International Paper Facilities Upgrade to High-Temperature LED Lights Case Study

Springfield Project Spotlight: High-Temperature Machine Room Lighting

The Challenge:

The legacy metal halide fixtures in the paper machine room surpassed their functional lifespan. They produced unsafe, inconsistent light levels on the operation floor. Industrial machine rooms typically require a light level of 30-50 foot-candles (fc) to maintain safe, consistent visibility for equipment operators. A foot candle is the industry’s standard unit used for measuring light intensity. That range served as the target illumination guide when recommending the correct fixture types and layout for the space.

The uneven, low lighting levels were only part of the challenge. Paper machine rooms are housed under ventilated ceilings designed to draw heat and vapor away from the operational sections. This narrows the field of fixture options that can safely operate in the space long term. The International Paper team needed to measure and confirm the temperature threshold in the machine room. This data ensured Jeff’s fixture selection could withstand high operating temperatures.

Strategy & Solution:

LED Lighting Supply’s approach began with the fundamentals, starting with reviewing the space size, existing fixture mounting heights, placement, and light output. International Paper confirmed the machine room temperature could reach up to 140°F, requiring a specialized high-temperature lighting solution. From there, our Product Specialist provided a recommendation tailored around the existing infrastructure:

• 300-Watt LED High Temperature Lights
• 200-Watt LED High Temperature Lights

The recommended fixtures have a 176°F operating temperature rating, exceeding the machine room's high-temperature requirements. This gave the customer confidence that the fixtures would operate without failing in continuous high-heat conditions. At the time of the order, the 200-watt fixtures were on back order, while the 300-watt fixtures were ready-to-ship. This led to a split order across both products. The mixed wattage configuration kept the project moving without sacrificing strong light levels. LED Lighting Supply provided a fast quote turnaround, transparent product availability, configuration guidance, and continued support after the fixtures were in place. This light fixture pair addressed the machine room project specifically.

The Results:

The lighting solution provides safer, more uniform lighting for the machine room, workers, and equipment. Together, the decreased wattage values and LED technology create measurable energy savings:

International Paper’s Springfield Machine Room Estimated Savings & Payback From Choosing Our LED Lighting Solution

* Savings and payback estimations are based on the local utility rate of $0.12per kWh for commercial and industrial buildings in Springfield, Oregon, and calculated by our LED savings calculator. *

Springfield Project Spotlight: Exterior Staging Yard Lighting

The Challenge:

After successful results with the machine room lighting solution, the project extended to an outdoor staging yard work area where day-to-day plant operations take place. That space was struggling to properly illuminate the operational areas due to the legacy metal halide fixtures. The goal was to improve visibility and coverage for personnel and equipment moving through the yard. Industrial staging yards require a light level of 10-30 foot-candles to meet safety and operation standards. This value was LED Lighting Supply’s guide when evaluating fixture options and placement details.

Strategy & Solution:

The strategy started by reviewing the existing lighting layout and light pole mounting heights. Our team specified a custom shoebox lighting solution to improve exterior illumination coverage for the active industrial site:

• 380 / 400 / 450 Watt Adjustable LED Shoebox Area Lights
• 500 Watt High Voltage Adjustable LED Shoebox Area Lights

Fifteen fixtures were split between standard voltage and high-voltage options to match the different electrical units available across the site. To complete the lighting upgrade, the project also included slip fitter mounting brackets for each fixture. These brackets provided the mounting connection needed for installation and light fixture positioning. This solution helped ensure the new lights could be securely mounted to the existing pole infrastructure.

The Results:

Aside from significant improvement in illumination levels, the Springfield staging yard work area is expected to see noticeable energy savings through this LED upgrade.

International Paper’s Springfield Staging Yard Estimated Savings & Payback From Choosing Our Exterior LED Lighting Solution

* Savings and payback estimations are based on the local utility rate of $0.12per kWh for commercial and industrial buildings in Springfield, Oregon, and calculated by our LED savings calculator. *

The initial projects at the Springfield, Oregon location marked the start of a much larger partnership across various locations.

Expanded Results:

What began as a simple LED replacement grew into one of LED Lighting Supply's longest-running customer relationships. Since 2021, Springfield has ordered over 1,000 units across 76 separate projects. The facility lighting requirements span from high-temperature, canopy, linear high bay indoor fixtures, exterior shoebox fixtures, and everything in between. With additional projects currently in progress, International Paper in Springfield, Oregon continues to work directly with LED Lighting Supply for lighting plan support. Whether the need is inside a high-heat machine room or around an outdoor staging yard, Springfield continues to find its solution at LED Lighting Supply.

International Paper Springfield, Oregon Mill from YouTube

Various company locations began applying our lighting plan process across additional facilities. The LED Lighting Supply strategy aligns with International Paper’s partner values.

Featured International Paper Project Locations and Lighting Plan Examples with LED Lighting Supply

LED Lighting Supply applied the same site-specific approach across these International Paper facilities, providing consultative support during and after purchase from our responsive team of Product Specialists.