New research and development group to deliver fully sustainable, portable and energy-efficient area lighting systems and products for commercial applications TORRANCE, Calif., June 2
TORRANCE, Calif., June 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Pelican(TM) Products, Inc.
(http://www.pelican.com/), the global leader in the manufacture of advanced
lighting systems and virtually indestructible protective cases, today launched
a new division focused on bringing to market environmentally sustainable,
energy-efficient and powerful Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting products.
The Advanced Area Lighting Group (http://www.pelican.com/aalg)(AALG), known as
Peli AALG Limited, combines Pelican's nearly 30 years of advanced lighting
technology innovation with the expertise and products of the newly acquired
Blue i UK Ltd. (http://www.blueiuk.com/), a European developer of next-
generation remote area lighting technology.
"Nearly three decades ago Pelican pioneered an entirely new industry for
protective case design and manufacture and is still recognized today as the
global leader," said Lyndon Faulkner, President and CEO of Pelican Products.
"We are taking that same pioneering spirit to become the leader in designing
and building the most advanced, environmentally safe and energy-efficient
lighting technology on the market. The lighting industry hasn't even scratched
the surface in effectively integrating LED technology into commercial
applications for lighting large areas. That is the sole focus of Pelican's
AALG and the major reason we have acquired Blue i."
The new area lighting systems being designed and built by Pelican are
harnessing the power, reliability and energy-efficiency of LED technology.
This presents new commercial applications beyond the company's rugged and
powerful handheld flashlights that are used by militaries and first responders
as well as industrial and hazardous settings around the world. Pelican, along
with the team from Blue i, is already delivering a battery-powered portable
area lighting system that provides 15 hours of continuous light and
approximately 50,000 hours LED lifespan for such end users as nighttime road
construction crews, railway engineers and first responders. The systems offer
users the ability to illuminate a large work area without the fuel
consumption, noise and air pollution associated with today's industrial diesel
generator-powered lighting towers that use energy-zapping outdated light bulb
technology.
While Pelican was in the process of forming its new lighting research and
development division, the company became aware of Blue i and its line of
rugged and portable area lighting products. They entered into discussions to
combine the unconditionally guaranteed durability and effectiveness of
Pelican's cases and lights with Blue i's environmentally responsible approach
to building next-generation area lighting systems. Blue i was started three
years ago by two British lighting industry experts with the goal of developing
leading-edge lighting systems that use futuristic technology and are safe for
the environment. The company's founders, Neil Walker and Darren Judd, were
recognized last year for Blue i's success as finalists for HSBC's annual
"Start-up Stars" Awards in the U.K. for new and growing businesses. Now the
two join Pelican's lighting group to continue inventing the future of advanced
lighting.
"From the first time we sat down with Neil and Darren, we were impressed
with their collective expertise in lighting innovation and loved the
complementary products they were bringing to market," said Faulkner. "Blue i's
approach to technology innovation and standing behind their products was an
ideal fit for Pelican and our long-term lighting strategy. We are extremely
excited to bring Blue i's products into the Pelican family and continue
leading the way for what's next in commercial lighting."
Thanks to the added expertise of Blue i's founders, Pelican's AALG is
taking the issue of sustainability head-on as it develops new LED lighting
systems and products. Pelican believes the consumer debate raging over
incandescent and compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs is just one small part
of the lighting efficiency discussion. LED technology is proven to be light
years ahead of current bulbs and burns 50 times longer than incandescent bulbs
and eight times longer than CFLs, and requires less energy to do so.
Additionally, CFLs contain mercury and pose a serious environmental threat;
LEDs operate with chips made of nontoxic materials that are completely
recyclable.
As for product commercialization plans, Pelican currently offers the 9450
Remote Area Lighting System
(http://www.pelican.com/lights_detail.php?recordID=9450B) and will be
unveiling additional new products in the coming months as Blue i's products
are integrated into Pelican. Additionally, Pelican is in the prototype stage
for both smaller and larger portable area lighting units that will become
available later this year and in early 2009. Visit http://www.pelican.com/aalg
for further details on the Advanced Area Lighting Group.
Media Contacts For Pelican Products:
Keith Swenson, 310-326-4700, kswenson@pelican.com
Ken Garcia, (804) 675-8132, kgarcia@crt-tanaka.com
About Pelican Products, Inc.
Pelican(TM) Products, Inc. is the global leader in the design and
manufacture of advanced lighting systems
(http://www.pelican.com/lights_category.php?Category=%25&LampType=%25&Submersi
ble=%25&New=%25) (Due to length of URL, please cut and paste into browser.)
and virtually indestructible cases
(http://www.pelican.com/case_category.php?CaseSize=%25&New=%25) with
distribution centers in Barcelona, Spain, Edmonton, Canada, Tokyo, Japan,
Shanghai, China, and Adelaide, Australia. The company was acquired in 2005 by
private equity firm Behrman Capital. For more information, visit
http://www.Pelican.com or http://www.behrmancap.com
SOURCE Pelican Products, Inc.
