Shining light Tamlite

SHINING LIGHT

Leading integrated manufacturer and supplier of technical and design-led lighting solutions for a wide range of sectors, UK-based Tamlite Lighting has achieved considerable growth against the backdrop of the global economic recession. Emma-Jane Batey spoke to General Manager John Allden to find out how this is being achieved.

Founded within the UK Midlands in 1967, Tamlite Lighting is an integrated manufacturer and supplier of professional lighting products for the public, commercial and industrial sectors. Over the past 45 years, Tamlite Lighting has established itself as a customer-focused organisation with technically-advanced, well-designed lighting solutions, backed up with comprehensive sales and after-sales support.

John Allden has worked in the UK lighting industry for over 30 years and has an extensive knowledge of how good lighting can add value to customers’ environments. He told Industry Europe, “We have excellent facilities here as well as a highly experienced team that knows how to maximise those facilities. It’s a winning combination.” Better for business

A unique element of Tamlite Lighting’s team set up is the fact that its six factories in Redditch and further three in Telford are all run as industry-sector focused operations. Mr Allden explained, “Rather than have a central management across the nine sites, which can result in a sort of ‘Jack of all trades’ approach, we have dedicated teams for each market sector. There is a Business Manager at each site and they are all experts in their specific fields. If a customer wants to know general information about our products and services, or has an initial enquiry that crosses a number of sectors, they can talk directly to a Group Manager that understands all aspects of our business, or any member of our two dozen strong sales support team of field-based engineers or Regional/National Sales Management. We find this decentralised approach works particularly well, even though it is unusual, and our sales figures prove it brings increased efficiency.” This decentralised approach allows for expertise in each of Tamlite Lighting’s core product areas.

In addition to its professional lighting products for the public, commercial and industrial sectors, the company has also recently included high-end residential lighting too. Tamlite Lighting’s portfolio includes comprehensive fluorescent lighting ranges, exterior floodlighting for small spaces right up to entire stadia, display lighting such as spotlights, track and downlights, and utility lighting such as outdoor landscaping applications. All of Tamlite Lighting’s products can enjoy the integrated ‘Vision’

lighting controls which allow for impressive energy reduction in addition to improved customer control, including simple presence detection and daylight dimming, with energy savings of 60 per cent to 80 per cent not uncommon.

All of Tamlite Lighting’s product range can include LED lighting; a technical advance that has contributed to the company’s recent boost in performance. Mr Allden said, “I have more than 30 years’ experience in the lighting industry and I have to say that the last few years have seen a real revolution in terms of technical capabilities of lighting manufacture and design. There’s a huge development in LED and lighting control, and it’s really exciting to be a part of such a forward-thinking company – one that’s harnessing the increased possibility of lighting and bringing it to a wide, international audience.”

Bright investment

In order to truly maximise its potential in this rapidly-changing industry, Tamlite Lighting has invested more than £5million in the last three and a half years. The main recipients of this investment have been two new factory premises. Additionally two brand new CNCcontrolled punch presses from cutting-edge Japanese machine manufacturer Amada, a second Salvagnini CNC bending machine and two state-of-the-art powder coating plants have been procured. This year has also seen the company replace half of its commercial vehicle fleet, with the rest due for replacement over the next 18 months.

Furthermore, nearly half a million pounds has been invested in Tamlite Lighting’s new and varied showroom facilities. This is another area in which the company is resolutely unique: namely with its operation of ‘open house’ showrooms as ‘Application Centres’ that installers, distributors and end users can visit. Mr Allden added, “We love it when customers across the supply chain want to look around; they can visit the warehouses, the

workshops... wherever they want to see. We make sure there is someone there to show them around and answer any questions they may have on their lighting requirements and our portfolio.”

Growth and gain

With around 95 per cent of its activities carried out in the UK, Tamlite Lighting also has a sister company Tamlite Lighting USA which is based in Florida and supplies the North American market. The UK company also has a modern 4,500m2 facility in Western Turkey, which was opened in 1999. Thanks to long-standing relationships with export houses, Tamlite Lighting is active in Africa, the Caribbean and Asia, with expectations that its currently relatively lowlevel activities in Europe will advance in the coming years.

Mr Allden said, “Our revenues in 2011/12 were 40 per cent higher than 2008/09, and we are targeting a further medium-term growth plan of plus 33 per cent by continuing our policy of striving for excellence through internal focus on detail and high standards. Quality of product and quality of service have been instrumental in past success and will be paramount in our future growth strategy. Our future plans will see us continue to ‘be smart’ with active exploration of future market trends driven by light source technology, standards and legislation, and we will continue to integrate our advanced ‘Vision’ lighting controls.” n