Lighting the way

When Ellis Yan founded Technical Consumer Products Inc. in 1986, the company’s goal was to develop, manufacture and import a variety of lighting products, including incandescent light bulbs, quartz halogens, high-pressure sodium lamps, compact fluorescent lighting (CFL) replacement lamps and magnetic ballast adapters for CFL lighting products.

Its customer were original equipment manufacturers including General Electric Corp., Thomas & Betts, Lithonia and Osram Sylvania.

Then Yan saw the potential for energy savings with compact fluorescent bulb and ballast technology and began exploring ways to improve his products and position his company to become a major source of energy-efficient lighting bulbs and accessories.

In 1996, two significant technologies were discovered, the SpringLamp design and the dimming ballast. TCP recognized that these new products offered huge application benefits to the industry, which resulted in the decision to begin marketing direct to the industry. Since then, the SpringLamp, a twisted tube design , has become standard in the CFL market.

Although CFLs are more expensive than traditional lamps, they use only 25 percent of the electricity and can last up to 15 times longer.

Last year, the Aurora-based TCP introduced fresh2, a light bulb that safely breaks down odors while providing energy-efficient light. And in March, the company partnered with First Energy to promote the product to the utility’s customers.

TCP is also gaining market share in the linear lamp category by providing school gymnasiums, warehouses and manufacturing facilities with innovative, energy-efficient high bay fixtures. As a result of its innovation, TCP has increase revenue from $22 million in 2000 to more than $89 million last year. It has also increased its employee base from 37 in 2000 to 84 last year, increasing its Ohio payroll dollars by more than 110 percent.

TCP’s ability to commercialize compact fluorescent bulbs and accessories has established it as a major player to those seeking to reduce electricity costs Both commercial and retail outlets are serviced through a national network of more than 40 representatives and 1,200 electrical distributors.

The company emphasizes designing products that are energy-efficient and environmentally sound, recycling an average of a ton of cardboard and paper each month and donating large quantities of light bulbs.

How to reach: Technical Consumer Products Inc., www.tcpi.com