In manufacturing, every second counts: how quickly a signal is detected and correctly interpreted can determine process safety, efficiency, and even the prevention of accidents. Color brilliance plays a central role – it determines whether a signal is intuitively recognized and accurately understood.
Signaling devices are key interfaces between humans and machines – communicating status information visually in fractions of a second as the most basic form of HMI. For this information to be effective, it must be clear, unambiguous, and unmistakable.
Color brilliance, or color fidelity, describes the ability of a signal light to display a specific color consistently and unambiguously under various lighting conditions – and for people with different individual perceptions. The luminous intensity of the LEDs is particularly decisive: the higher the light output, the richer and clearer the color appears. This is especially critical in bright ambient lighting combined with diffused lenses.
A low-performance signal beacon may technically display red, but under bright or fluctuating indoor lighting, the constant LED output can be suppressed, causing the color to appear pale or pink, or even be confused with magenta – a potentially safety-critical situation.
In many industrial processes, red typically signals a machine stop, while magenta can indicate a machine’s request for material or a gas warning.
The Smart Dot 50 indicator directly addresses this challenge: with unmatched luminous intensity in the market, its colors remain vivid, brilliant, and easily distinguishable even under bright interior lighting or in environments with reflective surfaces.
Unlike traditional traffic lights or modular signal towers – where each color is fixed in a defined position (e.g., red at the top, amber in the middle, green at the bottom) – multicolor signal beacons use a single lens that displays different colors depending on the status. Without positional reference, the clarity of the color itself becomes the only factor for correct interpretation. The displayed color must be unmistakable, regardless of viewing angle, distance, or ambient light.
In the Basic version, the Smart Dot 50 with discrete LEDs delivers up to 21 candela (green, thermally stabilized at room temperature) – a market-leading benchmark for visibility and safety, fully in line with our motto: louder & brighter since 1910.
An unclear hue – for example, a red that appears amber, magenta, or pink – can have serious consequences. Especially in safety-critical applications such as machine release signals, access control, or emergency shutdowns, a precise and intense color display is essential.
Here are three real-world examples demonstrating why color brilliance in signaling devices is indispensable:
At modern production workstations, signal beacons indicate machine status, errors, active process steps, or pending releases. If a color is not clearly identifiable from a distance – for instance, if red appears faded under strong indoor lighting – operators may misinterpret the signal, leading to incorrect actions or delays. Clear color signals are essential for safe, efficient operations and contribute to both workplace safety and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
In warehouse logistics, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), or automated lifting systems, compact signal devices must deliver high performance in tight spaces. A Smart Dot 50 indicator uses color coding to indicate operational status. In many of these applications, cost considerations lead to the absence of additional displays or audio signals, meaning the entire communication relies solely on visual color recognition – making top-level color fidelity absolutely critical.
In large service areas, plant tours, or access control systems, automated customer flow management is increasingly used to guide visitor movement, optimize waiting times, or control access zones.
Here, Smart Dot 50 indicators are strategically placed at access points to indicate whether entry is permitted (green), waiting is required (yellow), or access is currently denied (red). In brightly lit entrance areas – often with LED panels, glass surfaces, and light-colored floors – it is vital that each color is instantly and unmistakably recognized, even by untrained personnel.
With a multicolor device, the position of the light does not change when the color changes. This means the viewer cannot rely on position to identify the signal – recognition must come entirely from how bright and how saturated the color appears. A weak red in this context can easily be misinterpreted or overlooked, resulting in incorrect actions or inefficient flows.
The color reproduction of a signaling device often determines whether processes run smoothly or critical misinterpretations occur. The Smart Dot 50 series is a reliable component of human–machine communication thanks to:
The outstanding color brilliance of the Smart Dot 50 series is the result of meticulous engineering. Because visibility alone is not enough – color brilliance makes the signal work.