In this issue of Industrial Process News, we are pleased to feature MARL International Ltd. as our LED Lighting & Indication Systems Company of the Month.
Founded in 1973 by former Chairman, Brian Ainley, MARL International Ltd. design and manufacture electronic systems, with a strong focus on LED technology.
“We have over 50 years of experience in delivering innovative solutions across various industries including defence, off-shore, medical, industrial control, rail, film & broadcasting, agriculture and specialist lighting,” stated Katie Higgins, Sales Manager – Speciality Lighting. “Our expertise lies in providing robust LED indicators and specialist lighting solutions tailored for complex and demanding environments. Over the years, MARL has collaborated with prestigious clients including the Royal Navy, BAE Systems, and Transport for London. Notable projects include the design and supply of complete internal and external lighting systems for the Royal Navy’s Type 26 frigates, as well as the modernisation of lighting across the Bakerloo line for Transport for London.”
From its manufacturing facility based in Ulverston, Cumbria, MARL’s in-house capabilities include a Surface Mount Technology Centre which has the capacity to process 80,000 components an hour, allowing for the manufacture of its own products and customer’s designs including build to print.
“Our Full Production facilities also cover the manufacture of LED panel indicators and LED bulb replacements, assembly of finished luminaires, assembly of wiring harnesses, and hand placement of components on PCBs. Our CNC Machining Centre enables us to manufacture bespoke fittings, heatsinks, lenses and diffusers, whilst our Tool Room facilities include manual turning and milling equipment.”
“As you can see, our in-house capabilities are vast, and cover a broad range of design services. This is because our team have a wide range of experience and expertise between them in the specialisms of optoelectronic, hardware, software and mechanical design. We also have services that cater from concept development to end certification, as well as Dark Room and Optical Measurement facilities,” added Katie.
MARL’s ability to deliver a broad range of services across diverse industries allows it to meet the needs of customers who often find that off-the-shelf solutions fall short. What sets MARL apart is not only its more than 50 years of industry experience, but also the expertise of its in-house design team – enabling the development of custom-engineered, highly durable, and energy-efficient LED solutions tailored to each client’s unique requirements.
“We also welcome customers to come and visit our site to view our state-of-the-art facilities and explore our design and manufacturing processes. We believe our long-lasting client relationships are a testament to the dedication the team shows to meeting their requirements,” added Katie.
Another of MARL’s unique strengths is the diversity of its customer base – there is no such thing as a ‘typical’ MARL client. Over the years, MARL has served everyone from model railway enthusiasts seeking simple bulb replacements to major organisations such as Transport for London Underground, superyacht manufacturers, naval frigate operators, power stations, and film studios.
A key reason customers return time and again is MARL’s unwavering commitment to delivering high-performance, high-quality products backed by exceptional customer service. As a proud member of the British manufacturing community, MARL upholds rigorous standards across its operations. It holds ISO 9001 certification for Quality Management, is an approved supplier under the Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme (RISQS), and is a member of Make UK Defence – demonstrating its dedication to excellence and reliability in every sector it serves.
2024 was a transitional year for MARL, as of 13th August 2024, Glamox AS acquired MARL International. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, Glamox is a leading lighting company that has operations in Europe, Asia and North America. With Glamox achieving annual revenues in 2023 of NOK 4,266 million, MARL is thrilled to be the newest member of the team. With close to 60% of MARL’s 2023/24 revenue of £6m coming from Navy projects, the company’s strength in the defence and navy markets aligns with Glamox’s competitive position in the maritime industry and its strategic growth objectives.
The sustainable lighting market within the Navy and marine segments is growing fast, and this is going to be a very profitable and fruitful opportunity for Glamox and MARL, positioning them both for tremendous growth moving forward.
Outgoing Managing Director Adrian Rawlinson, who has been connected with MARL for more than 47 years, commented, “I honestly believe there is a very attractive strategic fit between the two companies and I think it is a positive direction for the future. The MARL performance trajectory is steadily upwards and I am very pleased to be stepping away and looking back to see the company in great shape and on-track to continue its journey.”
As part of its ongoing growth strategy and efforts to expand brand awareness within the global defence sector, MARL will be exhibiting at DSEI 2025 at ExCeL London on 9th September. This follows successful appearances at Hardware Pioneers Max in London this April and the IndoDefence Expo and Forum in Jakarta in June. With momentum building, MARL is set for another impactful event – offering an opportunity to connect with new customers and showcase its latest fully integrated, turnkey LED solutions.
For more information, please see below:
T 01229 582430
enquiries@marl.co.uk
https://www.leds.co.uk