Marl International has invested £120,000 in tools for prototype and small batch production, to handle growing demand for its specialist LED lighting assemblies. The investment will allow Marl to turn around prototypes of its bespoke lighting solutions for customers and its own LED lighting products significantly faster. Marl, a pioneer in LED lighting, attributes its success to the fact that it handles the whole process from design to prototyping, volume manufacturing and test on a single site.

The new machining centre and printed circuit board (PCB) router will allow Marl to turn around most prototypes within a week of the acceptance of a design by its customers. The tools produce housings, mechanical parts and circuit boards straight from the CAD (Computer Aided Design) output generated by Marl's design team.

Commenting, Marl Managing Director Adrian Rawlinson said, "Marl's strength is our ability to produce energy efficient lighting solutions for specific customer requirements. Well-known organisations that we have supplied include the Formula 1 Association, British Energy, British Waterways Board, Network Rail and Nokia Siemens Networks. We have also been very successful in engineering our own products to address specific market opportunities, such as infra-red LED assemblies for use by the security forces, and security lights. The investment we have made will allow Marl to be even more agile when addressing these kinds of opportunities in future."

Marl has invested in an LPKF Protomat® S100 PCB routing machine, a Hurco TM6 2-axis CNC (computer numerical control) lathe and a Hurco VM20 3 axis machining centre. The Hurco machines increase Marl's capacity to produce prototype housings and mechanical parts by 50% and doubles the company's rate of mould tool production. Both machines feature a high degree of automation, allowing designs to be built straight from the CAD files generated by Marl's design team.

The LPKF PCB router is a state-of-the art system, which eliminates the need for Marl's staff to handle hazardous etching chemicals. This CNC machine also works direct from CAD files, and can build single or double sided boards with up to two layers. It can produce aluminium clad boards, which is key for designs where thermal management is a factor. Using the machine, Marl can produce a prototype PCB in just a few hours.

Energy efficient LED lighting specialist Marl International was named Business of the Year at the Westmorland Gazette Business and Tourism Awards, fighting off competition from companies across South Cumbria, North Lancashire and the Dales. Marl was also presented with The Westmorland Gazette's Innovation and Technology Award.

Presenting the Business of the Year award, Tony Whiteway of sponsors CLB Coopers said, "Marl International is a dynamic and fast growing player in the LED lighting industry, a market they helped develop from its infancy. Marl pioneered a new technology, built up a leadership position, and supplies blue chip companies around the world with energy saving lighting solutions. As a result of Adrian Rawlinson's vision 30 years ago, Ulverston can boast an internationally successful technology business bringing 120 quality manufacturing, engineering and management positions to the town."

Accepting the award, David Ford said, "On behalf of the whole team at Marl, I am delighted to accept this prestigious award. One of our strengths is the fact that all our products are designed, assembled, tested and shipped under one roof here in Ulverston, Cumbria. Marl continues to invest in this team. For example in 2011, we spent £120,000 in new machine tools enabling us to turn around prototypes more quickly and reliably in house."

Marl International was one of the pioneers of the LED industry, with nearly 40 years experience of providing innovative photonics solutions. Marl has now supplied more than 100 million LEDs. Some of the world's first solid state light bulbs were made by Marl in the 1980s and today these are still enhancing the operational performance and reliability of host equipment in countless defence and aerospace applications.

Marl International Limited the market leader in packaging LED technology into custom transport solutions have produced a new transportation catalogue.

This new catalogue introduces our comprehensive product portfolio designed to meet indication and Illumination requirements within the Transportation market.

This catalogue also offers:

• Updated listings for PADS
• Detailed specifications
• Marl company capabilities
• Application information

With its detailed specifications, and easy to follow layout, we hope you will find it a useful reference and guide to selecting Indication and illumination for your transportation application needs.

Download the Marl Transportation Catalogue (PDF, 6MB)
View the Marl Transportation website
Contact Marl for more information.

Marl has introduced a 'fit and forget' solution to meet the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (RVAR) for carriage entry door step lighting, with the introduction of its new 743 Series LED specifically designed for this application.

Marl LEDs not only offer industry leading lighting efficiency, but have such long lifetimes that they are essentially maintenance-free devices

The 743 Series step light from Marl has a life time of 50,000 hours continuous illumination, equivalent to over five and a half years. This LED meets the RVAR Guidelines 1998: 6 (1) d, and is an ideal, low maintenance, energy efficient replacement for halogen type fittings. It also complies with the Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI) regulations for the European Railway network.

The 743 Series is supplied with a constant current driver allowing it to be connected through a rail approved power supply unit to the carriage wiring loom. Extension cables are available if required. It is housed in black anodised aluminium, with a hardwearing chrome aluminium bezel. The lens is made of toughened glass, and the whole assembly is resistant to vandalism and accidental damage.

View the Step Light product listing
Download a PDF datasheet
Contact Marl for more information.

Marl has announced its part in the restoration project of the Sir John Barrow Monument in Ulverston, Cumbria.

The donation from Marl included the design, manufacture and installation of bespoke LED lighting including ground recessed LEDs to illuminate the exterior of the monument at night-time, and LED units fitted into the curved interior walls within the monument to light up the interpretation chamber and information boards for visitors.

Adrian Rawlinson, Managing Director of Marl International commented, "We like to maintain a high level of local, social responsibility and take pleasure in being able to support local causes such as this one. Lighting up the monument with new high powered, efficient LEDs has made a striking impression and we hope it is enjoyed by many locals and visitors for years to come."

Marl's generous donation was further boosted by Furness Enterprise, and Harry Knowles, Chief Executive said; "The recently refurbished 19th Century Sir John Barrow Monument on the Hoad has benefited tremendously from being lit up at night by 21st Century solid state lighting provided by locally based, but internationally known Marl. Now residents and visitors to the area can experience not only the iconic monument but unique modern lighting technology that has been produced in the area."

Marl replaced the existing inefficient exterior lights with six 35 watt LEDs, each comprising of twelve 2.5 watt LED units and two drivers. They are high powered lights with low energy consumption, excellent reliability and a greatly improved life span of approximately 60,000 hours running time, reducing both maintenance and energy costs. Producing 2,000 lumens each, they illuminate the exterior with cool white light.

Five 7.5 watt bespoke LED units based on Marl's Orion range light the interpretation chamber within the monument. Specialised brackets and finials in the shape of the monument's roof were designed to fit them onto the curved interior walls. They have a chrome plated T3¼ finish, produce 300 lumens each and light up the interior chamber with warm white light, making a bright, welcoming environment for visitors to the site.

About Sir John Barrow monument

The Sir John Barrow monument is situated on top of the 430ft Hoad Hill on the South Eastern approach to the Cumbrian market town of Ulverston. It was built in 1850 in the style of the Eddystone lighthouse to commemorate the life of Sir John Barrow, a naval administrator, who was born in Ulverston in 1764. The monument commands views across Morecambe Bay, The Pennines and the mountains of the Lake District, and was built using money donated by the local population.