This year Streamlight Inc., a well-known manufacturer of high-performance lighting and weapon light/laser sighting devices, is marking its 50th anniversary. Since its founding, Streamlight has grown from a small company with a single product to a global manufacturer of a broad range of high-performance lights for law enforcement, military, firefighting, industrial, automotive, outdoor and DIY users.
In 1973, Streamlight was made up of only six employees designing and engineering the first Streamlight flashlight, which was called the Stream Lite – 1 Million. Why the name? It was the first commercial light to produce 1 million candlepower, which was about 50 times brighter than the high beams of an automobile at the time.
The company has been a pioneer in the development of rechargeable flashlights, lanterns and LED lighting, and its employees are known for their expert engineering approach to creating lighting products that feature extraordinary brightness while also offering high value and durability.
“At Streamlight, we have always taken pride in designing and manufacturing lighting products that make our customers’ jobs easier, improve their productivity, and keep them safe in trying conditions,” said Streamlight President and CEO Ray Sharrah. “As we celebrate 50 years of operation, we pledge to continue to leverage the latest advances in LED and battery technologies to produce ever brighter, more useful lighting tools, while still maintaining our same high-quality standards.”
Sharrah says the company’s most recent innovations include:
- USB-rechargeable flashlights and headlamps that offer the convenience of charging on the go from a USB charging source
- Multi-fuel flashlight systems that use a rechargeable battery but also can accept disposable batteries for alternate sources of power
- New scene lights that are waterproof and offer powerful brightness in situations involving smoke or water
- A series of compact work lights that fit in tight places, can be used hands free or hanging, and rotate on their bodies for light wherever it’s needed
- A growing line of weapon-mounted lights that fit a variety of rifles, shotguns and handguns
Today, Streamlight offers a full line of proven products in more than 90 countries. What began as a small operation has grown into a 240,000 square-foot manufacturing and office space in Eagleville, Pennsylvania, with more than 350 employees (photo above). The company holds 525-plus American and foreign patents, and 135-plus American and foreign trademarks.
