Following the closure of VRIELAND, a fresh start was made in the early 1990s. From a small guest room, several members of the Van de Vrie family set out to build a new lighting company: Lighting Partner. With limited resources but armed with a wealth of experience, technical expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit, they worked day and night to develop a new collection of spotlights.
What began as a small team in a space of just a few square metres quickly grew into a major player within the European lighting market.
Early 1990s – The founding of Lighting Partner
After leaving VRIELAND, several family members decided to put their knowledge and experience to use once again within a new company. From a simple workspace, they worked on developing new lighting concepts and spotlight collections.
The early years were primarily focused on product development, international production and building new customer relationships. Thanks to the experience gained during the VRIELAND period, the company quickly adapted to the market.
1995 – De introductie van de GU10 spots
A major breakthrough came in 1995. Lighting Partner persuaded lamp manufacturer Sylvania to develop a halogen lamp that could be connected directly to the mains: the now well-known GU10 lamp.
Whilst Sylvania was developing the bulb, Quinten van de Vrie Jr. worked on developing the corresponding GU10 socket and spotlight fittings. By the time the first batch of bulbs arrived, the fittings were already ready for production. Work continued throughout the weekend so that the first shipment could be sent directly to the customer, Leroy Merlin in France.
The concept proved to be a great success. Within the first year, Lighting Partner purchased more than 800,000 bulbs, and the company grew to become Sylvania’s largest customer.
1997 – Partnership with Sylvania
When Philips and Osram later launched GU10 bulbs, interest in Lighting Partner grew further. Eventually, the company was acquired by Sylvania. During this period, Lighting Partner developed both technical lighting collections for Lumiance and consumer lighting for Brilliant Leuchten. In addition, intensive work was carried out on international production, including in Indonesia.
Lighting Partner’s collection stood out for its innovative designs and a strong focus on spot lighting and halogen technology.
After several years, conditions within the Sylvania group changed, leading Lighting Partner to decide to operate independently once again. Despite facing challenges during this time, the company recovered swiftly. Within a few years, Lighting Partner successfully reestablished a strong market presence and fully committed itself to advancing new lighting technologies.
Early 2000s – the rise of LED
Lighting Partner was one of the first companies to embrace the potential of LED lighting. LED collections were developed for various international clients, including Regent, Trilux, Philips and Zumtobel.
2004 – Introduction of EYEleds with Insta
In 2004, a partnership was also formed with the German company Insta, resulting in the joint development of a range of floor spotlights under the name EYEleds.
Thanks to intensive marketing and product promotion, awareness of these products grew rapidly within the market.
2005 – Launch of the SpotLED series
In 2005, when Philips acquired Lumileds, Lighting Partner was tasked with developing a new range of LED spotlights for the market within a tight deadline. This collaboration led to the launch of the SpotLED series, which used one of the first high-power LEDs, the K2 LED. Shortly thereafter, a significant volume of products was manufactured in Thailand, where Lighting Partner established a specialised factory for aluminium turning and milling.
2009 – Start of Illuxtron International
As a result of its international expansion, Lighting Partner eventually connected with various international investors and companies in the lighting industry. In 2009, following this period, the family members involved each decided to pursue their own paths in technology and innovation.
Quinten van de Vrie Jr. went on to found Illuxtron, focusing on high-quality architectural lighting, product development, and customized solutions.
The knowledge, international experience, and innovative vision gained during the VRIELAND and Lighting Partner periods continue to serve as a vital foundation for Illuxtron International today.