Universal Lighting Technologies

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. [4]

1960's: Introduced a line of Electronic Ballasts [5]

1970's: Expanded to Magnetic HID Ballasts [6]

1980's: Produced T12 electronic products & instant start T8 ballasts [7]

1990's: Introduced first ballast offering five voltages; Created ballasts that offered universal input voltage. [8]

2000's: Began offering LED Driver and Module components; Created the High Efficiency Programmed Start Ballast [9]

2007: Introduced the Signa LED Systems [10]

2009: The manufacturing facility receives “Clean Industry” certification. [11]

2009: Acquired Vossloh-Schwabe's North American operations. [12]

2011: Universal works with Boeing to cut their energy use by 57%. [13]

2015: Designed and released the EVERLINE Replacement Drivers. [14]

2015: Released the EVERLINE LED Retrofit line offering good-better-best retrofit solutions so that customers would have a variety of options and price points for their LED Retrofit projects. [15]

2016: Universal adds T8 LED Linear Tubes to their EVERLINE product line. [16]

2017: Universal adds the Professional Retrofit Kit to the EVERLINE LED Retrofit Soultions. [17]

2018: Universal releases Emergency LED Drivers. [18]

2018: Created PW series Drivers with technology that allows users to tune their LED drivers from their mobile phones. [19]

Triad-Utrad was founded in 1943,[20] 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.

Founded in 1947, Universal Manufacturing was one of the first ballast manufacturers to implement a Technical Engineering Services (TES) department that gave advice on ballast selection, installation, and on-the-job troubleshooting.[21] It was also the first to develop HID ballast retrofit kits that included ballasts with color-coded leads. [22] In 2002, Universal Lighting Technologies acquired certain assets from Energy Savings, Inc. (ESI). With the addition of lighting dimming and controls, Universal has enhanced their product offering to include energy-efficient lighting system solutions, and introduced the technology for low profile and universal input voltage (108-305V) ballasts. [23]

Universal Lighting's product brands are under the Universal, EVERLINE, Triad, Vossloh-Schwabe, and Signa brand names. They have over 150 patents in lighting tech and have worldwide distribution and operations.[24] A key strategy of theirs continues to be research and product development, with R&D facility in Huntsville, AL.