TransLighting group, inc. a small town, family business

• Main Author: Jeff Lowenthal
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Emerald Publishing 2008-03-01
• Series: New England Journal of Entrepreneurship
• Online Access: https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/NEJE-11-02-2008-B005/full/pdf?title=translighting-group-inc-a-small-town-family-business

TransLighting Group, Inc. consists of two companies all centered around the transportation industry. The original company, TransLighting, was started in 1962 by Henry Phillips. Henry was an engineer with Ford Motor Company specializing in braking wiring systems. Over an eight-year period, he designed and patented several wiring and harness systems that are used in cars as of the 2006 model year. Back in the 1950s Henry had the opportunity to learn about and use LED technology. He even came up with a process using this technology to increase brake light visibility (i.e., the third or middle brake light on most cars). In June 1961 over dinner with another engineering buddy, Bill Acken, Bill figured that they could use this same technology to display roadside messages for motorists. Following license approval from Ford, Bill and Henry started TransLighting in White Lake, Michigan.