E-Design Efficiency
Litestar could be the much-awaited solution for designing lighting in buildings

Amidst the sparkling innovators of lighting products at Lighting South Asia 2009 in Mumbai, there was Oxytech from Italy – a company engaged in the development of software for the ever increasing use of lighting in modern buildings.

Oxytech was in India to promote its concept-based innovations. It was offering Litestar, an easy-to-use software that facilitates efficient designing of lighting systems in both residential as well as commercial buildings. This software incorporates management and calculation programmes, enables photographic rendering to the highest standards, and allows total privacy and maximum flexibility to users. Its electronic web catalogue helps users prepare a database of luminous sources and lighting devices and update their records, besides providing advanced photometry management in various formats.

Explains Stefano Borsani (com@oxytech.it), sales manager, Oxytech, “This software enables the users to design any lighting project according to specific requirements. It can be used by manufacturers of lighting products, lighting designers, installers and consultants, specialised retailers and wholesalers of lighting products. It enables the development of integrated systems for lighting, and the best possible solutions for improving daily operations and work efficiencies.”

Borsani informs that the Litestar suite consists of seven modules (see box), and is being constantly upgraded by a highly qualified team of programmers and designers on the basis of feedback received daily from customers, and from the company’s own experience in various sectors. “We have collaborations with research institutes and universities such as the Politecnico of Milan, which help us in developing more efficient functions. In fact, we provide software update every alternate year to our users - all of which are innovation-based and absolutely new. The average frequency of up-gradation is 12 to 18 months.”

Oxytech offers two versions of the software – Litestar Open and Pro, and according to Borsani they are being used by thousands of professionals across the world. “Litestar’s web catalogue is available in as many as 20 languages,” he states.

As regards response to the company’s software at Lighting South Asia, Borsani says, “We received innumerable serious queries about our software, and we are confident that we will find many Indian buyers. In fact, some deals are on the verge of getting finalised.” He adds, “We are offering three options: Litestar Open, which is a free-of-charge trial version; Litestar Pro, priced at Rs 18,000, without services such as phone/e-mail assistance, maintenance and one-year contract; and Litestar Pro which is backed with full services and is priced at Rs 90,000. The free version corresponds to 80% of the features of Litestar Pro.”

“The Indian lighting industry is witnessing impressive growth, with many architects and lighting designers engaged in large scale commercial and residential projects across the country, and I think this software can assist them greatly,” concludes Borsani.