Our Story So Far

For 125 years the name Holophane has enjoyed an enviable reputation throughout the world for expertise, quality and innovation in lighting. From the earliest days when the company pioneered its famous glass refractor, the Holophane name has been ever present as a leader in the field of luminaire and lighting design.

In today's environment where landscape lighting. modern architecture and public space projects predominate. the Holophane name remains synonymous with quality design, high performance, low maintenance and cost-effective lighting. Holophane offer a modern energy-efficient product range, which can satisfy a wide variety of application demands.

The product portfolio incorporates interior, amenity, street and floodlighting suitable for today's environmentally conscious world. This is Holophane and this is our history.

In 1893 Otis Mygatt forms Holophane in France followed by the establishment of Holophane UK in 1896, headed by Pelham Trotter.

Holophane was born and sold its first patented globe in White or rose crystal for 2 shillings (10p).

Otis Mygatt opens Holophane US in New Jersey

Holophane begins advertising

Holophane begun to advertise in more than 60 newspapers. Such as The Times and the Daily Telegraph. In those first months prospects were good.

Orders for 100,000 globes were received and the offices were soon transferred to larger premises.

Holophane Company Limited was formed and acquired all the rights, patents and manufacturing process of Holophane New Jersey.

The company embarked on a new programme of prismatic glassware for commercial use. A core company, Davidsons, produced this glass.

Holophane EXPANDS

Holophane were expanding into International markets due to this the company moved to new premises in Carteret Street Westminster where Holophane continued to develop and enlarge its Laboratories. King George V as Prince of Wales visits Holophane.

Streetlighting became a strong speciality for Holophane. Sealed units had prisms moulded internally so that the outside surface was smooth for cleaning.

The Duo Dome was particularly popular being supplied to Whitehall and other parts of London. Holophane us buy back the business from Holophane Limited in the UK for $1,000,000.

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS

Holophane were expanding into International markets, due to this the company moved to new premises in Carteret Street Westminster where Holophane continued to develop and enlarge its Laboratories. King George V the Prince of Wales visits Holophane.

In 1923 Holophane was entrusted with the lighting of St Paul's Cathedral. Holophane developed its lamp technology to modify greater glare and brightness.

Part of this was the Holophane Refractor / Reflector Unit.

Holophane was commissioned to design and install the lighting of the enormous Battersea Power Station - not only the gigantic turbine hall, but other areas such as the coal-conveyor systems and the floodlighting of the tall chimneys.

Holophane was tasked with lighting Westminster Abbey.

Great Britain declares War on Germany. Holophane produces a range of ARP Air Raid Precaution units designed to conform with war time lighting regulations. The company was also tasked to design fluorescent wall fittings for the illumination of wall maps in anti air raid operations rooms.

During the war Elverton street was damaged by bombs on multiple occasions but work continued. The immediate post-war years were very busy for Holophane which was restricted by labour and materials shortages.

When Queen Elizabeth II was crowned, Holophane were given the full responsibility for the lighting of the Abbey. This was the first Coronation to be televised and filmed in colour.

There had to be enough light yet not so much that it caused discomfort to the participants. Holophane used gold colour prismatic reflectors fitted into candelabras and chandeliers, with overhead projectors.

One of the Post War developments was the Shell Tower built in 1958 and the Shell Office Block. Some 22,000 glass conical prism lenses were used. Other contracts of this time included the National Gallery. the Tate Gallery, the Mansion House and Buckingham Palace.

In 1973 the company moved to a new and purpose built factory in Milton Keynes. This is still the present European HQ of Holophane. The laboratories developed an 8 metre swing goniophotometer and an integrating sphere.

Holophane continued to lead the industry with other innovations, such as the Park Lane luminaire for parking lots. To complement the line of street and highway lighting fixtures, Holophane innovated the shallow-profile Panel-Vue to illuminate highway directional signs and advertising billboards.

Holophane celebrates its 100th year anniversary. A 100 Years of a Lighting Legend brochure was printed in celebration.

In November 2001, Holophane's Parent Company National Services

Industries NSI, split from the Lithonia Lighting Group and NSI Chemicals group. It was then formed into a new company,

SpinCot, that was later renamed Acuity Brands Inc.

Holophane begins selling its first LED product - LED Series.

Holophane's best selling products to date. The award winning V-MAX and Haloprism luminaire are released. The products have been sold in 11 different countries worldwide. Both products have gone on to win numerous global awards. HEA-HEMSA Award Product of the Year and the Light Middle East Award - Outdoor Product of the Year.

2016 marked 120 years of trading for Holophane. This celebration was also accompanied with being awarded Manufacturer of the Year at Lux Live 2016. The judges said Holophane 'consistently delivers' and they are developing a suite of 'great' LED products and are embracing the digitisation of lighting 'with confidence and flair'.

Holophane Europe Ltd is awarded one of the UK's most prestigious business awards; the Queen's Award for Enterprise: Innovation 2017 in recognition of Holophane's highly innovative lighting product development.

Haloprism wins Industrial Lighting Lamp/Luminaire of the year at the Electrical Industry Awards 2018.