The Next Generation at Illum-Tec
Welcome back to our blog series, Stories of Light.
This edition brings us to Illum-Tec, recently recognised as the Top Performing Casambi Service Partner Singapore 2025. Through Stories of Light, we highlight the people and projects shaping the future of wireless lighting, from designers and integrators to the teams bringing spaces to life.
At Illum-Tec, technology matters. Design is essential. Yet what truly defines the company is something more personal. Family.
Founded in 2008, Illum-Tec has grown through the partnership of father and son. Rayne, the founder, carries decades of experience in the lighting industry. Yi Shuan represents the next generation, bringing fresh energy and a digital-first mindset. Together, they work closely with architects, lighting designers, and project teams across Singapore, from fine dining restaurants to high-end residences.
We spoke with Rayne and Yi Shuan to understand how the company has evolved across generations, adapted to industry change, and embraced wireless lighting control, while continuing to build on a shared legacy.
A Name With Meaning
For Rayne, the company’s name was never random. It was intentional from the start.
“When I founded the company in 2008, I wanted a name that reflected our identity. ‘Illum’ comes from illumination, the art of shaping space with light. ‘Tec’ represents our technical expertise. The hyphen was a deliberate design choice; it acts as a bridge connecting the artistry of lighting with the science of engineering.”
That philosophy still guides the way Illum-Tec approaches every project.
Since 2008, Rayne has seen the lighting industry transform dramatically.
“When we started, the market was dominated by metal halides, halogens, and fluorescents. LED was still new, and wireless control didn’t exist. Everything was hardwired.”
The transition to LED came quickly.
“By mid-2011, we were already supplying over 200 high-power LED high-bays for a data centre. Today, LED is the baseline. Decentralized control systems like Casambi have completely changed how we interact with space”
Learning From the Best at Home
For Yi Shuan, joining the family business has been both a privilege and a responsibility. He began as a Sales Engineer, learning the technical foundations of the trade, while Rayne continues to lead strategy and technical direction.
Together, they support projects from design through integration.
“We don’t just supply lighting products. We actually support the entire workflow. We help with lighting design, run Dialux calculations, recommend suitable luminaires, coordinate with electricians, and integrate control systems like Casambi into the project.”
Illum-Tec represents European architectural lighting brands such as FLOS, DGA, and Marset, bringing refined solutions into projects across Singapore.
Yi Shuan admits the learning curve has been steep.
“I’ve only been here for about a year. So I’m still learning a lot from my dad. He gives me opportunities to grow and learn along the way.”
Alongside that learning process, he has taken the lead in strengthening the company’s digital presence and marketing direction.
This balance between experience and new perspective has allowed Illum-Tec to evolve naturally alongside industry change, particularly as wireless control becomes more widely adopted. g, making sure clients feel comfortable using the system and confident making adjustments as their needs change.
How One Project Changed Everything
Illum-Tec’s move into Casambi began with a practical project challenge.
A client wanted advanced lighting control without rewiring the entire building.
“The homeowner didn’t want to rerun cables. Casambi allowed us to retrofit the system without major electrical changes.”
At the time, lighting control wasn’t central to their offering. That project changed everything.
“It pulled us into the ecosystem. After that, we began integrating control systems as part of our core services.”
Today, Illum-Tec is a Casambi commissioning partner, combining lighting design expertise with wireless integration.
Why Wireless Matters
Traditional control systems often require extensive wiring, centralized hubs, and complex infrastructure.
“Before Casambi, if you wanted sophisticated lighting scenes, you had to deal with what we call a ‘cobweb’ of control wiring. Meters of cables, expensive conduits, and centralized hubs. It was messy and limiting.”
Wireless systems simplify that layer entirely.
“It’s really a paradigm shift. Casambi allows us to decouple the physical electrical layer from the control layer. That means architects and designers don’t have to worry about invasive wiring anymore.”
This flexibility is especially valuable in Singapore, where space is precious and design integrity matters.
Where Casambi Adds the Most Value
Lighting today is expected to do more than just illuminate a space. More clients are looking for systems that support mood, wellbeing, and everyday living.
Heritage and Retrofit Projects
Singapore is home to many conservation buildings and heritage shophouses where structural changes are tightly restricted.
“In conservation buildings, you’re not allowed to hack the walls or run heavy conduits. That’s where Casambi becomes a problem solver.”
Wireless control allows modern lighting performance while preserving architectural character.
“Casambi’s decentralized Bluetooth mesh network allows us to preserve the architecture while still delivering modern lighting control.”
Hospitality Experiences
Restaurants and hotels rely heavily on lighting to shape the guest experience. Yet many venues still depend on manual dimmers.
“Some venues still use rotary dimmers. Staff have to walk around turning knobs. In busy restaurants, that quickly becomes impractical. It’s like trying to cool down a building by opening and closing windows instead of using a thermostat.”
With Casambi, lighting scenes can transition smoothly throughout the evening.
“For fine dining venues, we can create very long fade times, sometimes up to 10 minutes, so the lighting transitions gradually from bright daytime service to a more intimate evening atmosphere.”
The result is a calmer experience for guests and reduced manual adjustments for staff.
A Project That Stood Out
One memorable project was Somma, a fine dining restaurant where lighting played a central role in the experience.
“The chef would point at a table and say, ‘I can see the guest’s face clearly, so it’s too bright.’ We had to interpret his feedback and translate it into actual lighting adjustments.”
The team developed multiple lighting scenes and refined them on-site, spending an evening adjusting dimming levels together with the chef. The project required separate Casambi networks across two floors, each with a distinct concept.
Despite the complexity, it remains one of their most rewarding experiences.
Lessons Passed Down
One lesson stands out clearly.
Lighting control should never be treated as an afterthought.
“The biggest mistake is treating lighting control as something you add later. If you design your lighting layout around a wireless ecosystem from day one, you can save thousands in cabling costs and keep the flexibility to change layouts later.”
Early planning improves coordination between architects, designers, and contractors, leading to smoother project delivery.
Looking Ahead, Together
Yi Shuan sees the industry moving toward invisible, sensor-driven environments.
“Buildings will increasingly respond automatically to what people are doing. Eventually, you won’t even need to touch a switch anymore.”
Wireless platforms make this shift possible by integrating sensors and automation into everyday environments.
For Illum-Tec, the goal remains simple. To ensure that every space feels exactly as it was intended.
“When architects come to us for lighting fixtures, we want them to know they’re not just getting a supplier. They’re getting a team that can deliver the intended experience.”
Carrying the Legacy Forward
For Yi Shuan, stepping into the family business is both a responsibility and an opportunity.
“I’m excited to see how the industry continues to evolve, especially with wireless technology.”
For Rayne, welcoming the next generation into the company brings a quiet sense of assurance and pride.
“It was a tough decision at first. I’ve always believed that the next generation should gain exposure in the outside corporate world before considering the family business. However, seeing Yi Shuan bring a fresh, digital-first perspective to the company has been incredibly rewarding. There is a deep sense of satisfaction in knowing there is continuity for the business I built from the ground up.”
Together, they continue to lead Illum-Tec into its next chapter, grounded in experience, open to innovation, and guided by a shared belief that lighting is about people and the spaces they live and work in every day.
If you would like to explore how smart lighting can support your next project, you can learn more about Illum-Tec’s work on their website or contact Yi Shuan directly at yishuan.ang@illumtec.com.
