People in Lighting: Fernando Gonçalves
Companies are defined by the people who work for them: for over a century, Schréder has been at the forefront of lighting because of the innovative thinking of our employees worldwide. Life@Schréder is where we tell the stories of the people who make Schréder what it is, across the 70 countries where we do business.
Fernando Gonçalves has been part of our team in Lisbon since the 1980s, through industry shifts which have seen architects playing a bigger and bigger role in urban lighting, the transition from gas discharge, mercury and sodium lighting to LED and controlled and networked lighting solutions. In 2000, he became Development Manager and oversaw the production of some of the group’s most enduring lighting solutions. In 2018, he joined Schréder Hyperion and is now Project Manager of Hardware for the SHUFFLE.
I was born in Lisbon and have lived here all my life…
I graduated with a mechanical engineering degree back in 1981. Schréder was actually my second job. My first job was working on the shipyards. That was a great learning experience, because on a ship you have everything - big engines, accommodation, freezers, kitchens, workshops, you name it. Then I heard about a government scheme for SMEs to hire young graduates, and at that time, Schréder in Portugal was a medium-sized company, so I applied, was hired and started working there in 1982.
Then I was called up for 16 months of military service…
After which I came back to Schréder, where I’ve stayed to this day! I’m a full Schréder guy, it’s great here. I started as deputy manager of the production plant, then in the 2000s I was asked to implement the new development service, which gave me the opportunity to visit our factories all over the world. Then in 2018, I joined the Schréder Hyperion Smart City Innovation Hub, which is based in Lisbon.
I’ve seen a lot of changes…
When I was deputy plant manager, lighting technology was simpler. There was a small workshop for metal parts, hydraulic presses, chemical treatments for aluminium, equipment to make the plastic protectors that were stretched on a mould and assembly lines. We used this to produce luminaires based on gas discharge lamps. Now it has completely changed and is all about LEDs supported by electronics. The only thing that hasn’t fundamentally changed is the painting! We still use electrostatic powder coating.
Including the LED revolution…
We started installing LED lighting in around 2009, and Schréder set the tone in terms of getting the LED colours right, not just blasting cold white light everywhere, but using neutral and warm white. Portugal was the first company in the Schréder Group to install the first complete LED lighting scheme for an entire town, Arraiolos, which is still looking great. We developed a new luminaire, the RIVARA, for this project, along with several other products which are still really popular.
And now the arrival of the Smart City…
We take a holistic approach to smart cities. I'm mainly focused on customisation, working with people who need modifications to the standard designs. We are also focusing on connected lighting, as well as sensors and various other city services that enable cities to manage more than just lighting.
And I’m really proud of SHUFFLE…
My colleagues in Belgium initially developed the SHUFFLE, our multi-functional smart pole. It’s extremely interesting because customers can add everything from EV chargers to speakers, sockets, cameras and routers…. to it. We took over ownership of it a few years ago, and we are always receiving requests from markets all over the world to adjust it for the specific needs of the customer - it’s been so popular. This year we are celebrating the tenth anniversary of the SHUFFLE: it has gone through so many developments and is more popular than ever.
I can’t pick just one favourite project…
We worked with several famous architects, and some very talented Portuguese designers during my time at Schréder Iluminaçao. As well as the RIVARA, that we developed for Arraiolos, there was the TERRA MIDI, which is still thriving as a group product today. It’s a ground recessed floodlight for illumination, powered by LEDs that make buildings look fantastic. These two products, among many others, took Portuguese design to the world.
Then there are our factories…
I am really proud of these, as well! All Schréder factories are certified ISO 14001:2015 which recognises their efforts for their environmental management system. So sustainability isn’t just about the products, it’s about how we make them. The materials, the manufacturing processes, durability of the finished product… we have worked hard on sustainability.
And we do some great work on sustainability…
We want to help our customers on their sustainability journey, and many of them want to keep their designs, but upgrade to LED technology. So we developed the Motor LED which led to the creation of the CIRCLE LED BASE, where you can remove the old lamps and gears and replace them with a LED retrofit kit. So it’s all part of a bigger picture. What we do has changed over the decades, but that change comes from conversations with our customers.
Including solar lighting…
We’ve been working on solar lighting since 2000, but in the last few years there have been real breakthroughs in terms of battery technology. We’ve been able to reduce the size of the panel, the batteries will become smaller as well, so we have a real long-term vision to see it through. The trailblazers in terms of installation were countries like Portugal and Angola, where there is no electric grid network – solar is a great solution for towns and small villages in places that don't have electrical power. But now they're growing in popularity all over Europe - they are a really attractive solution for seafront lighting in particular. We have a couple of installations in Portugal with solar luminaires, some on quite a large scale.
Schréder is a great company to work for…
Schréder has really supported me over the years, although my role has changed a great deal. I used to travel a lot for meetings; now I’m mainly here in Portugal, where we can work from home two or three days a week and that’s really nice, too. We’re all very busy with a lot of meetings, but that's life. Young people starting out might change jobs every three or four years, but I’ve been happy to stay at the company. I trust the company, I like their values, and I’m really proud of how we’ve all been supporting our colleagues in Ukraine.
I keep busy in my free time…
First, I should say that Schréder allows you to have a very good balance between your private and professional life. I go to the gym several times a week, I love cycling, and I spend a lot of time with my family. Then there’s always work around the house, gardening, and I love to travel. We travel in Europe with friends most years, and you can’t beat the Algarve in Portugal, which has stunning beaches - and great lighting, too.
Connect with Fernando on LinkedIn.