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since its beginnings in the 1950s, one of the most-traditional decorative illumination festivals in Germany. Every year some 4.5 million domestic and international visitors to the Light Festival, and to the International Christmas Market, are recorded strolling through the centre of the city of Essen and marvelling at the sights.

In 2008, MK Illumination and EMG-Essen Marketing GmbH delivered total conversion to LED technology of the winter illuminations of the City of Essen, achieving their goals of refreshing the illumination displays using innovative lighting solutions, and of saving energy at the same time to promote environmental responsibility.

In its planning for the design and content of the different illumination solutions to decorate the city-centre streets, EMG-Essen Marketing GmbH is partnered by, and supported closely by, MK Illumination. The result of this teamwork was, and is, the transformation of the city of Essen with its many, newly-created, decorative lighting displays into Europe's largest open-air showroom for its visitors. "The advantages of the new display technology lie not only in the energy-efficiency and long life of the LEDs, but also in the greater flexibility it gives us in creating displays. The energy saving of over 80% is a major, visible, contribution to reducing emissions at a time of climate change. By way of comparison: where an old motif on the Kettwiger Strasse used to consume over 4,000 watt per hour, a new one only requires between 100 and 200 watt per hour" confirms EMG's CEO Karl-Heinz König. "It makes real sense to invest six-figure sums, especially as these investments are made possible by the support we gratefully receive from sponsoring companies in Essen, and by the co-operation with MK Illumination".

The company MK Illumination makes a further demonstrable contribution to leaving a light ecological footprint, by supplying numerous displays in organic materials, which are, therefore, completely recyclable. This pioneering and environmentally-friendly innovation has remained unique, not only in Europe, but indeed, anywhere in the world. Of course, the Christmas displays created in these materials remain UV-, water- and weatherproof.

Some 6,000,000 LEDs create a magical, pre-Christmas atmosphere in the whole city centre of Essen. Come and experience the magic of the Essen Light Festival.