Acuity Brands Expands Vertically, Acquires LED Driver Manufacturer eldoLED

Lighting equipment and controls manufacturer Acuity Brands, Inc., Atlanta, is adding LED driver technology, one of the core technologies behind the further development of LED lighting, to its solid-state lighting operations. Acuity said it has acquired one of its driver suppliers, eldoLAB Holding BV, a designer and manufacturer of intelligent drivers for LED-based lighting systems. Founded in 2003, eldoLED is a privately owned company headquartered in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

In a release announcing the acquisition, Acuity said eldoLED intelligent drive solutions are “accelerating the LED transformation by delivering the promise of smarter, sleeker and more efficient lighting solutions.” eldoLED’s lines include a wide range of LED drivers using state-of-the-art drive, networking and control architectures to provide full-range dimming for white LED and dynamic color control for RGB effect lighting.  Proprietary digital technologies provide eldoLED drivers with advanced capabilities such as flicker-free dimming to off, optimum power efficiency, configurability and robust thermal management in a small footprint, Acuity said. 

eldoLED also develops customized and design-in solutions for an assortment of OEM lighting manufacturers, including Acuity Brands, and intends to continue serving the wider market. “Our focus is to create cutting-edge technology solutions that enable our customers to bring next-generation, high-power LED products to market,” said Albert Berghuis, director and general manager of eldoLED, in the release. “We’ve had the pleasure of partnering with Acuity Brands on several LED fixtures across its Gotham, Mark Architectural Lighting and Winona Lighting brands. And now we look forward to joining the Acuity Brands family and utilizing its significant resources to further accelerate the delivery of superior driver solutions for all of our OEM customers, including Acuity Brands, in order to maximize the potential of solid-state lighting.”

The core of the eldoLED product architecture is firmware that allows a single driver to flexibly deliver a wide range of current and voltage outputs to optimize LED fixture operation, as well as enabling simple communication with a variety of sensors. The company’s systems can integrate with external control systems across industry-standard protocols, such as the global standards 0-10V and DALI or the theatrical lighting standard DMX with RDM.

“eldoLED has developed and continues to develop breakthrough solutions in the field of solid-state lighting through its comprehensive offering of driver, controls and networking solutions,” said Vernon Nagel, chairman, president and CEO of Acuity Brands. “As we have discovered first-hand, its best-in-class drivers provide exceptional, smooth dimming and consistent color and brightness. In addition, the ability of eldoLED driver technology to integrate with all types of solid-state lighting applications and communicate with lighting controls systems aligns well with Acuity Brands’ mission of providing superior integrated lighting solutions.”

Acuity has been building up its LED offering quite a bit in recent years, focusing on the kinds of connectivity and control solutions that will push LEDs’ usefulness beyond that of conventional lighting technologies. The company over just the past 18 months has acquired Adura Technologies, a developer of wireless controls and energy management systems; Pathway Connectivity, a manufacturer of networked data communications and interface equipment for architectural and entertainment lighting control applications; and Horizon Control, a maker of PC-based lighting control systems with heavy emphasis on research and development. Acuity also acquired Healthcare Lighting Inc., a specialist in the rapid-growth field of healthcare-specific lighting technologies.