H2LT at the Final Shuttle Launch

Southern Indiana’s Stray Light Optical Technologies joined the team assembled by Sandia National Laboratories to accept the prestigious Federal Laboratory Consortium Tech Transfer Award at a ceremony today in Pittsburgh, PA.  The award is given for the commercialization of a federally developed technology.

Stray Light’s plasma lighting fixtures are being used in a fuel cell mobile lighting unit called H2 Light Tower (H2LT).  The energy savings offered with high intensity plasma lights coupled with the quiet, zero emissions of the federally developed hydrogen fuel cell replaces the noisy diesel-powered generators and metal halide lights.

The units provide a lighting solution for highway construction crews, airport maintenance personnel, film crews and many others, including NASA.

The newly commercialized units have lit the grounds at the final space shuttle launch at the Kennedy Center last year as well as the red carpet at the Academy Awards.

“We are proud to be a part of the Sandia National Laboratories team that received this prestigious award,” said Gerald Rea, Stray Light’s CEO.  “This lighting unit brings a clean, energy efficient solution to the marketplace, showcasing the power and savings of light emitting plasma coupled with the federally developed hydrogen fuel cell.”

The project was initiated as part of the Sandia/Boeing umbrella Cooperative Research & Development Agreement and strategic partnership.  It included a coalition of partners including Stray Light and equipment manufacturer, Multiquip Inc of Carson, CA.

Company’s Patented Plasma Fixtures Provide Ideal Solution

The Indiana Department of Corrections (IDOC) is working with Stray Light Optical Technologies Inc. to take advantage of the improved savings and security Light Emitting Plasma™ (LEP) offers.

Stray Light’s plasma lighting fixtures are proving effective in multiple applications including cell blocks, interior recreation facilities, fence line and perimeter lighting, parking lots, maintenance shops and more.

IDOC’s Wabash cell block plasma installation required less than one Stray Light fixture for every two metal halide fixtures they replaced.  That’s 13 fixtures instead of 30 running at approximately 3900 watts versus 6000 watts.

“We realized not only a 30% energy savings, but increased light levels of 250%,” said Kevin Orme, Director of the Construction Services Division at the Indiana State Department of Correction.  “That equals a safer and more secure environment.”

Stray Light fixtures are also programmable and dimmable and can be equipped with motion sensors allowing for additional energy savings.

“Stray Light can customize any application to meet requirements and optimize the existing lighting infrastructure,” said John Garcia, Vice President of Sales for Stray Light.  “Our products and technology make us an ideal choice for the Corrections Industry.”

 Since the company’s focus has been on transportation, defense, industrial, corrections, utilities and warehousing, the display features product information and photos of installation projects that are already in place or underway.   It also includes information on how Stay Light products are helping customers conserve energy, save money and enjoy the bright, white light the Plasma fixtures provide.

“These various projects are providing Stray Light customers with sustained annual savings of 40% to 60% in maintenance and energy costs and an estimated 2-4 year return on investment.” said Gerald Rea, Stray Lights CEO.

Stray Light has also made an impact in the large grow lighting greenhouse market, where Stray Light LEP™ products would yield 1-2 additional crops per season. Stray Light also makes great lighting options for the billboard and aquarium markets, and since the last LIGHTFAIR, the company has provided lights for events like the final Shuttle Launch and the Golden Globe Awards.

And while last year was busy, the next twelve months are shaping up to be even more exciting for the Indiana based company.

“Our future is bright, literally.  And we’re going to Vegas with new and even more advanced products than last year.”  said Rea. “Be sure to visit Booth 6915 to see what Stray Light has been up to.  I’ll be looking for you!”

Stray Light’s LEP™ Fixtures Bring Big Energy Savings to Diverse Customers

Scottsburg, IN — The remarkable growth of Stray Light Optical Technologies, Inc. brought Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) board of directors to the company’s headquarters today.

The IEDC has invested in the southern Indiana plasma lighting fixture company through its 21st Century Fund in order to accelerate job creation in the region.

Governor Daniels and Stray Light CEO, Gerald Rea in the center

With its patented fixtures, Stray Light has commercialized Light Emitting Plasma™ (LEP), providing an energy efficient, cost effective, high intensity lighting alternative that has resulted in business with a range of high profile customers such as General Motors, Paramount Studios, Disney, Boeing, and NASA ,as well as the Indiana National Guard, Indiana Department of Transportation, and cities of Seattle, Indianapolis and Toronto.

At its public meeting, the IEDC board of directors, which is chaired by Daniels, received an update from Stray Light CEO Gerald Rea on the company’s recent sales and targeted growth sectors.

Rea’s update focused on the transportation, defense and grow industries. Lighting projects using the company’s Tesla roadway lights are underway with both the Indiana and Michigan Departments of Transportation.

