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'''Universal Lighting Technologies, Inc.''' was a commercial lighting manufacturer founded in 1947 and based in [[Nashville]], [[Tennessee]] that was shut down by Atar Capital in 2023. It was part of the $105 Billion [[Panasonic]] family of companies from 2007 to 2021. Together, Universal Lighting Technologies and Douglas Lighting Controls are entities under the parent company Universal Douglas Lighting Americas, Inc. (UDLA). As of 2023, the company had been owned by Atar Capital, which shut down all North American operations, and had operated under the entity of Universal Douglas Lighting Americas, Inc.<ref>https://inside.lighting/news/23-03/universal-douglas-announces-sudden-closure</ref>
'''Universal Lighting Technologies, Inc.''' was a commercial lighting manufacturer founded in 1947 and based in [[Nashville]], [[Tennessee]] and was shut down in 2023. In 2021, Atar Capital bought Panasonic’s American Lighting Division, which included Universal Lighting Technologies, Inc. as well as Douglas Lighting Controls, and reincorporated it as Universal Douglas Lighting Americas, Inc.(UDLA)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-22 |title=Universal Douglas Announces Sudden Closure |url=https://inside.lighting/news/23-03/universal-douglas-announces-sudden-closure |access-date=2023-09-07 |website=inside.lighting |language=en}}</ref>> In March of 2023, Atar Capital abruptly shut down UDLA. UDLA primarily designed and manufactured [[light-emitting diode]] (LED) ballasts and controllers. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-30 |title=Lights out for Universal Douglas Lighting... permanently |url=https://www.ebmag.com/lights-out-for-universal-douglas-lighting-permanently/ |access-date=2023-09-07 |website=Electrical Business |language=en-US}}</ref>

UDLA primarily designs and manufactures light emitting diode (LED) products, including LED Drivers, LED Modules, LED Luminaires, LED Retrofit Kits, LED Tubes, and Ballasts. They also provide lighting control components and control systems, including stand-alone wireless control, sensors, switches, and digital and analog [[dimmer|dimming systems]]. The company acquired Vossloh-Schwabe's North American operations in 2009. This allowed them to also offer a full range of High Intensity Discharge (HID) products, ignitors{{Clarify|date=November 2011}}, [[transformer]]s, [[light fixture|lampholders]], [[capacitor]]s, and other [[electrical component|components]].<ref>"Vossloh-Schwabe News; http://www.vossloh-schwabe.com/images/news/application_pdf-101-1-1112.pdf; 2009"</ref>

Universal Lighting Technologies has over 150 patents and offers LED Components. Universal Lighting Technologies has kept all of their operating facilities in North America and uses 12 distribution warehouses to distribute products.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unvlt.com/about-ult/company-profile/|title = About}}</ref>

==Company History and Timeline==

===Timeline===

'''1943:''' Triad-Utrad was founded in 1943,<ref>"Triad Magnetics Profile Page"; {{cite web|title=Triad Magnetics Product Specs|url=http://www.triadmagnetics.com/catalog_template.php?productCategoryId%3D94%3B|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326071203/http://www.triadmagnetics.com/catalog_template.php?productCategoryId=94|archive-date=March 26, 2012|access-date=June 27, 2011}} 2009"</ref> and, with the installation of electronic DC ballasts in the mass transit industry, was the first in the industry to introduce the electronic ballast, continuing on with later introductions of ballasts for T12, T8, and compact fluorescent lamps.

'''1947:''' Universal Lighting Technologies began in 1947 when two lighting industry corporations – Universal Manufacturing Company and Triad-Utrad Energy Savings Incorporated merged. Universal Manufacturing Company was one of the first companies to manufacture lighting ballasts, and Triad-Utrad was the first company to introduce the electronic lighting ballast.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unvlt.com/about-ult/company-profile/|title = About}}</ref>

'''1960's:''' Introduced a line of Electronic Ballasts <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unvlt.com/about-ult/company-profile/|title = About}}</ref>

'''1970's:''' Expanded to Magnetic HID Ballasts <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unvlt.com/about-ult/company-profile/|title = About}}</ref>

'''1980's:''' Produced T12 electronic products & instant start T8 ballasts <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unvlt.com/about-ult/company-profile/|title = About}}</ref>

'''1990's:''' Introduced first ballast offering five voltages; Created ballasts that offered universal input voltage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unvlt.com/about-ult/company-profile/|title = About}}</ref>

'''2000's:''' Began offering LED Driver and Module components; Created the High Efficiency Programmed Start Ballast <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unvlt.com/about-ult/press-releases//|title = Company News}}</ref>

'''2007:''' Introduced the Signa LED Systems <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unvlt.com/pdf/pr/pdfs/2007/0507-Signa_LED_Systems.pdf|title = Company News}}</ref>

'''2009:''' The manufacturing facility receives “Clean Industry” certification.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unvlt.com/pdf/pr/pdfs/2009/0309-Clean_Industry.pdf|title = Company News}}</ref>

'''2009:''' Acquired Vossloh-Schwabe's North American operations.<ref>"Vossloh-Schwabe News; http://www.vossloh-schwabe.com/images/news/application_pdf-101-1-1112.pdf; 2009"</ref>

'''2011:''' Universal works with Boeing to cut their energy use by 57%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unvlt.com/pdf/pr/pdfs/2011/0711-boeing_slashes_energy_use.pdf|title=Company News}}</ref>

'''2015:''' Designed and released the EVERLINE Replacement Drivers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unvlt.com/pdf/pr/pdfs/2015/ULT-Driver-Replacement.pdf|title = Company News}}</ref>

