TIR Systems Ltd., recently acquired by Philips Lighting, is a world leader in “white” solid state lighting (SSL) technology. The company was founded in 1982 to research, develop and produce an innovative, rugged light-pipe technology based on total internal reflection (TIR) principles. It soon evolved into a highly experienced specialty lighting manufacturer serving architectural, commercial, industrial and corporate identity markets around the globe.

In 2000, the company expanded its research to focus on the emerging potential of LEDs as an energy-efficient and high-quality source of illumination. TIR’s early efforts culminated in the award-winning Destiny CW and Destiny CV architectural luminaires. Since that time, the company has developed an extensive research base and a leadership position in the innovative technology of SSL. With this strategic shift in direction, TIR transformed itself from a company manufacturing excellent commercial products to being a key technology provider for a growing consortium of lighting manufacturers - delivering the most advanced LED-based white-light technologies available to global lighting manufacturers for integration into their product lines.

In 2005, TIR announced the Lexel®, a significant breakthrough in white LED-based lighting. Launched at Lightfair International 2005, the Lexel immediately received widespread industry acclaim. In 2006, Lexel technology won a Best in Category award at Lightfair International.

The Lexel is the first fully integrated and seamless SSL technology platform. TIR believes its unique achievement in overcoming the critical technological hurdles required to enable SSL for general lighting has positioned Lexel in an unrivaled leadership position. This new lighting system has the potential of reducing energy consumption on a global scale while delivering substantially greater lighting functionality and an unrivaled light quality. This powerful new technology is expected to become a standard for mainstream, white-light illumination, displacing conventional light sources in much of the US$102 billion lighting market over the next two decades.

TIR has established the foundations of a powerful consortium by signing collaborative agreements with some of the world’s most respected lighting manufacturers. The partnership is based on TIR supplying these manufacturers with its advanced SSL light-source technology and the manufacturers developing and marketing Lexel-based lighting products. Some of the products based on Lexel technology will be available in the marketplace in 2007.

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