“The various projects provide customers with sustained annual savings of 40% to 60% in maintenance and energy costs and an estimated 2-4 year return on investment.” said Rea

As the Department of Defense and other federal departments look to curb energy costs, Rea also sees great potential in the defense and diplomacy sector, among others. Stray Light is currently re-lamping all exterior lighting at two Indiana National Guard facilities: Camp Atterbury and Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, where more than 750 roadway and hi-bay lights are being installed.

“This installation will serve as a prototype for military and other federal facilities world-wide,” Rea said.

Rea is also looking to the large Canadian grow lighting greenhouse market, where Stray Light LEP™ products would yield 1-2 additional crops per season. Stray Light is also negotiating with grow light distributors to provide the product across North America.

“Our future is bright and we appreciate the investment the IEDC and others made to help us realize these opportunities – so we can maintain our rapid growth and add more jobs” said Rea.
 

Click on the image below to watch the video report:

The IEDC has invested in the southern Indiana plasma lighting fixture company through its 21st Century Fund in order to accelerate job creation.

With its patented fixtures, Stray Light has commercialized Light Emitting Plasma™ (LEP), providing an energy efficient, cost effective, high intensity lighting alternative that has earned business with a range of high profile customers such as General Motors, Paramount Studios, Disney, Boeing, and NASA ,as well as the Indiana National Guard, Indiana Department of Transportation, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and cities of Seattle, Indianapolis and Toronto.

At its public meeting, the IEDC board of directors, which is chaired by Daniels, will receive an update from Stray Light CEO, Gerald Rea, on the company’s recent sales and projected growth sectors.

Daniels and the board of directors are also expected to tour the company’s research and production facilities and greet company employees.

But just as intense was the pride I felt in actually being a part of the event. Stray Light teamed up with Sandia National Labs (Research and Project Oversight), Altergy (Fuel Cell), Multiquip (Mobile Tower), Luxim (LiFi Light Source), NASA (Hydrogen Fueling and Product Evaluation), and Boeing (Product Evaluation) to create the Mobile Hydrogen Fuel Cell Light Tower.

Stray Light Tower Array Fixtures were selected for use on the tower because of their reliable, high intensity, high color quality light. And the towers provided NASA team members and visitors the light they needed to safely navigate their way around the launch area.

Stray Light Tower Array Fixtures high energy efficiency is one of the things that made them the best choice for the venue, and because the fixtures and the LiFi plasma bulbs provide an extended run time, they also reduce maintenance time and costs.  And just as importantly, these solid state light sources are highly robust, which allow them to be moved over the roughest roads and use under the harshest worksite conditions.

We captured the launch on a hand-held video – check it out on our Facebook page.

Stray Light’s goal has always been to create Plasma lighting fixtures that exceed our customers’ expectations. We were proud to showcase those fixtures at LightFair and product development is already well underway for our next generation of fixtures. If you weren’t able visit with us in Philadelphia, don’t wait until LightFair 2012. Be sure to visit our Products page where we feature our growing product line. And don’t hesitate to contact us.

Move will cut energy use in half and save the city $70,000 per year

SCOTTSBURG, Indiana, August 30, 2010 — In Scottsburg, Indiana, a new generation of high-intensity lights is illuminating the city’s streets. They’re among the nation’s first street lights to feature Light Emitting Plasma™ (LEP) technology from LUXIM. As some US cities switch off their street lights to close budget gaps, Scottsburg is taking bold action to upgrade its municipal lighting with an energy-efficient alternative. The transition is helping to create up to 50 local “green” jobs. By the end of the project, more than 600 LEP-powered street lights will be deployed across the city in fixtures designed and manufactured locally by Scottsburg-based Stray Light Optical Technologies, Inc. The installation will cut energy use in half and save the city $70,000 per year.

The new street lights replace conventional High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps that have long been used for this high-output application. Scottsburg officials, led by Mayor William Graham, evaluated several replacement options, including LEDs. LEP was selected for its brighter output, exceptional color quality, greater energy savings and long life. Its compact form factor – the size of a tic-tac – means it can be flexibly deployed to deliver energy savings in multiple applications, while its 50,000-hour life is three times longer than HID lamps. Moreover, LEP can be dimmed to 20 percent—a feature that offers additional energy savings.

LUXIM CEO, Tony McGettigan, paid tribute to the project, saying, “This is a great example of local government and small business working together to reduce energy costs, create jobs and improve the local environment. It is energy efficiency working as it should: not restrictive but inventive; not closing down but building up. We are happy that LEP is part of the story, but the real story is one of revival where people are taking charge, stepping out and stepping up.”

Stray Light Optical Technology’s CEO, Gerald Rea, also commented, “When we looked for the best light source for this project, LEP was the standout. Beyond the usual benefits we expect, LUXIM’s product also offers integrated motion control and power line networking, which further reduces energy consumption. We’re keenly aware that this project represents a substantial investment by the city of Scottsburg. By partnering with LUXIM, we exceeded the rigorous specs and provided a compelling solution.”

We’ll talk about new products, answer questions, and find out about your needs.  So drop by our booth and check out the Naga, our latest fixture, and visit with us for awhile.

We hope to see you there!