Hastings, Sussex, UK based lamp and LED lighting specialist CLD Distribution has taken a major shareholding in bespoke lighting manufacturer Iberian Lighting – also based in Hastings – in a dynamic merger that unites CLD’s rapid expansion into LED lighting technology with Iberian’s vast experience in the design of specialist commercial and architectural products.
Iberian, this year celebrating 50 years of successful business, is renowned for designing some of the world’s largest, funkiest and most stylish lampshades and custom feature lighting elements.
CLD has a fast-growing technical department dedicated to the development of LED lighting technologies and producing an increasing range of LED luminaires aimed at a wide range of commercial and industrial applications.
CLD’s MD, Rob Platt states “The merger amalgamates both these specialities. With CLD’s strong sales force and Iberian’s talented and imaginative creative team the two companies have a perfect synergy with one another.
“The move will offer an even more diverse and comprehensive range of tailor made solutions to clients and a greater choice of LED products for Iberian to be able to integrate into their designs. It was a really logical decision to bring the two together”.
Both companies will continue to trade exactly as they are, retaining personnel and the distinctive brand identities that has helped established each as a market leader.
The merger also strengthens the lighting sector within the worldwide engineering design and manufacturing group, Penn-Elcom, simultaneously giving access to Penn Elcom’s well established global distribution and trading network.
“We welcome Iberian Lighting to the family,” says Penn Elcom Chairman Roger Willems.
CLD / Iberian fusion is also in line with the Penn Elcom Group’s ambitious medium term expansion strategy which includes growing its lighting divisions and offering clients a complete solution for lighting requirements – from LED and other environmentally friendly and energy saving lightsources, right through to over-sized and odd-sized shades and bespoke luminaires.
Iberian’s MD Les Allitt comments, “With the advance of LED, we were becoming increasingly technically focussed and had also outgrown our existing factory space. With our existing close relationship with CLD Distribution, it made sense on all levels to join forces”.
Both CLD – which manufactures for the high end professional audio industry – and Iberian products are proudly ‘Made in the UK’, a trademark that will continue to ensure the best quality standards are applied to both brands, and that orders can be processed and turned-around quickly and special requests responded to immediately.
Unfortunately Iberian soon relised how bad the management and outlook was with cld / pro audio stash or penn elcom they call themselves and reversed the merger, what a relief! !