Thursday, April 18, 2013

Meet GoldenEye and win an iPad mini

 







Going to Light Fair next week?

You're invited to our special event during Light Fair where you will find our newest AC technology for solid state lighting , meet our engineers for questions regarding to product application, energy saving tips and utility rebates offered nationwide.

Use the link below to register and bring your ticket for giveaways!
We are also giving out a LED desk lamp during each session and one lucky participant will score an iPad mini !
      4/23 12am & 3pm

iPad mini
      4/24 12am & 3pm         

      4/25  11am & 1pm
            Booth 1661



Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Meet the CEO of American Bright-- George Lee

We recently had a chance to grab some time with George Lee, President and founder of American Bright Optoelectronics, to discuss the future of the Solid State Lighting industry and the evolution of American Bright.

Q: George, tell me about what lead you into the LED industry?
A: After finished my post-grad work, I was given an opportunity with a major LED indicator and display company.  I was always interested in LED technology and the opportunity seemed like a good fit for both my background and my interests.

Q: Where did you attend College?
A: I did my undergraduate at National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan, it is very well known for its internationally recognized engineering and science programs, and post grad studies at Sam Houston State University, MS in Physics, before moving on to Texas A&M for a MEE.

Q: What did you do your master’s thesis on?
A: I was involved in the early research into the optical properties of MQW (Multiple Quantum Well) for GaAs/AlAs materials and did my thesis on this.  Most of my research has been into GaAs and Si materials. Sounds dry, but really one of the more exciting aspects of solid-state technology!

Q: What LED (pun intended) you to start American Bright?
A: I saw the potential in the LED space while I was still at University.  I was never a business major but a technologist, so I had a lot to learn! But I have always been the kind of man who wanted to control his own destiny and the LED business aligned perfectly with my expertise and interests.  The rest is history.

Q: What are the fundamental underlying values behind American Bright?
A: The values have been consistent from day one: Our highest value is integrity, all other of our core values stream from this.  We say what we are going to do and do what we say.  Second is Innovation, we firmly believe that innovation must be an organization wide value.  We empower all our employees to be innovative and look for new ways, better ways to get things done.  Responsiveness is our third core value, we believe that to maintain our integrity as an organization and as individuals we need to be responsive to our internal and external customer’s needs. Finally we value consistency.  We want to assure our customers that they can depend on us to get the same quality and level of service time after time.

Q: Everyone has a mission statement these days, has yours changed since 1995?
A: When we first started we were really just a technical sales and marketing organization.   As we grew and evolved as an organization we brought on engineering and product development assets, creating our own technology and products.  When we started we never envisioned having our own patent portfolio and full R&D.  We are really an innovator now not just a technical sales organization.

Q: So what is your mission statement?
A: To be one of the most sought after and recognized brands in the SSL industry, delivering the highest value to our customers and providing opportunity for growth to our employees. 

Q: So when did American Bright come into being?
A: I entered into a joint venture with Bright LED in Taiwan in 1995 to serve the needs of the US Market and that resulted in the birth of American Bright Optoelectronics.  Hard to believe we are entering into our 19th year!

Q: How about your general lighting division, American Bright Lighting?
A: ABL evolved out of a project we did for Coca-Cola in 2006.  We were approached to develop a LED lighting system for their vending machines.  From that project we developed the Simple Tube product family. ABL is really just a vehicle for this technology.  American Bright Optoelectronics is still the main focus and where engineers come to leverage our SimpleDrive technology, like that found in the GoldenEye LED light engine modules.

Q: How is the general LED market different from the lighting market for you?
A: Night and Day! The indicator and display market is our primary business and a pure technology play. The factors that lead a design engineer to select an indicator or light source are very different from the factors that a lighting designer considers when selecting a product for general illumination.   The technical and business competencies are very specialized and being able to address those varied concerns are critical in providing the appropriate level of support to both types of customers.  We will always be a dedicated component supplier and innovator in that space, but find that there are some specialized competencies we need to develop to support the entire market.

Q: What corporate accomplishments are you most proud of?
A:    We are extremely proud of the success of products like our SimpleTube™, which features our SimpleDrive™ AC drive technology. It’s an industry first, using direct 120 VAC input eliminating the need for a bulky power supply. The market is seeing the value and superiority of our drive and design method. We see the proof of this as major national brands have chosen and adopted our SimpleTube refrigeration case lighting system.
        SimpleDrive™ will continue to be our focus going into 2013, in both the development of American Bright Lighting products, as well as the integration of our technology with OEM customers’ products. Our agility and innovative approach to technology integration will make us a valuable partner to the lighting fixture OEMs who want to remain at the forefront of the emerging LED revolution. American Bright Lighting offers OEM and ODM programs that create “wins” for our clients.