As the lighting world continues to evolve toward more comprehensive energy-efficient solutions, the importance of lighting controls as a part of that solution continues to grow. In a move to expand its ability to give customers more control over their use of lighting and energy, Royal Philips Electronics, Netherlands-based parent of Philips Lighting, Somerset, N.J., has acquired Teletrol Systems, Manchester, N.H.
Financial details of the acquisition, which closed on July 14, were not disclosed. Teletrol’s existing leadership team will continue with the company as it is integrated into the Controls business unit within Philips Lighting. The integration process is expected to take a year and a half, said Susan Bloom, director of corporate communications for Philips Lighting and Philips Lighting Electronics. The unit will continue to go to market under the Teletrol name, but could be rebranded to Philips in the future, “if the market requires it,” she said.
“While fully integrating the business into the Controls business unit within Philips Lighting, we will continue to nurture Teletrol’s entrepreneurial and innovative spirit,” Bloom said.
Teletrol, founded in 1985, builds and sells software and hardware-based building automation and energy management systems and controls. It has installations in more than 10,000 commercial and retail sites around the world, employs 37 people and has posted double-digit sales growth in recent years. Philips said it expects this performance to continue in years to come as it leverages access to Philips’ global distribution channels.
Teletrol’s software suite, eBuilding, uses an open, standards-based architecture to allow multi-site monitoring and control of lighting and energy usage over the Internet. eBuilding consists of three parts – onsite server software called Envoy, configuration software called Ediface and programming software called Easel.
“eBuilding maximizes (customers’) long-term value by integrating the latest building automation standards with commercial information technology, giving (them) standards-based solutions that are Internet powered, BACnet compliant and IT friendly,” Bloom said.
Philips primarily expects the addition of Teletrol to enhance its presence among customers with multiple locations.
“Professional customers, such as retail chains, hotel groups and building owners with multiple premises, increasingly demand better control over their lighting and energy use,” said Rudy Provoost, CEO of Philips Lighting, in the release. “They also want to provide comfortable environments for their employees, guests and residents, while at the same time keeping operational and energy costs to a minimum. This acquisition will add significantly to the solutions we offer those customers to meet these needs.”
“Teletrol will add an extra dimension to Philips’ leading position in the lighting controls business,” said Bloom. “This addition to the portfolio will enable Philips to offer seamless multi-site integration to professional customers wishing to control their lighting use, in particular over multiple locations, together with their management of environmental facilities like climate control.”
The addition of Teletrol builds upon other recent strategic acquisitions to expand the range of solutions Philips Lighting can offer. Earlier this year, Philips acquired the Australian lighting controls company Dynalite.
“Teletrol’s range of software and hardware solutions will fit perfectly into Philips’ existing Lighting Controls business, as our customers are increasingly looking for integrated solutions which allow them to manage facilities like lighting and climate control over multiple sites and locations simultaneously via IT networks,” Bloom said.