Havells Sylvania

Sylvania Lighting
Company type	Private
Industry	Lighting
Predecessor	Feilo Sylvania, Havells-Sylvania, SLI (Sylvania Lighting International)
Founded	Early 20th century
Area served	Worldwide (Europe, Asia, North Africa, Americas, Latin America)
Products	Lamps and lighting fixtures
Owner	Shanghai Feilo Acoustics Ltd.
Number of employees	8000
Parent	Shanghai Feilo Acoustics Ltd.

Sylvania Lighting (previously known as Feilo Sylvania), Havells-Sylvania, and SLI (Sylvania Lighting International) represent a worldwide developer and producer of lighting solutions, marketed under the Sylvania name. With manufacturing sites located throughout Europe, Asia, North Africa, and the Americas, it is one of the rare firms that manufacture both lamps and lighting fixtures. The company is currently owned by Shanghai Feilo Acoustics Ltd., having formerly been a part of the Indian electrical corporation Havells.

1900s

Originating in the early 20th century as a business focused on light bulb refurbishment, Sylvania soon expanded into producing lamps and vacuum tubes tailored for the radio sector. By 1959, after merging with General Telephone to establish GT&E Corporation, Sylvania had broadened its portfolio to include electronics, lighting, television sets, radios, and metallurgy. Functioning as a separate division within GT&E, it manufactured cameras, photographic flash bulbs, general lighting products, televisions, and missile defense technologies. In 1981, GTE sold off its consumer electronics division to North American Philips.

1993

During the early 1990s, GTE shifted its strategic focus toward mobile telecommunications and opted to divest Sylvania to support this new direction. At that time, the global lamp industry was chiefly controlled by four major competitors—Sylvania, GE, Philips, and Osram—each holding roughly a quarter of the market share. Due to antitrust laws preventing any single entity from acquiring full control, Sylvania was divided: Osram took over operations and branding rights in North America, Mexico, and Puerto Rico; meanwhile, the remaining regions—including Europe, Asia, and Latin America—underwent a management buyout that led to the formation of SLI Holdings International LLC. Subsidiaries in Australia and New Zealand became independent entities. This reorganization strengthened SLI’s international presence under the Sylvania brand.

2007 to 2016

In April 2007, Havells India Ltd. purchased SLI for €227.5 million, resulting in the creation of Havells Sylvania. This organization operated through 91 offices with a workforce of 8,000 employees across more than 50 countries, significantly expanding its global footprint and market penetration.

2016 to present

In January 2016, Shanghai Feilo Acoustics Co. Ltd. acquired an 80% ownership stake in Havells Sylvania, establishing Feilo Sylvania. Havells retained a 20% shareholding, maintaining a strategic partnership and continued involvement in the company’s development and growth.

Breakthrough Products

1959 — Dichroic Lamp

Created in collaboration with Bausch & Lomb, this was the inaugural light source featuring a cool-beam reflector coating that directs illumination forward while dissipating heat efficiently, improving overall product effectiveness.

1964 — Deluxe Mercury Lamp

Derived from Sylvania's development of red-emitting phosphors for color television screens, this lamp advanced the mercury lamp segment.

1966 — MetalArc

Introduced sodium-scandium lamp chemistry that set an international benchmark for metal halide lighting products.

1968 — Flashcube

Allowed cameras to capture four sequential photographs using an integrated flash mechanism, influencing advancements in photographic lighting.

1986 — MR16 Halogen

The Tru-Aim Professional was the first MR16 lamp equipped with a sealed front lens and UV protection features, enhancing safety and durability.

1987 — TwinArc HPS

A high-intensity discharge lamp incorporating dual arc tubes for instant re-ignition and an extended lifespan of up to 55,000 hours, providing superior reliability.

1989 — MiniLynx

The first integrated circuit ballast designed for compact fluorescent lamps (CFL), significantly reducing lamp dimensions while boosting efficiency.

1990 — HiSpot Halogen

High-voltage halogen lamps delivering enhanced performance compared to conventional incandescent reflectors.

1995 — Mercury-Free HPS

Launched the world’s first mercury-free high-intensity discharge lamp in response to environmental standards and market needs.

1996 — HiSpot ES50

Introduced the GU10 lamp base along with a compact mains voltage halogen lamp that eliminated the need for transformers and expanded application possibilities.

2000 — MicroLynx F

An ultra-slim fluorescent lamp featuring exceptionally flat dimensions that broadened design flexibility.

2003 — BriteSpot ES50

The first compact metal halide lamp in MR16 format offering an energy-efficient solution for commercial lighting sectors.

2007 — MiniLynx Fast Start

Compact fluorescent lamps capable of nearly instantaneous illumination upon switch-on without sacrificing lifespan.

2008 — HiSpot ECO

A high-efficiency mains voltage halogen reflector lamp achieving 30% energy savings by replacing traditional 50W GU10 lamps with more efficient 35W models.

2011 — RefLED ES50 350lm

The world’s first LED retrofit matching both size and output of the popular GU10 50W tungsten halogen lamp. Produced at Sylvania's European LED manufacturing facility in Tienen, Belgium—marking a strategic shift toward LED technology within its global operations.

Manufacturing

The company maintains several specialized centers worldwide:

Tienen, Belgium — Production of Halogen, Discharge, LED, and Specialty Lamps
Erlangen, Germany — Manufacturing of Linear Fluorescent Lamps
Neemrana, India — Compact Fluorescent Lamp fabrication
Newhaven, UK — Development of Professional Luminaires
Saint-Etienne, France — Industrial Luminaire production

Additional regional facilities provide market support:

Kairouan, Tunisia — Assembly of Incandescent, Halogen, and CFL lamps
Costa Rica — Manufacturing of Fluorescent Starters and Glowbottles
Bogota, Colombia — Production of Incandescent and Linear Fluorescent Lamps
Vinhedo, Brazil — Fabrication of Incandescent and Sodium Lamps, as well as Glass Tubing and Bulbs

Distribution

Paris, France
Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Notable projects

Prominent installations that highlight the company's market presence include:

Paris Metro — Paris, France
Tate Modern Museum — London, UK
Retail Chain in Liverpool — Mexico
Fullerton Hotel — Singapore
Barbican Centre — London, UK
Dublin Airport — Dublin, Ireland
Kelvin Grove Gallery — London, UK
Manchester City Art Gallery — Manchester, UK
MJU Restaurant & Lounge at Millennium Knightsbridge Hotel — London, UK
Bloomsbury Fitness Centre at University College — London, UK
Judge Business School at University of Cambridge — Cambridge, UK
Zorlu Center — Istanbul, Turkey