Hi-tech innovator Plessey has signed a distribution agreement to grow sales of its world-beating lighting technology in Central and Eastern Europe, Italy and Denmark.
The semiconductor firm, which was the cornerstone of Swindon’s electronics and microchip industry and still has an office in the town, is developing lighting products using gallium-nitride-on-silicon (GaN-on-Si) technology. 
These products, which harness Plessey’s pioneering work in semiconductors, are set to revolutionise the global LED lighting market as they are cheaper and more efficient. LED lights are now commonplace in all consumer devices and increasingly in mainstream lighting equipment.
The distribution agreement with Austrian firm CODICO will sell Plessey’s pioneering products to a wider market.
CODICO president Sven Krumpel said: “We are convinced that the innovative technology of Plessey and CODICO’s deep knowledge of the market will enable both companies to turn on a bright light within the solid state lighting market. I strongly believe that the GaN-on-Si technology is going to be the next revolution in the lighting field and that Plessey and CODICO will be driving it.”
Plessey regional sales director David Owen added: “Plessey is very pleased to work with a distributor that has a wide coverage in the region. CODICO’s line card complements the Plessey LED portfolio in the lighting segment and together with its focused team, which brings considerable knowledge of the lighting industry and customer base, will accelerate the time to market for Plessey GaN-on-Si LEDs in the region.”
Plessey’s MaGIC (Manufactured on GaN-on-Si I/C) High Brightness LED (HBLED) technology has won awards for its innovation and ability to cut the cost of LED lighting by using standard silicon manufacturing techniques.
Plessey is producing a range of innovative chips used in devices spanning the communications, manufacturing, medical, defence and aerospace industries.
The business was at one time at the forefront of the UK semiconductor industry with factories in Swindon, Plymouth and around the world. After a number of mergers and takeovers, the Swindon assets were sold in May 2009 to current CEO Michael LeGoff who has recruited a team of vastly-experienced industry figures to create a new business under the Plessey brand. It now has a base on Swindon's Delta Business Park as well as its headquarters in Plymouth and offices around the world.
