We had a visit with XAL to see what they have been developing for their US product line. One of the great things about them is that they populate their own boards which allows them to adjust them to ensure that there is even distribution and no pixelation. They also allow you to determine the amperage of the driver to adjust the output during the specification phase. XAL has the new Hex-O LED fixture that is available in three sizes; 14", 26" and 38" and can be used alone or together to create patterns in the ceiling. A nice feature to the Hex-O is that it can be provided with an acoustic panel in the same shape that allows you to create patterns of the fixtures while also providing added sound absorption to a space. This added sound absorption can also be achieved with their Hex-O absorber surface accessory fits over the LED fixture for added sound protection.
The Tubo series is a linear tube area light which is currently available in two sizes; the 100 and 150. Eventually they will be phasing out the 150, however there is a partnership with Ketra in that XAL will provide the body of the fixture and Ketra will supply their linear tuneable light module.
We also took a look at the Sono LED fixture. It is similar to their other surface round area light the Vela, but has some changes in the way the body is designed. The Sono has an IP50 rated lens that is adhered to the body of the fixture and cannot be removed. The whole fixture can be removed from the mounting plate to access the driver. There is also an indirect version with a ring of LEDs at the top to provide a soft halo effect on the mounting surface.
The last fixture we took a look at was the Lena which is a collaboration with Armstrong tile ceilings. It is a linear fixture that is edge-lit to allow for a shallow housing. The housing is the same depth as the ceiling structural grid. The fixture comes in lengths of 2', 4', 6', and 8'. The special grid that the fixture mounts into is provided by Armstrong so it requires some coordination between the two manufacturers. They are working on developing a gypsum version.