Lightolier
Encyclopedia
Lightolier is a company that manufactures and sells a wide array of lighting fixtures. It was founded in 1904 by Bernhard Blitzer under the name of New York Gas and Appliance Co. When electric lighting started to be more widely accepted, the name was changed to Lightolier, a contraction of the words light and chandelier
. In 2007, Philips Royal Electronics
announced that it would acquire the Genlyte Group
which would make Lightolier a part of Philips.
In its early years, the company specialized in fancy decorative chandeliers then made a shift to high-end design and architectural in the 1920s. In the 1960s, Lightolier introduced the first track lighting system, designed by Anthony C. Donato ( a vertically integrated track, unlike the horizontal tracks of today). Also notable is the success of the Lytegem series, designed by Michael Lax, that has a place in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Lightolier is also known for its advanced reflector designs, and was the first lighting company to introduce digital lighting systems in the early 1990s. The company is also Sustaining Member of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, a founding member of the American Lighting Association, an Ally of the EPA Green Lights program, and a Partner of the Lighting Research Center.
The company currently has manufacturing operations in:
And Distribution Centers in:
Chandelier
A chandelier is a branched decorative ceiling-mounted light fixture with two or more arms bearing lights. Chandeliers are often ornate, containing dozens of lamps and complex arrays of glass or crystal prisms to illuminate a room with refracted light...
. In 2007, Philips Royal Electronics
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
announced that it would acquire the Genlyte Group
Genlyte Group
The Genlyte Group was a company that manufactured and sold lighting fixtures and controls. Products designed by the Genlyte Group include indoor and outdoor fixtures for the commercial, residential, theater, and industrial markets...
which would make Lightolier a part of Philips.
In its early years, the company specialized in fancy decorative chandeliers then made a shift to high-end design and architectural in the 1920s. In the 1960s, Lightolier introduced the first track lighting system, designed by Anthony C. Donato ( a vertically integrated track, unlike the horizontal tracks of today). Also notable is the success of the Lytegem series, designed by Michael Lax, that has a place in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Lightolier is also known for its advanced reflector designs, and was the first lighting company to introduce digital lighting systems in the early 1990s. The company is also Sustaining Member of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, a founding member of the American Lighting Association, an Ally of the EPA Green Lights program, and a Partner of the Lighting Research Center.
The company currently has manufacturing operations in:
- Fall River, MA (Track and Recessed Downlights, also Corporate Headquarters)
- Wilmington, MAWilmington, MassachusettsWilmington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 22,325 at the 2010 census.-History:Wilmington was first settled in 1665 and was officially incorporated in 1730, from parts of Woburn, Reading and Billerica. Minutemen from Wilmington responded to the alarm...
(Fluorescent fixtures) - Edison, NJ (Downlights/Distribution)
- Fontana, CAFontana, CaliforniaFontana is a city of 196,069 residents in San Bernardino County, California. Founded in 1913, it remained essentially rural until World War II, when entrepreneur Henry J. Kaiser built a large steel mill in the area...
(Fluorescent and Recessed Linear fixtures) - Camargo, MexicoCamargo, ChihuahuaSanta Rosalía de Camargo, originally called Santa Rosalia, and now known as "Camargo City", is a city in the eastern part of the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It serves as municipal seat of Camargo municipality. It is a colonial town steeped in history. The Mission Santa Rosalía has a beautiful park...
(Track and Recessed Downlights)
And Distribution Centers in:
- Norwich, CTNorwich, ConnecticutRegular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
- Atlanta, GAAtlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
- Elgin, ILElgin, IllinoisElgin is a city in northern Illinois located roughly northwest of Chicago on the Fox River. Most of Elgin lies within Kane County, Illinois, with a portion in Cook County, Illinois...
- Carrollton, TXCarrollton, Texas-Climate:*On average, the warmest month is July.*The highest recorded temperature was 112°F in 1980.*The average coolest month is January.*The lowest recorded temperature was 1°F in 1989.*The most precipitation on average occurs in May....
- Compton, CACompton, CaliforniaCompton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city of Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city to incorporate. The city is considered part of the South side by residents of Los...
Companies Owned By/Divisions of Lightolier
- Lightolier Controls - maker of lighting controls.
- Translite Sonoma - maker of decorative lighting fixtures.
- Forecast Lighting - maker of decorative glass and metal lighting fixtures.
- Canlyte - seller of Lightolier and other Genlyte brands in Canada.