Pelican acquires Blue i, launches sustainable lighting div

Advanced lighting systems manufacturer, Pelican Products Inc., has launched a new division focused on bringing to market environmentally sustainable, energy-efficient and powerful LED lighting products. Peli AALG Limited combines Pelican’s nearly 30 years of advanced lighting technology with the expertise and products of newly acquired Blue i UK Ltd.

By Plant Engineering Staff June 4, 2008

Advanced lighting systems manufacturer, Pelican Products Inc., has 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 with the expertise and products of newly acquired Blue i UK Ltd., a European developer of next-generation remote area lighting 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 lighting products. 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 their advanced lighting work.

Presenting new commercial applications beyond the company’s handheld flashlights, the new lighting systems that Pelican is designing and manufacturing are intended to harness the power, reliability and energy-efficiency of LED technology. The Pelican and Blue i team is already delivering a battery-powered portable area lighting system that provides 15 hours of continuous light and an LED lifespan of approximately 50,000 hours. These 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and air pollution associated with today’s industrial diesel generator-powered lighting towers that use energy-zapping outdated light bulb technology.

Pelican’s AALG is taking the issue of sustainability head-on as it develops new LED lighting systems and products. The company believes the consumer debate raging over incandescent and compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs is just one small part of the lighting efficiency discussion. According to Pelican, LED technology is “light” years ahead of current bulbs; burns 50 times longer than incandescent bulbs; 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.

“The lighting industry hasn’t even scratched the surface in effectively integrating LED technology into commercial applications for lighting large areas,” said Lyndon Faulkner, president and CEO of Pelican Products. “That is the sole focus of Pelican’s AALG and the major reason we have acquired Blue i.”

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. The company 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.