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)
The Rank Organisation buys Strand Electric Holdings
1968
Century Memo-Q by George Van Buren
(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"
Electro Controls Micro-Set MkII
1971
Van Buren Industries Sweet 16, First board to use solid state memory
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)
(UK) Rank-Strand MMS
1974
Van Buren Industries Compuset 2000, developed by David Cunningham
Skirpan AutoCue (used a "light pen" for setting levels)
Altman introduces the axial 360Q ERS
Century-Strand name changed to Strand-Century
1975
Electro Controls Micro-Set 96
Electronics Diversified LS-8, developed by Gordon Pearlman and used on the Broadway production of A Chorus Line.
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
Datacue manufactured by Marketronics - Sold to Teatronics in 1979
1977
Strand-Century Multi-Q
Strand-Century Micro-Q (first microprocessor console?)
1978
Berkey-Colortran ChannelTrack (built by ETC and based on its MegaCue)
Electro Controls Plexus 1000
Kliegl Performance, developed by Steve Carlson and Gordon Pearlman
1979
Strand-Century Light Palette, developed by David Cunningham
Strand-Century miniPalette
Berkey-Colortran ColorTrack (a monochrome monitor with gels taped to portions of the screen, thus the first "color" monitor)
Kliegl Performer (I)
1980
(UK) Strand Galaxy
ETC ELC (Entertainment Lighting Console), proprietary product developed for use at Disney's EPCOT
1981
Kliegl Command Performance
Strand-Century Mantrix with Memory
1982
Studio Due was founded.
MicroStar (on Apple IIe; a PC-version came later, called ProStar, then TechStar, all made by WestStar)
ETC Concept (96) 125
Kliegl Performer II
1983
Kliegl Performer III (the II indicated analog output, while the III used K96 protocol)
Kliegl Entertainer
ETC Idea (wood sides)
Electro Controls Celebrity
1984
Berkey-Colortran DimensionFive
Electro Controls Premiere (only console ever with a "heads-up" display)
1985
LEE Electric of the UK buys Colortran to form LEE Colortran
Strand-Century Light Palette Two
Strand-Century Mini Light Palette
ETC Vision
GAM Access.pdf (reportedly cost $140 to build, retailed for ~$1799)
Colortran Prestige 1000, 2000, 3000
Vari*Lite Artisan
Strand-Century LightBoard M
1986
Strand-Century buys Electro Controls, keeps selling EC products for a few more years
USITT publishes the DMX512-1986 and AMX192-1986 standards.
1987
ETC Expression (I)
Kliegl Performer IV
GAM AccessPro
Strand-Century Light Palette 3
1988
LEE Colortran Scenemaster 60
LMI Designer
1989
Strand-Century drops Century name, becomes Strand Lighting
(AUS) LSC Precept 12 Precept 12
Strand Light Palette 90 (over 700 are sold, more than all other LightPalettes combined)
GAM Panache (a re-branded Performer IV)
Strand Impact (another re-branded Performer IV)
Martin 2032 Controller
1990
ETC buys dimmer manufacturer LMI (Lighting Methods, Inc.)
ETC MicroVision
ETC MicroVisionFX
1991
Kliegl Bros. ceases operations
LSD (Light & Sound Design) Icon Console
1992
Flying Pig Systems Whole Hog (I)
Compulite Animator
ETC Obsession
Strand Impact II (a repackaged version)
Strand Mantrix MX
ETC introduces the Source Four ERS, Sensor dimmer
EDI EnAct
1993
Studio Due launches Stratos moving luminaire.
LEE Colortran Gold Medallion
LEE Colortran Encore
Strand GSX
ETC Expression2X
1994
Horizon Controls (software to allow any Win3.1 computer to control lighting)
Strand 430 and 520
Flying Pig Systems Wholehog II
High End Systems Status Cue
Martin 3032 Contrroller
1995
Strand LBX
Strand 530
ETC Express
ETC introduces the Source Four PAR EA
1996
NSI buys the assets of Colortran, forming NSI/Colortran
Strand 550i
1997
ETC ObsessionII
1998
The first CityColor 1800W is presented at the SIB in Rimini by Studio Due.
ETC Expression3
Rosco/ET Eclipse (dedicated control surface for Horizon Controls)
Martin LightJockey
Vari*Lite Virtuoso
1999
Leviton buys NSI/Colortran
Strand 300
High End Systems buys Flying Pig Systems
ETC introduces the Source Four PARNel
2000
MA Lighting grandMA
Vari*Lite Virtuoso DX
2001
High End Systems HogIII
2002
ETC Emphasis, (an add-on to extend the feature set of the Express/Expression line)
Martin Maxxyz
2003
ET/Horizon Marquee
ETC buys AVAB Transtechnik None of the previous are still in production.
2004
Jands Vista
PRG (Production Resource Group) merges with/purchases VLPS (Vari*Lite Production Services)
2005
ETC/AVAB Congo
High End Systems Hog iPC
2006
Genlyte buys Strand, Vari*lite, ET
Strand Light Palette Classic/Live/VL; Basic/Classic/Preset/Sub Palette (ALL using HorizonOS on Strand hardware)
ETC Congo jr
ETC Eos
2007
ETC Ion
High End Systems Road Hog, Road Hog Full Boar
2008
Strand Palette VL
Philips buys Genlyte
High End Systems discontinues Hog iPC (a dual-boot II/3 console), and ceases support of Hog2 software.
Jands ends production of Hog 500 and Hog 1000, which also used Hog2 software.
ETC discontinues Emphasis, Expression, Express, (reportedly the most popular console line ever, with 19,000 units sold; 14,000 of which were Expresses).
MA Lighting grandMA2 series
PRG V676, the successor to the Vari*Lite Virtuoso DX2
Strand Palette II (family)
Barco buys High End Systems
Martin Maxxyz Compact
2009
ETC Element 40, 60
Zero88 ORB
Martin MaxModules
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.
Martin M1
Philips/ET Marquee discontinued
Barco/HES ceases repair support for Wholehog II consoles
PRG V476, a smaller version of the V676
2011
Cooper Controls closes Hillsboro, OR facility of Electronics Diversified (EDI)
ETC Congo Kid
ETC GIO
Acuity Brands acquires Horizon Controls, Pathway Connectivity
2012
Jands Vista L5
MA Lighting MA onPC command wing and Martin M2PC. Both systems require a user-supplied personal computer.
Martin M2GO
Pathway Connectivity Cognito
Lighting & Electronics, Inc. (L&E), in business since 1960, announces plans to cease operations. Some product lines sold to Apollo Design. Discussion thread.
Barco/High End Systems Hog4, Full Boar4, Road Hog4, Nano Hog4
PRG V276 On Mac, a playback/programming wing for use with a user-supplied Apple Mac computer.
2013
Martin M6.
ETC Eos Ti (Titanium), replaces original Eos.
Wybron announces closure. Reborn under new ownership as Gel Services, Inc. Discussion thread.
Jands Stage CL
ETC Cobalt
2014
ETC Nomad software
Strand Lighting NEO
Osram buys Clay Paky
ETC Nomad Puck
2015
MA Lighting dot2
Pathway Connectivity, Cognito2
ChamSys MagicQ MQ80 Compact Console
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.
ETC releases EOS APEX console line.
2023
Robe Acquires Avolites link.