West Midlands' Gekko Technology, which has developed a new and
innovative range of LED lighting for the international film and
television industry, has received backing from Midven's Exceed -
Midlands Advantage Fund.
The Kenilworth, Warwickshire lighting company's film credits
already include Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Mamma Mia, Golden
Compass, Star Trek and on-location programmes such as Sky's Ryder
Cup coverage and BBC Waking the Dead.
The £18m Exceed Fund has invested £510,000 in the
company as additional working capital to support its growth as it
continues to build the business, increase sales and undertake
further research and development.
The company, which exports some 60% of its products outside the
UK, already includes BBC, ITN, Sky Television, Channel 4, Channel
5, Associated Press and NBC (USA) amongst its clients. Many
industry experts believe that LED film and television lighting, as
pioneered by Gekko, is most likely to replace traditional lighting.
Legislation worldwide is set to outlaw tungsten lighting (currently
the most widely used technology in the film and broadcast sector)
within the next ten years.
Steven Greenall, Midven's investment manager for Exceed, said
that in its seven years life, Gekko had emerged as a market leader
bringing cutting edge technology into the film and broadcast
sector.
"The company has delivered compound sales growth since it was
established in 2004 and now has the largest order book in its
history. Its products are green and contribute to tangible
Co2 savings - as well as being designed specifically to meet the
rigorous requirements of both studio and on-location lighting,"
said Mr Greenall.
Gekko managing director David Amphlett, who established the
business when he came up with an idea for a lightweight, dimmable
ring light system for the film and TV market, said that legislation
and environmental awareness were combining to ensure that LED
technology is increasingly being specified for film and television.
Production houses and television companies are already
insisting on LED as the core light source.
"Our focus has been on the development of high quality, reliable
and feature-rich products backed by intellectual property rights
with and introducing our products to some of the leading television
and film production studios.
"Our order book has never been larger and we are forecasting
significant growth in turnover as Gekko is increasingly recognised
as - to quote one of our industry journals - the 'rising star in
the design and manufacture of innovative LED lighting'," said Mr
Amphlett.
The company has also joined forces with US-based PRG to
establish a North American dealer network.
For more information about Midven, please visit their website
here: www.midven.co.uk