Lightning History

1933, Coemar Lighting Srl was founded as a developer, manufacturer, and seller of lighting products and industry innovation for entertainment, architectural, and commercial applications.

1963: Century Lighting sold to Progress Manufacturing Company of Philadelphia (parent company of Singer sewing machines)/Lighting Corporation of America (LCA)

1964: Ariel Davis Manufacturing Company purchased by Electro Controls

1966: Lighting Corporation of America (LCA) merges with Walter Kidde & Company

1967, Micro-Set by Electro Controls, developed by Jack Halvorsen (first installation in Banff, Alberta)

1967: The Rank Organisation buys Strand Electric Holdings

1968, Century Memo-Q by George Van Buren

1968, (UK) Thorn Q-File (sold by Kliegl Bros. in the US beginning 1970)

1969: Rank buys LCA and forms Century Strand, "A company within the Rank Organisation"

1969, Electro Controls Micro-Set MkII

1971, Van Buren Industries Sweet 16, First board to use solid state memory

1971, Van Buren Industries System 128, Larger version of Sweet 16 as chips got bigger

1972, Electro Controls Micro-Set MkIV

1973, (UK) Thorn Q-Level (sold by Kliegl Bros. in the US)

1973, (UK) Rank-Strand MMS

1974, Van Buren Industries Compuset 2000, developed by David Cunningham

1974, Skirpan AutoCue (used a "light pen" for setting levels)

1974: Altman introduces the axial 360Q ERS

1974: Century-Strand name changed to Strand-Century

1975, Electro Controls Micro-Set 96

1975, Electronics Diversified LS-8, developed by Gordon Pearlman and used on the Broadway production of A Chorus Line.

1975, SGM Technology for Lighting was founded in 1975 in Italy, by Gabriele Giorgi and Maurizio Guidi — the company name a truncation of ‘Societa Gabriele Maurizio’. In the early days they were known for producing a diverse catalogue of products for the emerging disco industry — ranging from illuminated dancefloor modules, ‘bubblesmoke’ machines and controllers — from their base in Pesaro.

1976, (UK) Rank-Strand Lightboard

1976, Datacue manufactured by Marketronics - Sold to Teatronics in 1979

1977, Strand-Century Multi-Q

1977, Strand-Century Micro-Q (first microprocessor console?)

1978, Berkey-Colortran ChannelTrack (built by ETC and based on its MegaCue)

1978, Electro Controls Plexus 1000

1978, Kliegl Performance, developed by Steve Carlson and Gordon Pearlman

1979, Strand-Century Light Palette, developed by David Cunningham

1979, Strand-Century miniPalette

1979, Berkey-Colortran ColorTrack (a monochrome monitor with gels taped to portions of the screen, thus the first "color" monitor)

1979, Kliegl Performer (I)

1980, (UK) Strand Galaxy

1980, ETC ELC (Entertainment Lighting Console), proprietary product developed for use at Disney's EPCOT

1981, Kliegl Command Performance

1981, Strand-Century Mantrix with Memory

1982, Studio Due was founded. 1982, MicroStar (on Apple IIe; a PC-version came later, called ProStar, then TechStar, all made by WestStar)

1982, ETC Concept (96) 125

1982, Kliegl Performer II

1983, Kliegl Performer III (the II indicated analog output, while the III used K96 protocol)

1983, Kliegl Entertainer

1983, ETC Idea (wood sides)

1983, Electro Controls Celebrity

1984, Berkey-Colortran DimensionFive

1984, Electro Controls Premiere (only console ever with a "heads-up" display)

1985: LEE Electric of the UK buys Colortran to form LEE Colortran

1985, Strand-Century Light Palette Two

1985, Strand-Century Mini Light Palette

1985, ETC Vision

1985, GAM Access.pdf (reportedly cost $140 to build, retailed for ~$1799)

1985, Colortran Prestige 1000, 2000, 3000

1985, Vari*Lite Artisan

1985, Strand-Century LightBoard M

1986: Strand-Century buys Electro Controls, keeps selling EC products for a few more years

1986: USITT publishes the DMX512-1986 and AMX192-1986 standards.

1987, ETC Expression (I)

1987, Kliegl Performer IV

1987, GAM AccessPro

1987, Strand-Century Light Palette 3

1988, LEE Colortran Scenemaster 60

1988, LMI Designer

1989: Strand-Century drops Century name, becomes Strand Lighting

1989, (AUS) LSC Precept 12 Precept 12

1989, Strand Light Palette 90 (over 700 are sold, more than all other LightPalettes combined)

1989, GAM Panache (a re-branded Performer IV)

1989, Strand Impact (another re-branded Performer IV)

1989, Martin 2032 Controller

1990: ETC buys dimmer manufacturer LMI (Lighting Methods, Inc.)

