Lighting is a vital part of our lives, shaping how we experience the world and even influencing our moods and well-being. One of the companies at the forefront of lighting innovation is Signify N.V., formerly known as Philips Lighting. With a legacy spanning over a century, Signify has grown from a basic lighting provider into a global leader in sustainable and connected lighting. This article explores the journey of Signify, from its roots as Philips Lighting to its transformation into a technology-driven, eco-conscious lighting giant.
The Early Days: Philips Lighting is Born
The story begins in 1891 in the Netherlands, when Philips was founded by Gerard and Frederik Philips as a small company producing light bulbs. This was an era when electric lighting was just beginning to replace gas lamps, and Philips saw the potential for growth. Their affordable and efficient incandescent bulbs quickly gained popularity, marking the start of Philips’ rise as a leader in the lighting industry.
In the early 20th century, Philips continued to innovate, expanding its product range and entering international markets. The company invested heavily in research and development, creating new lighting technologies and products. By the 1920s, Philips Lighting was one of the most recognized names in lighting across Europe and beyond.
The Growth of a Global Lighting Brand
Over the decades, Philips Lighting continued to grow, driven by its commitment to quality, innovation, and meeting the changing needs of society. Here are some of the milestones that shaped Philips Lighting’s journey toward becoming a global lighting leader:
- Development of Fluorescent Lamps: In the 1940s, Philips began producing fluorescent lamps, which offered greater efficiency and durability than traditional incandescent bulbs. These lights were especially useful in commercial and industrial settings.
- Introduction of LED Technology: In the 1960s and 1970s, Philips pioneered LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology, which revolutionized the lighting industry. LEDs used far less energy than incandescent or fluorescent bulbs and had a much longer lifespan. Philips was one of the first companies to invest in LED research, making it a major player in the field.
- Global Expansion: Philips Lighting expanded globally, setting up factories, offices, and distribution networks worldwide. The company’s reach grew to over 100 countries, making it one of the most recognized lighting brands in the world.
- Growth in Specialty Lighting: Beyond household lighting, Philips also focused on specialized areas such as medical lighting, industrial lighting, automotive lighting, and outdoor lighting. This diversification allowed the company to serve a broad range of industries and needs.
The Rise of Smart Lighting
With the advancement of digital technology in the early 2000s, Philips Lighting started exploring how lighting could go beyond just illumination. This led to the development of smart lighting systems, which allow users to control their lights through smartphones, sensors, or voice commands.
In 2012, Philips introduced its Hue line of smart bulbs, allowing users to change the color, brightness, and timing of their lights remotely. Philips Hue became extremely popular, helping the company establish itself as a leader in connected lighting. Today, the Hue range includes light strips, bulbs, outdoor lights, and even lamps, giving users complete control over their lighting environments. Philips Hue was the beginning of a new era for the company, where lighting met digital technology to offer an entirely new experience.
The Transformation into Signify
In 2016, Philips decided to separate its lighting division, creating Philips Lighting N.V., a standalone company listed on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. The decision allowed Philips to focus on its healthcare technology business, while the new Philips Lighting company continued to focus on lighting solutions.
In 2018, Philips Lighting N.V. officially rebranded itself as Signify N.V. The new name was chosen to reflect the company’s vision of using light to “signify” information, connect people, and enhance the world around us. The name change also symbolized a shift from traditional lighting to connected, sustainable, and innovative lighting solutions.
Even after the rebranding, Signify retained the Philips brand for its consumer products, including the popular Philips Hue smart lighting range. However, Signify’s brand identity was now focused on the mission to use light as a source of energy, connection, and inspiration.
Signify’s Commitment to Sustainability
As climate change and environmental concerns continue to grow, Signify has made sustainability a key part of its mission. The company is committed to carbon neutrality and creating sustainable products that help reduce energy consumption and waste.
Some of Signify’s sustainability goals include:
- Carbon Neutrality: In 2020, Signify achieved its goal of becoming carbon-neutral across all its operations. This means that the company’s activities, from production to distribution, do not add any net carbon emissions to the atmosphere.
- 100% Renewable Energy: Signify has committed to using 100% renewable energy in its operations, further reducing its environmental impact.
- Circular Economy: Signify promotes a circular economy, where products are designed to be reused, recycled, or repurposed. This reduces waste and the need for new raw materials.
- Sustainable Lighting Solutions: Signify has developed energy-efficient lighting solutions that save both energy and costs. LED technology, for example, uses up to 80% less energy than traditional lighting, making it an environmentally friendly option for homes, businesses, and public spaces.
Through these efforts, Signify has set an example in the lighting industry for how businesses can operate sustainably while still meeting the demands of consumers and industries worldwide.
Innovation in Smart and Connected Lighting
As Signify continued to grow, it invested heavily in Internet of Things (IoT) technology, allowing lighting to be part of the broader connected ecosystem. Signify’s smart lighting systems, such as Interact, enable businesses, cities, and homes to control lighting remotely, analyze data, and optimize energy usage.
- Smart City Solutions: Signify has partnered with cities around the world to create smart lighting systems for streets and public spaces. These systems can adjust lighting levels based on real-time conditions, improving safety and saving energy.
- IoT Integration with Interact: Signify’s Interact platform is an IoT-based system that collects data from lighting installations and provides insights to improve efficiency and sustainability. Interact is used in industries, retail spaces, offices, and other settings to create dynamic and intelligent lighting environments.
- Connected Lighting for Agriculture: Signify has developed lighting solutions that support sustainable agriculture. For example, horticultural lighting systems provide light that optimizes plant growth, enabling farmers to produce more food using less energy and water.
- Human-Centric Lighting: Signify has also pioneered human-centric lighting, which is designed to mimic natural daylight patterns. This type of lighting can improve well-being, productivity, and even sleep quality, making it popular in workplaces and healthcare settings.
The Role of Philips Hue in Signify’s Consumer Success
The Philips Hue range has become a standout product for Signify, making smart lighting accessible and customizable for everyday consumers. Hue’s popularity is due to its user-friendly app, voice control compatibility, and integration with other smart home devices like Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit.
With Philips Hue, consumers can adjust the ambiance of their home, set mood lighting for different activities, and even sync their lights to music, games, or movies. Philips Hue has created an entirely new category of smart home lighting that combines convenience, fun, and energy efficiency.
The Future of Signify: Leading the Way in Lighting Innovation
Signify continues to set the pace in the lighting industry, with a strong focus on innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation. As the world becomes increasingly connected, Signify aims to integrate lighting into the broader smart home and smart city ecosystems, ensuring that its products add both value and sustainability.
The company’s future priorities include:
- Expanding Smart Lighting Solutions: Signify plans to continue expanding its range of smart and connected lighting solutions for homes, businesses, and cities.
- Advancing Sustainability Efforts: Signify will continue working toward sustainable practices, with a commitment to reducing carbon emissions, using renewable materials, and promoting a circular economy.
- Enhancing User Experience: With more focus on human-centric lighting and IoT-driven innovations, Signify aims to create products that improve quality of life while being energy efficient.
Conclusion
From its beginnings as Philips Lighting to its rebranding as Signify, this company’s journey is a testament to its commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation. Signify’s focus on using light to connect, inform, and improve lives has made it a leader in the global lighting industry. Through continuous adaptation and commitment to a greener future, Signify is lighting the way for a more connected, sustainable world.
