Client Name:  Rothwell Group

Project Location: Leicestershire

Project Manager: Ryan Taylor

When Luceco were appointed by Rothwell Group to supply its Lux Bay Ultra 4600lm Luminaires for the lighting upgrade works at Network Rail’s RIDC Melton facility, a key priority was enhancing the performance, efficiency and safety of the main test shed. Working alongside Rothwell Group and their designers Preston BARBER, Luceco developed a future-ready solution tailored to the complex operational demands of the site. 

Illuminating the challenge 

The RIDC Melton test sheds play a critical role in the UK rail industry, enabling train operators and manufacturers to test rolling stock before passenger use. The main shed itself is vast, standing at 19.5 metres high and extending over 230 metres in length. 

The existing lighting installation presented several challenges. The shed contained a mix of outdated high-bay luminaires with inconsistent performance, resulting in poor light uniformity across maintenance areas and narrow walkways. Maintenance demands were high, while manual switching controls meant lights often remained on in unoccupied areas. Overall, the environment fell short of modern safety and visual standards, creating an energy-inefficient system that did not support optimal working conditions. 

Engineered for performance 

Working to a design specification from Rothwell Group, Luceco supplied a complete lighting replacement scheme tailored to the scale and operational demands of the shed. The new installation achieved compliant lighting levels in line with Network Rail and British standards, improved uniformity across tracks and narrow walkways between trains, enhanced visibility and safety for all personnel as well as significantly reducing maintenance requirements. A key element of the upgrade was the integration of wireless PIR controls, enabling intelligent lighting operation that responds to occupancy and dramatically improving energy efficiency compared to the previous manual system. 

Smart, sustainable solution 

To meet the technical challenges of the space, Luceco supplied: 

• Lux Bay Ultra 46000lm high-performance luminaires  

• Integrated with Luceco Platform technology for wireless control  

The selected luminaires were critical to the success of the project. Their optical performance ensured adequate illumination in narrow access walkways, despite being mounted at heights approaching 20 metres. 

Equally important was the reliability of the integral PIR sensors, which were required to operate effectively at these extreme mounting heights, something the Luceco solution was specifically designed to achieve.

Delivering under pressure 

In addition to technical performance, logistics played a vital role. With tight project timescales in place, Rothwell Group required rapid product availability and delivery. 

Luceco met these demands, helping ensure the project was completed within a matter of weeks, minimising disruption while delivering immediate improvements in performance and efficiency. 

Results that make the grade 

The completed installation has transformed the RIDC shed environment, delivering a fully modern, energy-efficient lighting scheme, improving safety and visibility for operational teams, reducing energy consumption through intelligent controls and lowering ongoing maintenance requirements. 

James Rothwell, Rothwell Group said, ‘This project demonstrates how intelligent lighting design and advanced control technology can deliver real operational benefits in complex, large-scale environments. By working closely with Luceco, we were able to provide a solution that improves efficiency, performance, and long-term sustainability. 

Ryan Taylor, Account Manager at Luceco said, ‘I am very satisfied with the overall look of the project. Transforming an inefficient lighting installation into a highly energy-efficient scheme using new technology has been great to see. supplying the entire project within just a couple of weeks also helped ensure everything ran smoothly.’