1,750K to 20,000K and five inbuilt wireless technologies (CRMX, RDM, Bluetooth, WiFi, IR, and UHF), and naturally it is compatible with Astera's ecosystem.
The innovative and sustainable LunaBulb also supports third-party accessories like 3D-printed shades and comes packaged in fully recyclable, FSC-certified materials with an expected lifespan of at least eight years.
Astera enjoyed a very busy three days at the PLASA Show, and LunaBulb was one of the stars of the show for the Germany-based manufacturer that exhibited alongside its UK distributor, Ambersphere Solutions.
Attendees “loved its lightweight design, ease of use, and advanced technology, including the DMX control and wide CCT range,” the company says. “Many also appreciated the wireless capabilities and all-weather durability.”
Astera’s head of product management, Ben Diaz, comments: “The energy at PLASA was fantastic. With a focus on new technologies constantly pushing the boundaries of creative lighting design, Astera enjoyed a great show. It was excellent to be part of an inspiring event that highlighted creativity, collaboration, and the industry’s future.” He collected the award together with Astera’s sales director, Sebastian Bückle.
Winning the PLASA Innovation Award means a lot to the company, explains Diaz: “First, PLASA is an important part of our history as an entertainment industry in the UK and internationally, and many of us grew up discovering entertainment technology by researching new innovations appearing at PLASA London.”
“This award is great because it is awarded by independent judges with extensive technical knowledge and a genuine understanding of the community. What they are rewarding here is not a purely market-oriented approach but the arrival of a new technology that will make users’ lives much easier and lighting designers’ projects much more attractive.”
He adds that “special thanks” should go to Astera’s technical director Simon Canins and the entire team for their dedication, commitment and contributions to LunaBulb’s development.
Astera has previously been recognised for products like its Titan Tube, and the brand’s PlutoFresnel won a 2023 PLASA Award for Innovation.