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Lighting control has become synonymous with CMS, and for good reason. Central Management Systems (CMS) offer energy savings, fault monitoring, dimming control, and rich data insights. They’re particularly effective for streetlighting at scale, helping Local Authorities monitor thousands of assets remotely.
But while CMS offers big benefits, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. For many projects, it can be overly complex, costly to install and maintain, or simply unnecessary. Depending on the lighting task, environment, or control requirements, other options may provide a better outcome – technically, financially, and operationally.
At Acrospire, we take an agnostic approach to lighting control. We’ve worked with a range of providers and technologies – CMS and non-CMS alike – to ensure clients get the right control for their environment, not just the most familiar one.
Here’s how we think about it.
There’s no doubt CMS has revolutionised lighting management. With fault detection, remote scheduling, dimming profiles, and energy monitoring all in one place, it’s a powerful tool for improving visibility and reducing operational spend.
Some sources report up to 35% energy savings from smart streetlighting when combined with LED upgrades, a critical part of meeting Net Zero targets. And for large highway networks or entire borough-wide upgrades, CMS can absolutely justify the upfront investment.
But that doesn’t mean every luminaire needs to be on a CMS.
One issue we frequently see is over-specification — where a CMS is installed for lighting assets that don’t benefit from it.
Take sign lights. They don’t need to be dimmed. They don’t need schedule changes. And they rarely fail. Adding CMS to each one can be expensive, overly complex, and add unnecessary infrastructure cost.
That’s why we often recommend a task-based approach to control, considering the purpose, environment, and maintenance model before making a control decision.
Understanding driver types can also help clarify what control functionality is actually required.
Too often, a fully CMS-enabled lantern is specified, even when an LP driver would be sufficient.
The result? Unused features and unnecessary costs.
Here are some real-world examples where we have delivered projects using alternatives to CMS, either because of site constraints or because another method delivered better value or performance.
1. Microwave sensors for underpasses
Project: Harlington Underpass
In environments where visibility, safety, and rapid on/off response are key, simple sensors can outperform CMS. For this underpass retrofit, we used integrated microwave sensors within our robust, weather-resistant luminaires.
This allowed the lights to remain off until movement was detected, reducing energy use without requiring network connectivity or remote access.
2. PIR and solar lighting
Project: Hampton Beach Sustainable Housing
This sustainable housing project required off-grid lighting with zero trenching and no reliance on mains infrastructure.
We used standalone solar-powered luminaires with pre-programmed dimming and timing functions, no CMS, no cabling, no carbon. The result? Cost-effective, low-maintenance lighting aligned with the client’s green priorities.
3. Mesh control for subways
Project: Royal Borough of Greenwich Subways (before image shown above)
Subterranean environments like subways often struggle with CMS connectivity due to limited line-of-sight and internet access.
Instead, the Royal Borough of Greenwich specified MyMesh, a self-healing, radio-frequency-based system where each node communicates with the next.
Perfect for lighting tunnels, walkways, or areas where cabling and communications are limited.
4. DMX control for architectural effect lighting
Projects: Ilford Gardens, Brick Lane Arch (pictured above)
Where lighting is used for visual impact rather than safety or traffic flow, such as RGB architectural uplighting, CMS can be overkill.
For both our ongoing projects at Ilford Gardens and Brick Lane, we have implemented DMX control:
Ilford Gardens: 30 RGB uplighters illuminate arches and pillars, all connected via DMX to a central control box.
Brick Lane Arch: Multi-phase installation (RGB LED signage, vertical uplighters, and top detail pods), each controlled through DMX linked to local feeder pillars.
DMX is ideal for coordinated light shows, colour control, and high precision, without needing CMS functionality.
There’s a wider conversation here, too. The lighting industry is still plagued by CMS/lantern manufacturer conflicts, particularly when it comes to wiring detail and driver configurations.
We’ve seen cases where:
And because many CMS providers also manufacture lanterns, there’s a risk of being locked into a specific ecosystem or even excluded from contracts unless you specify a full solution stack.
That’s why Acrospire always champions a CMS-agnostic approach. We work with multiple control platforms and providers, including:
This means our clients can switch CMS in the future, maintain procurement flexibility, and ensure the control system fits their operational model.
Before committing to full CMS, ask:
We recently read a great article by DFL on upgrading your street lighting and supercharging your CMS it’s well worth a read if you’re navigating your next controls upgrade.
Our story
The idea for Acrospire was formed in 2012 when founder Tim envisioned a different kind of lighting manufacturer: one that would not only deliver outstanding customer experiences but also prioritise fair treatment for its employees.
We’ve come a long way
Motivated by the belief the industry wanted and needed better, Tim shared his plan to establish his own venture with Hatty, who simply couldn't let him do it alone.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Protecting local jobs and ensuring the best quality possible.
Working from a rented office by day and assembling lanterns in a garage at night, Tim and Hatty set to work.
11 Years later
Acrospire now inhabits a 14000² ft manufacturing facility in Basingstoke, Hampshire. We’re a proud partner of the Made in Britain scheme, ISO9001 certified and a member of all relevant lighting industry trade bodies.
Along with great relationships with our customers and a great team! We've attracted some of the most experienced members of the lighting industry, all by following one golden rule.
A simple ethos
That runs through all that we do. Customers who have made the switch to Acrospire have found working with us to be a breath of fresh air.
If you’re a professional in the lighting industry, you’re probably familiar with warranties that range from 3 to 10 years, with extensions available on special request or at additional cost. At Acrospire, where we’re proud to be different, we offer a market-leading simple 12-year warranty, as standard.
We focus on our customers not our competition. We manufacture our products in the UK: with the exception of our solar products, our supply chain is within a 60-mile radius of our factory in Basingstoke: to maintain greater control over quality. We al
Speed of response is crucial when it comes to resolving warranty issues. If we’ve made a mistake, we own it, get to the root cause, and fix it as quickly as possible. We believe in timely communication with our customers and making the resolution pro
Test and Test Again
We believe in independent testing and certification. Our new product development is in line with ISO 9001. Many of our products hold ENEC Certification. To meet the requirements of ENEC we also send random product samples for third party safety testi
Our product design is another key factor in our ability to offer a 12-year warranty. We value engineer rather than cost cut, never compromising on quality. We stick to our processes and engage with our supply chain to ensure that every product meets