DMF Lighting, a provider of modular lighting in the custom integration channel, has been looking forward to Lightapalooza 2025 for months as the company ramped up for two important debuts: PhaseX and Artafex Linear solutions.
Showcasing the products at this year’s event taking place in Dallas Jan. 20-23, DMF says PhaseX is an advanced tunable white lighting solution developed specifically for custom integrators.
After three years of dedicated research and development, PhaseX is designed to unlock the next big step in digital lighting while empowering integrators with a solution that’s simple, versatile, and cost-effective to install.
“As a company, we’re committed to providing integrators with every tool that elevates the lighting experience for homeowners,” says Mike Libman, who was recently named sales vice president – Custom Integrators, DMF Lighting.
“By developing PhaseX, we’ve combined our technical expertise with practical solutions, creating a product that is easy to install, adaptable for any project, and designed to deliver the superior quality lighting experience our partners expect.”
Lightapalooza took place in late February, and the growth of the event has mirrored the rapid ascension lighting fixtures and controls.
According to DMF Lighting, PhaseX delivers the ability to control each fixture individually, set scenes, and offer circadian control, while offering flexibility in design and simplified installations.
“The goal was to make it easy for the integrator to integrate in a lot of circumstances and also make it easy for the homeowner to use,” DMF COO Michael Danesh explained during a press preview of the product launch last fall.
“When you change the whole house to tunable white, it makes such a huge difference.”
DMF asserts that PhaseX is ideal to help integrators close more sales incorporating dynamic tunable white lighting on projects of any scale. The company adds that it also leveraged its relationship with Crestron to ensure compatibility with Crestron Home, while other major control companies’ systems are supported too.
The solution offers ultra-low .1% dimming, and precision zoning, all while maintaining ease of installation, the company states.
Each PhaseX Gateway can control up to 64 PhaseX-enabled DMF Artafex 2-inch or Artafex 4-inch fixtures. The compact Gateway employs standard line voltage in and is paired with any manufacturer’s DMX system to provide control over the fixtures, the company explains.
“I think PhaseX is a revolutionary product that will finally bring tunable white lighting over standard electrical wiring,” says Lee Travis, owner at Wipliance, shared with DMF for an integrator’s perspective.
“That means for new construction, the wiring is simplified and reduces costs. Or for retrofitting an existing lighting control system it’s just replacing the hardware in the panel and then you can move your investment from the panel into the home where the homeowner will actually use it.”
Additionally, the modular PhaseX fixtures are available in the same range of elegant trims that complement any design aesthetic.
Each PhaseX Gateway can control up to 64 PhaseX-enabled DMF Artafex 2-inch or Artafex 4-inch fixtures. (Photo/DMF)
Meanwhile, Artafex Linear aims to enhance linear lighting in the custom integration space, DMF says of the new series.
The company describes it as a plug-and-play product developed as an alternative to traditional LED tape, which can give installers lots of headaches and little flexibility, as well as require soldering proficiency.
“With Artafex Linear, we’re taking the DMF approach to modularity and applying it to our linear lighting solution,” says Libman.
“We’ve taken all the advantages of traditional linear and solved the challenges integrators face, making it easier to specify, order, and install while maintaining the modularity and flexibility DMF Lighting is known for.”
Mason Barker, director of strategic initiatives at DMF, explains that installing tape light has conventionally been a labor-intensive endeavor with measuring, soldering, wiring/powering, snapping in lenses, and other details. DMF also wanted to create something flexible without adding much cost.
Toward that end, DMF says the Artafex solution installs via magnetic connectors and takes significantly easier steps – that don’t include having to invest in staff and training to develop strong soldering capabilities. Plus, subpar soldering can lead to breaking and liability issues over time, Barker adds.
“Before we embarked on our design process for this linear product, we went out to the market and asked what’s out there now and how’s it working out for dealers,” he notes.
“Our data suggests that the typical tape light job is about 2,000 feet. So, imagine doing 2,000 feet of lenses, you’re going to have sore thumbs and be angry. Then we turned inward and asked ourselves the question, what do we do well, what are our core strengths that we think we could leverage to bring something new to the market?”
Barker explains that the sleek Artafex Linear product can serve a variety of applications. Examples include under-cabinet and toe-kick lighting in kitchens, ambient cove in living rooms, task lighting in home offices, and custom options for installation in millwork.
Additionally, the modular solution allows installers the flexibility to make adjustments on-site without compromising performance, the company says.
“We wanted to have reach to our dealers and have a high impact those dealers we’re trying to reach,” Barker says.
Modular Design: Available in 1-foot, 2-inch, and 1-inch increments, allowing for easy customization and installation. The magnetic connectors snap into place, ensuring reliable connections and a continuous lighting effect without gaps.
Premium Build: The fixture is designed with a premium soft-touch silicone lens that prevents dust buildup. The lens, combined with a dense array of highly efficient LEDs, provides high efficacy with dot-free performance, eliminating the compromises found in other products.
Warm Dim Matching: A Warm Dim option matches DMF Lighting’s popular Warm Dim downlight color temperature curve, ensuring consistent lighting across various fixtures in a home. It can be set at 2000K, 2700K and 3000K for clients preferring a static color temperature.
“We’re really taking a warm dim approach to this – every fixture has warm dim right out of the box,” Barker says.
“We think this is where the industry is going. Warm dimming downlights are a great product for our dealers, and we wanted to create something that really goes alongside that and matches that perfectly.”
Simplified Ordering Process: Whether an integrator is a beginner in lighting or an experienced professional, the ordering system adapts to their level of knowledge and project requirements. The three ways to order include: by total footage; by control zones, and by individual components.
Artafex Linear Kit for Faster Installations: The Kit is said to simplify installation and reduce job site complications by including a variety of linear lengths and connection accessories ready for any scenario.
Each kit comes packed in a specially designed tray box and includes: 10 x 12-inch linear fixtures; 4 x 2-inch linear sections; 1 x 1-inch linear section; plus a selection of joiners, dead ends, power feeds, and jumpers.
The company adds that its open architecture design allows integrators to integrate Artafex Linear with the control systems they’re already familiar with, providing flexibility and compatibility with most popular platforms.
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