Profile: Lanthan GmbH & Co. KG

Lanthan GmbH & Co. KG is a provider of lighting solutions for the safety of avionics. Since 2004, the company has produced lights for any aviation obstacle worldwide. 

For several years, Lanthan and its subsidiary, Lanthan Safe Sky, have been developing systems to improve the acceptance of wind energy by activating wind turbine lights only when aircraft are present. These unique beaconing systems are deployed in clusters of wind farms and have one common requirement: they need reliable and robust cellular coverage. Due to the installation on the roof of the wind turbine, antennas are required to function throughout the life of the turbine in all weather conditions and withstand vibration and permanent UV exposure. 

Given such harsh environmental conditions their aircraft detection lighting system would operate in, Lanthan required heavy-duty antennas that could deliver long life, reliability and performance. Another key consideration in their selection process was purchasing from a supplier with a prestigious reputation, the ability to deliver quickly, and an availability of products for years to come. 

After a consultation to review the application requirements and points of integration, TE’s 4G/3G LTE multiband Phantom antenna (TRA6927M3PB-001) and mini GNSS omnidirectional GPS antenna (GPSU15P) were selected. The LTE antenna features a robust design suitable for outdoor applications with wide bandwidth and a low angle radiation pattern that is superior to traditional gain antennas in most applications. The GPS antenna offers rugged, high performance and cost-effectiveness for most GNSS applications. The small form factor also allows for easy installation and is designed to withstand impact as well as water and dust intrusion (IP67 rated). 

Following the consultation, Lanthan tested the antennas in the field and were very pleased with the results. The small dimensions and industrial robustness were perfect to handle for the installation teams and can be mounted ideally. Even magnet mounting inside the wind energy turbines nacelle is possible, which is a benefit with shorter installation times.