NLS1616 Honeycomb Silicon LED Profile
16×16mm · Flexible Silicone · Honeycomb Diffuser · Bends in Any Direction — The Profile That Goes Where Aluminium Cannot
What Is the NLS1616 Honeycomb Silicon Profile?
The NLS1616 is a 16×16mm square-section LED profile made entirely from UV-stabilised food-grade silicone — not aluminium. Its defining characteristics are its complete flexibility in all three dimensions and its honeycomb-pattern diffuser face. The hexagonal cell pattern embossed into the silicone emitting face creates a distinctive tessellated light texture when illuminated, unlike the flat uniform glow of standard aluminium profiles.
Silicon Profile vs. Aluminium Profile
Two fundamentally different materials for two different applications — understanding when to specify each.
🟡 NLS1616 Silicon Profile
- Fully flexible — bends 360° in all directions
- 30mm minimum bend radius — tight curves possible
- Honeycomb diffuser — distinctive textured light output
- IP65 inherently — no separate coating required
- Safe to touch — soft, no sharp edges
- Lightweight — significantly lighter than aluminium
- Cut with standard scissors — no saw required
- UV-stabilised — suitable for outdoor sun exposure
- No corrosion — suitable for coastal environments
- Ideal for curves, circles, organic forms, outdoor features
⬜ Standard Aluminium Profile
- Rigid — straight runs only without specialist bending
- Cannot bend below ~200mm radius without tools
- Flat opal or prismatic diffuser — standard uniform glow
- IP20 standard — IP65 requires silicone coated strip
- Hard edges — handle carefully during installation
- Heavier — ceiling loading consideration on long runs
- Requires fine-tooth aluminium saw to cut
- Anodising may degrade in prolonged UV/salt exposure
- Can corrode in coastal and industrial environments
- Ideal for straight architectural lines and recessed profiles
The Honeycomb Effect — What It Looks Like
The hexagonal cell pattern in the NLS1616's silicone face creates something no flat diffuser can — a light that has texture, depth, and character.
⬡ On Flat Walls
When the NLS1616 is mounted along a wall or in a cove, the honeycomb pattern is projected as a tessellated shadow-and-light grid on the surface behind it. Each hexagonal cell casts a soft, individual corona of light — the cumulative effect is a richly textured surface illumination.
⬡ On Curved Surfaces
Wrapping the NLS1616 around a column or curved wall warps the honeycomb projection in a way that emphasises the three-dimensional form of the object. The curved surface becomes a canvas — the honeycomb pattern flowing around the column like a living texture.
⬡ Direct View
Viewed directly (in shelving, furniture interiors, or cove edges), the NLS1616 face glows amber through its honeycomb cells — each hexagon acting as an individual light source. The overall effect is geometric, warm, and unmistakably distinctive from any standard flat-face profile.
⬡ With COB Strip Inside
COB LED strip inside the NLS1616 fills every honeycomb cell uniformly with light — no visible chip hotspots within the cells. The result is a perfectly even honeycomb glow pattern across the full profile length. COB is strongly recommended for the cleanest honeycomb effect.
360° Bend Capability
With a 30mm minimum bend radius, the NLS1616 follows any form — rigid architectural or free-flowing organic.
Circular Columns
Wrap completely around any column diameter from 60mm upward. The profile follows the curve seamlessly, join-free.
Spiral Forms
Spiral the NLS1616 along the length of a column or helical architectural feature — impossible with any rigid profile.
Wave & Organic
Follow undulating organic wall surfaces, wavy furniture fronts, and sculptural interior features with continuous light.
Arched Doorways
Follow the arch of a doorway, window, or niche in a continuous single piece — no corner joints, no dark zones at the curve.
Geometric Shapes
Form hexagons, diamonds, stars, and custom logo shapes on walls or ceilings using the flexible profile as a drawing tool in light.
Straight Runs Too
The NLS1616 installs perfectly straight as well — clips hold it aligned on any flat surface just like a rigid profile.
Why Specify NLS1616?
Goes Where Aluminium Cannot
30mm minimum bend radius — tighter than any aluminium profile. The NLS1616 is the only solution for continuous lighting on curves, columns, arches, and organic architectural forms.
Distinctive Honeycomb Look
The hexagonal cell diffuser creates a textured, architectural light output unlike any flat-face profile. Specifiable as a design detail in its own right — not just functional light housing.
IP65 Inherent
Silicone is naturally water-resistant — no separate coating or gasket required. The entire body is IP65 rated, including at cut points (when sealed with silicone sealant).