'''2015:''' Released the EVERLINE LED Retrofit line offering good-better-best retrofit products so that customers would have a variety of options and price points for their LED Retrofit projects.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unvlt.com/pdf/pr/pdfs/2015/Universal-Reveal-Three-Lamp-LED-Retrofit-Kit-Parabolic-Fixtures.pdf|title=Company News}}</ref>

'''2016:''' Universal adds T8 LED Linear Tubes to their EVERLINE product line.<ref>https://unvlt.com/pdf/pr/pdfs/2016/EVERLINE%20High%20Efficiency%20T8%20LED%20Linear%20Tube%20Release.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>

'''2017:''' Universal adds the Professional Retrofit Kit to the EVERLINE LED Retrofit line<ref>https://unvlt.com/pdf/pr/pdfs/2017/EVERLINE%20LED%20PRK%20Fixture%20-%20FINAL.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>

'''2018:''' Universal releases Emergency LED Drivers.<ref>https://unvlt.com/pdf/pr/pdfs/2018/EVERLINE%20Emergency%20Drivers%20-%20FINAL.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>

'''2018:''' Created PW series Drivers with technology that allows users to tune their LED drivers from their mobile phones.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://electricalnews.com/universal-lighting-technologies-introduces-pwa-series-wireless-led-drivers-indoor-linear-lighting-applications/|title=Universal Lighting Technologies Introduces PWA Series of Wireless LED Drivers for Indoor Linear Lighting Applications|date=8 January 2018}}</ref>

'''2019''': Universal adds LED Round High Bay,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Susan|first=Phillips|date=2020-10-05|title=LED Round High Bay Luminaires|url=https://nunvdata.unvlt.com/uploads/EVERLINE-LED-Round-High-Bay-FINAL.pdf}}</ref> LRK34,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Phillips|first=Susan|date=2020-10-05|title=LRK34|url=https://nunvdata.unvlt.com/uploads/Universal-Lighting-Technologies-Expands-Everline-Retrofit-Options-with-LRK34-ML-Ideal-for-Commecial-Applications.pdf}}</ref> and PWX LED Drivers <ref>{{Cite web|last=Phillips|first=Susan|date=2020-10-05|title=PWX LED Drivers|url=https://nunvdata.unvlt.com/uploads/Universal-Lighting-Technologies-Rolls-Out-EVERLINE%C2%AE-PWX-LED-Drivers-Expanding-Options-for-Controllable-Outdoor-Luminaire-Applications.pdf}}</ref> with controllable outdoor luminaire applications.

'''2020:''' Universal Introduces Complete, Stand-Alone Bluetooth Wireless Control Solutions.<ref>{{Cite web|last=L2D|title=Universal Introduces Complete,…|url=https://unvlt.com/news/universal-introduces-bluetoothr-wireless-control-solutions|access-date=2020-10-05|website=Universal Lighting Technologies|language=en}}</ref>

'''2020:''' Universal Announces New Website.<ref>{{Cite web|last=L2D|title=An LED Lighting Company {{!}} Home|url=https://unvlt.com/|access-date=2020-10-05|website=Universal Lighting Technologies|language=en}}</ref>

'''2021''': Two entities (Douglas + Universal) merged into one company (Universal Douglas Lighting Americas, Inc.){{Citation needed|date=September 2022}}

'''2023''': Universal Douglas closed abruptly on March 22, 2023.<ref>[https://inside.lighting/news/23-03/universal-douglas-announces-sudden-closure Universal Douglas Announces Sudden Closure]</ref><ref>[https://edisonreport.com/2023/03/22/universal-douglas/ Universal Douglas has Closed]</ref>


===Universal Lighting Today===
Atar Capital is the current owner via acquisition. Prior to March 2021, Panasonic Lighting Americas, Inc. (PLTA) was the parent of Universal Lighting Technologies, Inc. and Douglas Lighting Controls, Inc. The company markets its LED upgrades, LED components, and IoT-enabled lighting control systems. Universal Lighting's product brands are under the Universal, EVERLINE, Triad, and Signa brand names.<ref>"Universal Website; {{cite web|url=http://www.unvlt.com/mediaInfo/company_profile.html; |title=Universal Lighting Technologies &#124; News and Info &#124; Company Profile |access-date=June 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103064745/http://www.unvlt.com/mediaInfo/company_profile.html |archive-date=November 3, 2011 }}</ref> A key strategy of theirs continues to be research and product development, with R&D facility in [[Huntsville, AL]].


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 19:43, 7 September 2023

Universal Lighting Technologies
IndustryBallast manufacturing
Founded1947
HeadquartersNashville, Tennessee, United States
ProductsLighting & Lighting Controls
Number of employees
2,330 (2011)
ParentAtar Capital

Universal Lighting Technologies, Inc. was a commercial lighting manufacturer founded in 1947 and based in Nashville, Tennessee and was shut down in 2023. In 2021, Atar Capital bought Panasonic’s American Lighting Division, which included Universal Lighting Technologies, Inc. as well as Douglas Lighting Controls, and reincorporated it as Universal Douglas Lighting Americas, Inc.(UDLA)[1]> In March of 2023, Atar Capital abruptly shut down UDLA. UDLA primarily designed and manufactured light-emitting diode (LED) ballasts and controllers. [2]

References

  1. ^ "Universal Douglas Announces Sudden Closure". inside.lighting. 2023-03-22. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  2. ^ "Lights out for Universal Douglas Lighting... permanently". Electrical Business. 2023-03-30. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
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