Lucy Zodion Lighting the Way Forward with the HAWK3 Smart Photocell
Lucy Zodion, the Yorkshire-based pioneer in street lighting and smart city infrastructure, has lifted the curtain on its latest innovation: HAWK3, previewed at the ILP Lighting Live in Glasgow in June 2025, with attendees getting an exclusive first look at the cutting-edge digital photocell range.
A name that’s become synonymous with innovation, Lucy Zodion has spent over six decades refining the art of street lighting control. But this? This feels like a game-changer.
Why HAWK3 Matters Now
With rising pressure to deliver smarter, greener cities, local authorities and lighting engineers are demanding tech that not only works flawlessly but also helps meet stringent environmental targets. That’s where HAWK3 enters the frame.
According to Managing Director John Fox, the development of HAWK3 was all about listening to what the industry truly needs: “HAWK3 is the result of listening, learning, and delivering. We understand the pressures our customers face — from sustainability goals to operational efficiencies — and we’ve developed a product that meets and exceeds these demands. It’s a significant step forward for our business and the industry.”
HAWK3 isn’t just a product refresh; it’s a complete rethink. The goal? A highly efficient, reliable, and environmentally conscious solution that provides rock-solid performance, day in, day out.
Packed with Smart Features
Let’s talk tech. The HAWK3 range is brimming with improvements that put it miles ahead of traditional analogue photocells:
- Digital switching: Say goodbye to tolerance drift. HAWK3’s ultra-precise digital switching eliminates the guesswork.
- Delayed response: Built-in delay avoids false triggers caused by temporary shadows or sudden light changes.
- Intelligent relay switching: The unit automatically detects output relay transitions, offering fail-safe operation.
- Unique frosted cone: Enhances light dispersion while shielding against interference from ambient light or weather conditions.
- Moulded gasket: Increases durability, dimensional accuracy, and promotes recyclability.
- Coloured ID bands: Engineers can now identify installations at a glance, making field maintenance a breeze.
One of the more subtle yet clever upgrades? The switch from photodiodes to phototransistors. This change improves sensitivity and simplifies the circuitry, cutting complexity without compromising on performance.
Even the labelling process has gone green, with laser marking replacing adhesive labels and printed tags. That means no sticky residue, no waste — just clean, efficient production.
Designed for Real-World Applications
From rural highways to inner-city lamp posts, HAWK3 was designed with adaptability in mind. Compatible with both 3-pin and 5/7-pin NEMA sockets, it slots seamlessly into existing lighting infrastructure. For highways agencies, councils, and contractors already juggling multiple systems, that’s a major win.
Operations Director Chris Dumon sums it up best: “The development of HAWK3 has been a journey of improvement across design, production, and sustainability. By bringing together enhanced digital precision, fewer components, and simplified assembly, we’re delivering a product that offers customers a genuine step forward in performance and reliability.”
But there’s more to it than meets the eye. Behind the hardware lies a manufacturing process rooted in cradle-to-cradle design. Every component is recyclable. Every process step is scrutinised for waste. The result? A truly future-facing product.
A Brand Built on Trust and Transformation
For those unfamiliar with the name, Lucy Zodion has been quietly powering the UK’s street lighting for over 60 years. From electrical distribution pillars to smart city hardware, the company has made a name for itself by solving real-world challenges with robust engineering and digital flair.
Their Ki. smart city platform, for instance, is already helping cities reduce emissions and optimise urban operations through the power of IoT. With HAWK3, they’re bringing that same forward-thinking mindset to a product as fundamental as the humble photocell.
In a time where procurement managers and specifiers are under mounting pressure to meet environmental KPIs, Lucy Zodion offers peace of mind. Here’s a company that understands compliance and performance can go hand in hand — and designs accordingly.
Whether you’re looking to modernise your lighting stock, meet net-zero targets, or simply stay ahead of the curve, HAWK3 could well be the solution you’ve been waiting for.
Built With Your Needs in Sight
The digital transformation of street lighting isn’t just about creating brighter environments or lowering bills. It’s about creating a smarter, safer, and more sustainable environment for everyone. Lucy Zodion’s HAWK3 photocell range fits squarely within that vision, offering high precision, low impact, and long-term value.
By embedding intelligence into even the smallest components of infrastructure, cities move closer to achieving their sustainability ambitions. With HAWK3, Lucy Zodion continues to prove that great design is as much about purpose as it is about performance.
