Tom Martin, Ledlenser Vice President of Northern Europe, explains the lighting brand’s philosophy, growth, product development and reliability.
Ledlenser is a well-known German brand that specializes in high-performance portable lighting solutions, primarily focusing on flashlights, headlamps and other lighting products. Ledlenser was founded by Harald and Rainer Opolka in 1994, the company quickly became recognized for producing durable and innovative LED-based lighting devices that cater to both professional and consumer markets. Ledlenser has built a reputation for its high-quality, energy-efficient lighting solutions that are used by outdoor enthusiasts, professionals and emergency service workers alike.
Tom said: “Harald and Rainer, essentially, were the people who gave the world the LED torch way back when. They invented the V8, which was the world’s first key ring torch and that’s what they were famous for. They’ve grown from running the business in their garage to now having a massive headquarters in Solingen and a reach across the globe.”
Ledlenser’s development department in Solingen is their “light laboratory”, where they generate and discuss product ideas and technologies, create designs and develop prototypes.
Their manufacturing expertise is concentrated at their company-owned site in Yangjiang, China. Here, every product is tested and manufactured from prototype to large-scale production. Their quality control checklist includes 24 items for almost all types of possible stress: endurance, extreme temperatures, water, salt, impact, pressure – it is checked and tested until the products defy all adversities and meet their high-quality standards.
The Ledlenser range is extensive and there appears to be a torch for every occasion or job. But the team are continually innovating and bringing new items to the market.
Tom said: “We do a lot of work with end users and what they really need. We take that and match it with the innovation that comes out of our Research and Development team.
“We’ve recently launched a product called the P9R Core LEP Rechargeable Torch. Laser Excited Phosphor technology creates a highly focused white light with an extreme beam range.
“The next iteration of lighting technology, particularly in things like torches and head torches, will be LEP.
“We also like to talk about our HF series, particularly for the outdoor market. The HF8R is one of the world’s first fully hands-free advanced focus systems that that really does it all for you. That’s what we’re going to hang our hat on for the outdoor industry.”
The standout feature is the patent-pending Adaptive Light Beam Technology which, once activated, allows automatic dimming and focusing; making it a hands-free head torch which requires no manual control at all. Seamless spot to flood focusing is delivered by another patent-pending technology, the intuitive Digital Advanced Focus System.
The HF8R can be remotely controlled and features personalised via the Ledlenser Connect App.
Ledlenser develop lighting across all sectors – commercial and consumer – from industrial, police, paramedic and military to sport and outdoor recreation, such as camping, walking, hiking and running. Developments from one area can be transferred across to another.
Tom said: “We have this breadth of expertise across all different types of product. What we tend to do is take technologies that might have developed in commercial and industrial applications and then, as they inevitably become less costly, they then get bought into more and more consumer products.”
Ledlenser have built up, over the years, a reputation for quality, reliability and dependability.
Tom added: “Ledlenser is synonymous with being a safety critical product. If you take, for example, a head torch and you are working on a railway and you’re three miles down the main line, with the power shut off, you really need to see what you’re doing.
“We take it seriously. Our products come with a seven-year warranty. We have spare parts available for most products that we’ve made in the last 20 years available right here at out UK headquarters in Sunninghill.”
This attention to detail and durability has crossed over into the technology for the consumer market.
Tom said: “The reliability of our consumer product comes out of the crucible of punishment and hard work that our commercial industrial products go through. We have the same testing standards for our commercial products that we have for our consumer products. Ledlenser, first and foremost, is a consumer brand. We distribute in lots of running shops around the UK and the Go Outdoors and Cotswold Outdoor type of environments. We have a solid offering in those channels.”
With a massive choice of headtorches, hand-held torches and lanterns, Ledlenser prides itself on being able to stand out from the competition.
Tom explained: “When a consumer goes to a retailer these days what they’re looking for is a good, better or best selection. Forget the brand for the minute, I’m going to Runners’ Need because I know that even if I buy the cheap thing, it’s going to be good. If I want the bamboozling selection of 5,000 torches, that’s what Amazon’s there for. People go to retail for trust.
“We’ve had a lot of our core retail partners for a long time. They know our brand, they know us.”
Ledlenser has a strong relationship with retailers but is also trying to get its message out to consumers in other ways as well, such as a company website.
Tom said: “When you have a brand like Ledlenser, there are so many things that we want to talk about in terms of finding the right product fit for a consumer. We also want to give them the right impression of our brand. We want to tell our brand story and show people what’s available.
“The whole web experience has developed from just being an online brochure maybe 10 or 15 years ago to now being e-commerce enabled. What it’s enabled us to do is to recommend retail partners to people who want to go and physically shop with a retail partner. We’re completely happy about that and support them with great POS and all the same great digital assets that we have.
“But we also offer consumers a direct route to purchase online in much the same way as Apple and Dyson and do.”