Cut with Scissors
Standard scissors or a craft knife cut the silicon profile cleanly at any point. No aluminium saw, no metallic swarf, no deburring — faster installation on site.
Safe to Touch
Soft silicone body — no sharp edges, no injury risk during installation or in environments where people may brush against the profile. Suitable for children's spaces and public installations.
UV-Stabilised
Food-grade UV-stabilised silicone does not yellow, crack, or degrade in direct sun exposure — suitable for outdoor garden features and south-facing exterior architectural lighting.
Technical Features
📐 16 × 16mm Square
Equal 16mm width and height — square cross-section. Sits flush on flat surfaces or bends around any form. The consistent square geometry maintains a professional appearance whether straight or curved.
🔲 12mm Channel
Internal LED strip channel: 12mm wide. Accepts 8mm, 10mm, and 12mm LED strips — COB, SMD 2835/5630, and high-density SMD. Strip base contacts the silicone channel floor for heat transfer.
🔆 Honeycomb Diffuser
Hexagonal cell pattern embossed into the silicone emitting face. Cell diameter approximately 3–4mm — fine enough to create a cohesive textured glow while being large enough to read as individual honeycombs up close.
🌡️ –40°C to +80°C
Silicone operating temperature range far wider than aluminium or PVC profiles. Suitable for hot environments (industrial outdoor, direct sun) and cold locations (cold storage exteriors).
🔗 Push-In Connectors
Waterproof push-in connectors designed specifically for the NLS1616 silicon profile — maintain IP65 at connection points when correctly assembled. Tool-free installation.
🧲 Mounting Clips
Silicon-profile-specific mounting clips grip the body firmly and fix to any surface. For curved installation, clips flex to match the surface contour. Additional adhesive fixing with neutral-cure silicone sealant available.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Model | NLS1616 |
| Profile Dimensions | 16mm (width) × 16mm (height) — square section |
| Material | UV-Stabilised Food-Grade Silicone |
| Diffuser Pattern | Honeycomb (hexagonal cells) |
| Internal Channel Width | 12mm (accepts 8mm / 10mm / 12mm LED strip) |
| Flexibility | 360° — bends in all planes |
| Minimum Bend Radius | 30mm |
| Standard Length | 2 metres per piece |
| Cut Method | Scissors / craft knife at any point |
| IP Rating | IP65 |
| Operating Temperature | –40°C to +80°C |
| UV Stability | UV-stabilised — no yellowing in outdoor sun exposure |
| Colour | Translucent amber/yellow tint (natural silicone) |
| Mounting | Silicon profile clips / Neutral-cure silicone adhesive |
| Connectors | IP65 waterproof push-in connectors (profile-specific) |
| Compatible Strip | COB / SMD 2835 / SMD 5630 / High-density SMD |
| Custom Lengths | Available on project order |
| Warranty | 2 Year (Nucleo Standard) |
Where NLS1616 Creates the Impossible
Circular Columns
Wrap around columns at any height — entry pillars, structural columns in lobbies, decorative columns in restaurants and hotels. Continuous join-free light line impossible with rigid profiles.
Arched Doorways
Follow the arch of doorways, window openings, and niches in a single continuous piece. One NLS1616 strip follows the entire arch — no corner joints, no dark zones at the curve.
Garden Features
Outdoor IP65 garden use — wrap around tree planters, follow garden wall curves, outline pond edges and water feature perimeters. UV-stable for years of direct sun exposure.
Furniture Lighting
Under curved furniture bases, along curved sofa frames, inside circular display pedestals, and around curved reception desk fronts — all applications where rigid profiles cannot follow the form.
Display & Retail
Custom geometric shapes — hexagons, circles, diamonds — formed from the NLS1616 as wall art and display lighting. The honeycomb diffuser matches the hexagonal theme of many modern retail interiors.
Pool Perimeter
IP65 waterproof silicon body follows the curves of free-form swimming pools and spa baths — outline the pool edge with warm amber honeycomb light that handles immersion-adjacent conditions.
Hospitality Interiors
Designer hotel and restaurant features — circular bar fronts, curved lounge booth backs, helical staircase banisters, and organic architectural accent details that define the space's character.
Art Installations
Light art and architectural installation work — free-form sculptures, large-scale wall art patterns, event environments, and exhibition displays where flexible LED is the creative medium.
