WEST CALDWELL, N.J.—MaxLite will celebrate its 25th year of manufacturing and marketing energy-efficient lighting solutions by showcasing a full portfolio of LED luminaires, lamps and lighting controls at LIGHTFAIR® International 2018 (Booth 3633), May 8-10, in Chicago.
One of the first companies in the industry to move into LED technology, MaxLite was founded in 1993 by President and CEO Yon Sung. Sung left the banking industry to follow his family roots in the lighting business, and formed MaxLite as a joint venture with his father’s South Korea-based fluorescent lighting company SK Enterprise Co. Ltd. He began MaxLite with a container of 80,000 compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs and the expectation that, at a $26 rebate, the bulbs would practically sell themselves.
“My landed cost at the time was $12, and I thought it was a no-brainer,” Sung said. “I thought it would be pre-sold before it even landed in New Jersey. It actually took two years of agonizing losses to give away those 80,000 CFLs! What that taught me was the power of distribution, brand-name recognition, the strength of a warranty and the people behind the products. The product does not sell itself, it’s the people behind the product that do. To me, our distribution partnerships and the commitment to stand behind our products with a 10-year warranty are the most important things we have accomplished over the last 25 years.”
In 1998, Sung acquired 100 percent ownership of the company and began to focus on developing new business channels within the green technology industry, including LED technology. Today, MaxLite offers a portfolio of more than 1,500 active product lines for the commercial, industrial, residential, and OEM markets. MaxLite has grown into a global company, with operations in New Jersey, California, Indiana, China and Korea, and distribution channels across North and South America.
“Providing value through innovative product design and engineering is at the core of our product development,” Sung said. “We always try to think from the customer’s point of view, and supply a breadth of products that can cover all the projects our customers may have, with quality, support and industry-leading warranties.
“When I wake up each morning, I think about the future of the business, and I am excited,” he continued. “Ours is not an industry of stable, cookie-cutter products. There is always something new and challenging, and I am always thinking about how MaxLite is going to lead the industry, and the market. Our company vision is to transform the way people experience light, and, as we embark on the next chapter of MaxLite history, we will continue to leverage our efficiency, scale, and capabilities in lighting and controls to stay ahead of the curve.”
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