Pelican Products acquires UK company, establishes Advanced Area Lighting Group

Torrance, CA -

New research and development group to deliver fully sustainable, portable and energy-efficient area lighting systems and products for commercial applications

Pelican™ Products, Inc., 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 (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., 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and air pollution associated with today’s industrial diesel generator-powered lighting towers that use energy-zapping outdated light bulb technology.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 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.