Campbeltown’s Christmas lights are a UK 3D innovation
CAMPBELTOWN is one of the first towns in Britain to trial 3D printed circuit Christmas lights.
International firm Blachere Illuminations, headquartered in France, with its UK operations run from Ladybank in Fife, has dealt with Campbeltown Christmas Lights Committee (CCLC) for many years and is keen to test its latest products in possibly one of the country’s harshest environments.
Workers from Argyll and Bute Council earlier this week installed the illuminations and Raymond Harvey from CCLC said those above Main Street were Blachere’s 3D printed design.
Blachere chief operating officer Robert Stalker said: ‘Campbeltown is one of the first towns in the UK to have the 3D illuminations and we are delighted to be dealing with the committee.
‘Blachere illuminations are used the length and breadth of the country from Orkney to Oxford Street in London.
‘The body and the motif is automated in manufacture and the lights on the features are added manually. Blachere is bringing the new technology of 3D printing to the street illumination industry.’
Argyll and Bute Council policy lead for roads and amenity services Councillor Roddy McCuish said: ‘Nothing says Christmas is coming for our communities like the switching on of the Christmas lights.’
Last year there were problems at the switch-on as the lights did not illuminate. The council attributed that failure to contractors hired to connect the illuminations to the street lighting system.
This year, despite the council having brought the installation back in-house, Councillor Donald Kelly claims it is trying to charge CCLC £250 for an advertisement in the press advising the public about a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order for the switch-on night November 24.