Installation Guide
🌀 Curved Surface Installation
- Dry-fit the NLS1616 along the curved surface before inserting the LED strip or fixing anything permanently. Hold the profile against the curve and verify it follows the contour naturally — silicon has memory and will hold the curve after forming. Allow 60 seconds of hand-forming pressure on very tight curves before releasing.
- Insert the LED strip into the internal channel before fixing to the surface — it is significantly easier to press the strip in while the profile is straight, then bend the loaded profile to the curved surface together.
- Fix mounting clips to the curved surface at 150–200mm intervals for tight curves (under 100mm radius) or 250–300mm for gentle curves. For circular column wrapping, use the adhesive method: apply a bead of neutral-cure silicone sealant to the back face of the NLS1616 at 100mm intervals and press the profile onto the column surface, holding for 30 seconds at each contact point.
- For complete column wraps: start from the bottom, apply sealant in short sections, and press the profile around the column in a continuous spiral or straight horizontal wrap. Use masking tape at 100mm intervals to hold the profile in position while the sealant cures — minimum 4 hours before removing tape.
- Connect the strip cable at the starting end using the IP65 waterproof push-in connector. Route the cable to the 12V/24V driver. Seal the cut end at the profile's termination point with silicone end cap and a small bead of clear silicone sealant to maintain IP65.
- Power on and inspect the honeycomb pattern on the surrounding surfaces. The pattern can be made bolder (closer to surface) or softer (further from surface) by adjusting the distance between the profile face and the lit surface. For maximum honeycomb shadow depth, ensure a minimum 50mm gap between the NLS1616 face and the illuminated surface.
📐 Straight Surface Installation
- Mark the profile run on the surface with a laser level or chalk line. The NLS1616 sits flush on any flat surface held by mounting clips — the same installation method as a rigid aluminium profile, but with the added advantage that minor surface irregularities are absorbed by the silicon body's flexibility.
- Cut the NLS1616 to the required length using clean scissors or a sharp craft knife. Cut squarely across the profile — an angled cut makes the end cap harder to seat correctly. No saw is needed — the silicone cuts cleanly without metallic dust or sharp edges.
- Insert the LED strip into the channel. Press firmly along the full length so the strip's 3M adhesive base contacts the silicon channel floor. For best thermal performance, ensure continuous contact — any air gap between strip and channel reduces heat transfer from the LED chips.
- Fix the first mounting clip to the surface at the start of the run. Click the NLS1616 into the clip. Proceed along the run, fixing clips at 250–300mm intervals. Ensure the profile face is oriented correctly — the honeycomb face must face outward (away from the surface) for correct light output direction.
- For joins between two profile sections (on runs longer than 2m): use the silicon profile joiner accessory — this maintains alignment between adjacent sections and maintains the IP65 rating at the joint. Do not simply butt two profile sections together without a joiner — the joint will be visible as a dark line in the continuous illuminated run.
- Connect to the LED driver and power on. Observe the honeycomb pattern projected on adjacent surfaces. For wall-mounted installations, the honeycomb pattern on the ceiling or floor beyond the profile can be a strong design feature — adjust the mounting position and angle to maximise the effect if desired.
⬡ When the Light Has a Pattern
Most LED profiles are vehicles for concealing the source. The aluminium channel hides the strip; the flat diffuser spreads the light; the result is a clean, even line. That is precisely what you want when a ceiling cove or shelf needs soft ambient illumination — and the NLS1616 delivers that too, for any straight run, as well as any profile.
But the NLS1616 offers something beyond concealment. Its honeycomb diffuser face makes the light itself a visual element — a grid of hexagonal glowing cells that casts its own distinctive shadow pattern on whatever surface it faces. Combine that with its ability to follow any curve, wrap any column, and trace any form, and you have a product that doesn't just light architecture — it becomes part of it.
For the lighting designer or interior architect who wants the LED profile to be as considered a detail as the material it illuminates, the NLS1616 is the specification. Available in 2-metre lengths, compatible with any LED strip, IP65 for indoor and outdoor use. Pan India supply from Nucleo360.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the NLS1616 different from standard aluminium LED profiles?
What is the honeycomb diffuser and what effect does it create?
What LED strips are compatible?
Can the NLS1616 be used outdoors?
How is it fixed in place on a curved surface?
Where can I buy NLS1616 Pan India?
🔍 Related Search Terms
Order NLS1616 Honeycomb Silicon Profile Pan India
2m lengths · IP65 · Cuts with scissors · Compatible with all LED strips · Project pricing available.