1990, ETC MicroVision

1990, ETC MicroVisionFX

1991: Kliegl Bros. ceases operations

1991, LSD (Light & Sound Design) Icon Console

1992, Flying Pig Systems Whole Hog (I)

1992, Compulite Animator

1992, ETC Obsession

1992, Strand Impact II (a repackaged version)

1992, Strand Mantrix MX

1992: ETC introduces the Source Four ERS, Sensor dimmer

1992, EDI EnAct

1993, Studio Due launches Stratos moving luminaire. 1993, LEE Colortran Gold Medallion

1993, LEE Colortran Encore

1993, Strand GSX

1993, ETC Expression2X

1994, Horizon Controls (software to allow any Win3.1 computer to control lighting)

1994, Strand 430 and 520

1994, FPS Wholehog II

1994, High End Systems Status Cue

1994, Martin 3032 Contrroller

1995, Strand LBX

1995, Strand 530

1995, ETC Express

1995: ETC introduces the Source Four PAR EA

1996: NSI buys the assets of Colortran, forming NSI/Colortran

1996, Strand 550i

1997, ETC ObsessionII

1998, The first CityColor 1800W is presented at the SIB in Rimini by Studio Due. 1998, ETC Expression3

1998, Rosco/ET Eclipse (dedicated control surface for Horizon Controls)

1998, Martin LightJockey

1998, Vari*Lite Virtuoso

1999: Leviton buys NSI/Colortran

1999, Strand 300

1999: HES buys FPS

1999: ETC introduces the Source Four PARNel

2000, MA Lighting grandMA

2000, Vari*Lite Virtuoso DX

2001, HES HogIII

2002, ETC Emphasis, (an add-on to extend the feature set of the Express/Expression line)

2002, Martin Maxxyz

2003, ET/Horizon Marquee

2003: ETC buys AVAB TranstechnikNone of the previous are still in production.

2004, Jands Vista

2004: PRG (Production Resource Group) merges with/purchases VLPS (Vari*Lite Production Services)

2005, ETC/AVAB Congo

2005, HES Hog iPC

2006: Genlyte buys Strand, Vari*lite, ET

2006, Strand Light Palette Classic/Live/VL; Basic/Classic/Preset/Sub Palette (ALL using HorizonOS on Strand hardware)

2006, ETC Congo jr

2006, ETC Eos

2007, ETC Ion

2007, HES Road Hog, Road Hog Full Boar

2008, Strand Palette VL

2008: Philips buys Genlyte

2008: HES discontinues Hog iPC (a dual-boot II/3 console), and ceases support of Hog2 software.

2008: Jands ends production of Hog 500 and Hog 1000, which also used Hog2 software.

2008: ETC discontinues Emphasis, Expression, Express, (reportedly the most popular console line ever, with 19,000 units sold; 14,000 of which were Expresses).

2008, MA Lighting grandMA2 series

2008, PRG V676, the successor to the Vari*Lite Virtuoso DX2

2008, Strand Palette II (family)

2008: Barco buys HES

2008, Martin Maxxyz Compact

2009, ETC Element 40, 60

2009, Zero88 ORB

2009, Martin MaxModules

2009, In April 2009 SGM ownership was passed by president Gabriele Giorgi and his daughter Alessandra to long-standing Italian pro audio company, RCF Group.

2010, Peter Johansen was brought in to SGM to head up R&D in late 2010 — marking his return to the industry following a ten-year absence, after earlier setting up Martin Professional which he subsequently floated on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange.

2010, Martin M1

2010: Philips/ET Marquee discontinued

2010: Barco/HES ceases repair support for Wholehog II consoles

2010, PRG V476, a smaller version of the V676

2011: Cooper Controls closes Hillsboro, OR facility of Electronics Diversified (EDI)

2011, ETC Congo Kid

2011, ETC GIO

2011: Acuity Brands acquires Horizon Controls, Pathway Connectivity

2012, Jands Vista L5

2012, MA Lighting MA onPC command wing and Martin M2PC. Both systems require a user-supplied personal computer.

2012, Martin M2GO

2012, Pathway Connectivity Cognito

2012: Lighting & Electronics, Inc. (L&E), in business since 1960, announces plans to cease operations. Some product lines sold to Apollo Design. Discussion thread.

2012, Barco/High End Systems Hog4, Full Boar4, Road Hog4, Nano Hog4

2012, PRG V276 On Mac, a playback/programming wing for use with a user-supplied Apple Mac computer.

2013, Martin M6.

2013, ETC Eos Ti (Titanium), replaces original Eos.

2013: Wybron announces closure. Reborn under new ownership as Gel Services, Inc. Discussion thread.

2013, Jands Stage CL

2013, ETC Cobalt

2014, ETC Nomad software

2014, Strand Lighting NEO

2014: Osram buys Clay Paky

2014, ETC Nomad Puck

2015, MA Lighting dot2

2015, Pathway Connectivity, Cognito2

2015, ChamSys MagicQ MQ80 Compact Console

2015: Syncrolite of Dallas TX buys assets of Strong Lighting, including Super Trouper™

2016: Osram acquires ADB with intent to merge it with previously owned subsidiary Clay Paky.

2019, In October 2019, Peter Johansen stepped down from his role as SGM Light's CEO.

2020: An arson factory fire in December 2020 (plus COVID) forces the discontinuation of a number of Apollo products, including ApolloGel, Right Arm, Apollo Color Scrollers, DMX cable, Crushed Dichroics, gel frames, and donuts.

2022: Strand Lighting LLC files for bankruptcy link.

2022, ETC releases EOS APEX console line.

2023: Robe Acquires Avolites link.