At LEDVANCE’s Midwest Distribution Center (MDC) in Versailles, Kentucky, lighting is a critical component of safe, efficient, and continuous warehouse operations- supporting everything from automated guided vehicle (AGV) zones and loading docks to primary aisleways and shipping areas.
To modernize the facility while maintaining uninterrupted distribution activity, LEDVANCE implemented a phased lighting upgrade using its own LED UFO high‑bay luminaires and LINK™ Controls. Rather than relighting the entire distribution center at once, the project was intentionally planned across three phases, allowing lighting improvements to be deployed strategically while minimizing disruption to daily workflows.
Phase 1 focused on the AGV and loading dock areas and delivered an immediate and noticeable improvement in lighting quality, energy efficiency, and controllability. The project qualifies for local utility rebates and provides a real‑world showcase of LEDVANCE’s lighting and controls capabilities inside an active distribution environment.
A key differentiator of the project was the use of LEDVANCE’s internal lighting and controls experts to design a tailored zoning and grouping strategy, ensuring the system aligned with how each area of the facility actually operates. This thoughtful, phased approach demonstrates that every lighting project is different — and that incremental upgrades can be an effective path forward for many industrial facilities.
Project benefits:
Project info:
Like many large, active distribution centers, the MDC required a lighting upgrade that could be implemented without interrupting daily operations. Different areas of the facility - including AGV zones, loading docks, and main aisleways - operate on distinct schedules and usage patterns, making a single, all‑at‑once lighting upgrade impractical from an operational standpoint.
In addition, the project needed to support advanced lighting controls, qualify for utility rebates, and serve as a real‑world demonstration of LEDVANCE’s lighting and controls solutions in a live distribution environment.
LEDVANCE approached the MDC upgrade as a multi‑phase lighting and controls project, beginning with Phase 1 in the AGV and loading dock areas.
The internal LEDVANCE lighting and controls team collaborated to develop a custom zoning and grouping strategy, ensuring the system was properly configured to support device limits, sensor behavior, and real‑world operational requirements. Each zone and group was designed to reflect how the space is used, enabling efficient commissioning and optimized control performance from day one.
Phase 1 is nearly complete and delivers immediate improvements in lighting quality while enabling advanced control strategies such as occupancy‑based operation and adjustable output levels to further optimize energy usage.
The project is planned across three phases, with Phase 2 targeting main aisle areas and Phase 3 scheduled for future expansion. This approach allows the MDC to continue enhancing lighting performance over time while maintaining operational continuity.