Acuity Brands Acquires LED Driver Manufacturer

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 (eldoLED), a designer and manufacturer of intelligent drivers for LED-based lighting systems. Founded in 2003, eldoLED is a privately owned company based 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, 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. Albert Berghuis, director and general manager of eldoLED,  said 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.”

Acuity has been building up its LED offering in recent years, and lately has focused on the 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.