Swindon innovator Plessey is to distribute its pioneering lighting technology in the UK and Ireland as it looks to maximise its potential.
The hi-tech firm, which has its roots in Swindon’s micro-electronics industry and still has a base in the town, is developing lighting products using gallium-nitride-on-silicon (GaN-on-Si) technology. 
The agreement with electronics distributor Redditch-based Solid State Supplies, means Plessey’s ground-breaking LED products will be marketed to the UK and Irish lighting industry.
Plessey regional sales director David Owen said: “Plessey is very pleased to join forces with a distributor that has a focused lighting division already up and running, helping the significant number of lighting and luminaire makers in the UK.
“Solid State Supplies has a strong portfolio of products to support the lighting eco system which is now enhanced by the addition of the Plessey GaN-on-Si LED product range. This will accelerate the time to market for Plessey LEDs in this region.”
Solid State Supplies managing director John Macmichael added: “Plessey’s GaN-on-Si technology looks set to cause major disruption in the LED lighting market. Our in-house lighting division is already geared up to support lighting and luminaire designers with these new LEDs. We look forward to a very bright future in partnership with Plessey.”
Plessey’s technology – called MaGIC (Manufactured on GaN-on-Si I/C) High Brightness LED (HBLED) – has won several awards for its innovation and ability to cut the cost of LED lighting by using standard silicon manufacturing techniques.
The Plessey brand and its Swindon assets were bought five years ago by current CEO Michael LeGoff, who has built a team of experienced industry figures to create a new business under the iconic brand. It now has a base on Swindon’s Delta Business Park as well as its headquarters in Plymouth and offices around the world.
