How often do you publish?

We post new articles monthly, with extra updates around product launches and standards changes.

Who writes the content?

Magnitech engineers and product specialists, with editing by our technical marketing team.

Can I request a topic?

Yes — send your question via our Contact page and we’ll prioritise it if it helps the community.

Are your design tips SANS-aligned?

Yes. We reference SANS requirements and typical South African conditions. Always confirm project specifics with a formal design.

Can I republish your articles?

You can quote short excerpts with a link back. For full reposts, please request permission.

Engineers drinking coffee and reading Magnitech blogs

Industrial & Mining Lighting Insights

Practical industrial lighting knowledge from Magnitech’s team. Explore technical guidance on mining lighting, hazardous areas, lighting design, energy efficiency, product selection, compliance and real-world installation performance.

Drawing on more than 55 years of lighting experience, our technical content is written to help engineers, contractors, specifiers and industrial operators make better-informed lighting decisions.

The Long-Term Cost of Low Cost Industrial Lighting

Low upfront pricing can look attractive, but in industrial environments it often creates higher long-term costs through premature failures, reduced lumen output, driver issues, repeated maintenance and downtime. This article explains why total cost of ownership should guide every industrial lighting specification.

Aug 125 min read

Dark sky compliant street lighting with downward-directed LED luminaires illuminating a residential road with minimal upward light and clear night sky visibility

Dark Sky Lighting - Beyond Up light: The Overlooked Role of Reflected Light

Dark sky lighting has long focused on eliminating up light — but this approach only tells part of the story. Even fully shielded luminaires can contribute significantly to skyglow through reflected light from illuminated surfaces. In this article, we explore how surface reflectance, illuminance levels, and system design influence light pollution — and why controlling light output is just as critical as controlling direction.

Apr 224 min read

Understanding Ingress Protection and Why Installations Fail in the Field

Learn how water, dust and installation errors cause IP-rated luminaires to fail. Understand IP65, IP66 and IP67 testing and how to specify fittings that survive real conditions.

Dec 12, 20254 min read

Magnitech emergency light fixture in underground mine

Why Emergency Lighting Is Critical Infrastructure

In industrial facilities, lighting failure isn’t just an inconvenience — it’s a safety and operational risk. Whether caused by power loss, electrical faults, or emergency shutdowns, even a few seconds of total darkness can create serious hazards for personnel, as well as a risk to machinery, and production processes.

Nov 5, 20254 min read

Lightning surge in city with surge protected lighting fixtures

Surge Protection: Why It Fails — and How to Design Against It

Surge protection is widely accepted as a critical component in luminaire and control gear design — yet lighting systems continue to fail in the field due to transient overvoltage. These failures typically stem not from the absence of surge protection, but from incorrect SPD selection, poor coordination, or environmental degradation.

Nov 5, 20253 min read

Solar Lighting 101: Components and Design Considerations

As industries continue to move toward sustainable solutions, solar lighting has become a common feature in tenders and infrastructure upgrades. But what’s often misunderstood — or worse, oversold — is what these systems can actually deliver.

Nov 5, 20253 min read

Magnitech streetlights on a cold misty morning

How Cold Temperatures Impact LED Lighting - What you need to know

Learn how low temperatures affect LED lifespan, CRI, colour stability, and driver performance — and how to specify luminaires built for winter conditions.

Nov 5, 20252 min read

Reducing Light Pollution in Sensitive Areas - What you need to know

In today's industrial and urban landscapes, lighting plays a crucial role in ensuring safety, productivity, and functionality. However, as artificial lighting expands, its unintended impact on ecosystems and wildlife has become a growing concern. Industries are now shifting toward environmentally aware lighting solutions to reduce light pollution while maintaining effective illumination.

Nov 5, 20252 min read

A picture showing the difference between Asymmetrical and Symmetrical lighting

Comparing Asymmetric vs Symmetric Lighting - What you need to know

When planning lighting solutions for industrial, commercial, or outdoor environments, understanding the difference between asymmetric and symmetric lighting distributions is crucial for achieving optimal coverage. Selecting the right distribution pattern can enhance visibility, reduce light wastage, and contribute to energy efficiency.

Nov 4, 20253 min read

An underground tunnel with Magnitech luminaires

Lighting Audits - What you need to know

Lighting plays a pivotal role in industrial environments, impacting everything from worker safety to operational efficiency and energy costs. Yet, it's often relegated to the background until a lamp burns out or, heaven forbid, an accident occurs. Conducting regular lighting audits is a strategic move that can yield significant benefits for your facility.