Dextra Group plc. was founded in the late 1970’s, originally to produce basic luminaires specifically for suspended ceiling installers. Dextra focused on producing luminaires for niche markets where service and practical design were paramount.
Dextra’s focus on service, high capital investment and practical design is still a vital ingredient to its success, but the business has grown and diversified considerably and now boasts an impressive range of lighting products to suit a full range of commercial, industrial and retail requirements. For example Dextra now produce a wide variety of energy efficient lighting products using the very latest LED technology produced in their specialist light engine electronics unit boasting three bespoke SMT production lines.
As part of its journey of growth and evolution, in October 2013 Dextra entered into a licensing agreement with Royal Philips Electronics which gave them access to Philips’ comprehensive portfolio of patented LED-based luminaire technologies and retrofit bulbs offered in the licensing program. This not only helped Dextra strengthen its offering, but also expanded its portfolio and ability to bring products quicker to market.
Commenting on the signing Rupert Martin, Dextra Group Chairman said: “We and our customers respect other companies Intellectual Property and saw the benefits of joining the program as it allowed us access to Philips’ vast technology portfolio, enabling us to accelerate products to market and by doing so open up new business opportunities for us as a company. It has also further endorsed our policy of assembling and producing our full product range in the UK using only European based component suppliers”.
“We’ve forged a close relationship with Philips over the past few years and their support over a wide range of LED based products and components has been invaluable, especially as this is a key focus for growth for us in 2014 and beyond. Philips’ LED Luminaires and Retrofit Bulbs Licensing Program encourages businesses to foster a cooperative attitude; and I would recommend all businesses working with LED lighting technology to sign up to the program because I’m confident that like us they will reap the rewards.”
“The LED market has now reached a critical turning point where the key elements are in place to allow mass adoption of technology. The expedited development of LED technology and production is now providing lumens per watt far in excess of fluorescent, reducing the cost to a level where many LED products are able to provide a compelling return on investment. It really is a very exciting time and by partnering with a company like Philips we feel fit for further growth.”
Philips’ LED Luminaires and Retrofit Bulbs Licensing Program has seen its number of licensees grow significantly over the past five years since it was launched in 2008, with the number of current licensees standing at over 380. This represents 45% growth year on year from February 2013 to February 2014.
Aran Duijvestijn, Senior Vice President of Philips Intellectual Property & Standards said: “We are thrilled that companies of the calibre of Dextra are recognizing that working with us helps to speed up product development, lower costs and advance the industry.
Since the launch of the Philips LED Luminaires and Retrofit Bulbs Licensing Program in 2008, the demand for licenses under Philips’ patented LED technologies has grown significantly as the industry looks closely to LED lighting as the future. Through Philips’ licensing program, licensees are given access to a wide range of basic LED control and system-level technologies available for use in their branded LED-based luminaires and retrofit bulbs for general illumination, architectural, entertainment and theatrical markets.
Discussing the opportunities the signing presented, Rupert Martin added “Close involvement with Philips allows us to tap in to the very latest cutting edge technology. I recommend other firms embrace Philips totally as a mainline supplier, as the lighting industry is currently under extreme pressure from unregulated products arriving in the UK, which very often do not comply to industry standards and are of poor quality.”
This license agreement with Dextra follows earlier agreements between Philips and companies ranging from smaller start-ups to big global players including Acuity Brands, Cooper Lighting, Trilux, Osram, Cree, Zumtobel and Paulmann. Within the last couple of months alone, the LED Luminaires and Retrofit Bulbs Licensing Program has gained impressive new licensing agreements with companies worldwide including TCP, Dialight and Aurora.