Dialight supports safe and efficient operations at new Port of Tilbury grain store

  Posted by: user_amy      20th October 2026

Dialight, the global leader in industrial and hazardous-location LED lighting, has supplied a complete lighting solution for a major new bulk grain storage facility at the Port of Tilbury in Essex, UK.

The Tilbury Berth 43 Cefetra Bulk Grain Store was completed in July 2026 and handed over to the Port of Tilbury, part of Forth Ports, shortly afterwards. Delivered by principal contractor Harmonix Construction, the project has transformed a former open-air container depot into a purpose-built storage facility designed to support the growing demand for imported grain handling and storage.

Grain storage presents particular safety and operational requirements, as airborne combustible dust can create a potentially explosive atmosphere. The internal area of the new store has therefore been designated as a Zone 22 hazardous area, requiring suitably certified lighting capable of performing consistently within a demanding industrial environment. The exposed port location also meant that luminaires needed to withstand wet, marine conditions.

Dialight became involved during the early design phase after Harmonix Construction first approached the company in November 2024. Following Harmonix’s appointment as principal contractor in February 2025, Dialight developed the lighting scheme using the construction drawings and the Port of Tilbury’s specifications. The design covered the grain store, surrounding external areas and a vehicle refuelling point, with particular requirements for operational areas including the quayside.

The final installation comprises more than 200 Dialight luminaires, including ProSite Floodlights, SafeSite luminaires, Emergency GRP Linears and Vigilant Bulkheads, selected to meet the different requirements across the site.

The project showcases a large-scale deployment of the Zone 22 ProSite Floodlight in a hazardous-area application. An initial scheme based on 110 SafeSite High Bay luminaires was refined to 78 ProSite Floodlights. The wider range of optical distributions available with ProSite enabled Dialight’s lighting designers to reduce the number of fittings required whilst also maintaining the specified light levels.

The design also needed to account for the shadowing created by the facility’s large traversing cranes, as well as the defined light levels required around the quayside and water’s edge. Careful positioning and alignment were necessary because of the building’s mounting heights, while the use of marine-grade luminaires supports performance in the exposed and wet conditions found within a port environment.

Aidan Brown, UK/EIRE Sales – EMEA at Dialight, said, “The project demonstrates the value of involving the lighting manufacturer early, particularly when a facility has hazardous-area classifications and several distinct operational requirements. Working closely with Harmonix allowed us to refine the design as the project developed. By using the different optical options available with the ProSite Floodlight, we reduced the number of luminaires required within the grain store while still achieving the specified light levels. The result is a lighting scheme that combines the required safety and performance with a more efficient use of equipment, supporting long-term reliability in a demanding port environment.”

Port of Tilbury is an established Dialight customer and has used the company’s ATEX-certified lighting during maintenance upgrades across existing parts of its grain terminal. Berth 43 provided the first opportunity for Dialight products to be incorporated into a new-build project at the port, allowing the environmental, safety and access requirements to be considered from the outset.

Jenis Mistry, Project Engineer at the Port of Tilbury, commented, “The new grain store has been developed to provide the safe, reliable infrastructure required for this important area of our operations. Lighting needed to meet the requirements of the hazardous internal environment, the external areas and the quayside, while also being suited to the exposed conditions at the port. The completed installation provides the light levels needed across these different spaces and supports the facility’s long-term operation.”

Close coordination between Dialight and Harmonix Construction continued throughout the design and delivery stages. Early product selection and advance ordering with Dialight’s factory helped ensure that the luminaires were available well before they were required on site, supporting the construction programme and installation process.

David Thrower, Project Director of Harmonix Construction, added, “The successful delivery of the lighting package was supported by early engagement and a close working relationship throughout the project. Dialight responded to changes in the construction design and developed the lighting scheme in line with the Port of Tilbury’s specifications. Having the products ordered and delivered well ahead of installation also gave our team the certainty needed to plan the work effectively.”

Alongside its ability to meet the project’s safety and performance requirements, the selected LED lighting provides a long-life solution for areas where access for future maintenance can be challenging. Dialight’s standard luminaires offer a rated life of more than 150,000 hours and are backed by a ten-year warranty, helping to reduce the frequency of replacement and associated maintenance interventions. Emergency lighting batteries will be included within the facility’s ongoing inspection and replacement programme.

The completed project demonstrates the importance of early collaboration, clearly defined lighting requirements and appropriate product selection when designing lighting for ports, grain stores and other complex industrial facilities. By combining hazardous-area certified products with considered lighting design, the scheme provides a robust solution for the Port of Tilbury’s new grain storage operation.

For more information about Dialight’s industrial and hazardous-location LED lighting solutions, visit www.dialight.com.