Brett Shriver, President
As I look back on Global Lighting Technologies’ remarkable 25-year journey, I’m struck by how much has changed for our company across the last quarter century.
Having been with GLT since the beginning in 2000, I’ve had a front-row seat to witness our transformation from a small, innovative startup to a global powerhouse in light guide technology.
We’ve made countless changes, but many core aspects that contributed to our success have remained the same – our dedication to research and development, commitment to being a partner (not just a vendor) to our customers, and passion for exploring what’s possible.
The Early Days: Building the Foundation
When GLT started in 2000, the lighting industry was a very different place. LEDs were still a new technology that most people didn’t understand, and traditional light bulbs dominated the market. It’s almost hard to believe now, but we spent considerable time not just explaining our light guide technology to potential customers but actually tutoring them about LEDs themselves. Today, 25 years later, LEDs are everywhere, which is a testament to how far the industry has come.
Our original vision was clear: to provide lighting solutions to innovative new growth companies. We wanted to work alongside some of the top tech companies in the world, helping them bring their groundbreaking products to market. From day one, we positioned ourselves as more than just a supplier—we were partners in innovation.
“From day one, we positioned ourselves as more than just a supplier—we were partners in innovation.“
In those early days, we had an entire R&D team here at our Brecksville, Ohio office. Almost all of our research and development efforts were conducted in the US, with manufacturing handled in Asia. Our team worked 24/7 to design the optical extraction features, which use patterns and code to create our signature technology light guides. The whole company was built around finding the right applications and designing the necessary technology to make them work.
Pivotal Moments and Strategic Evolution
One of the most significant milestones in our journey came through our founding structure. GLT emerged when a company called Shini Plastics purchased intellectual property and the personnel necessary to support that IP from a US company called Lumitex. This wasn’t a joint venture but rather the formation of a new corporation. Shiny Plastics and Lumitex continued to exist separately, but their collaboration gave birth to GLT when they purchased the facility in Taiwan that is now our corporate headquarters.
This collaboration of solid-state light guide technology and a manufacturing facility brought together people from diverse cultures and various parts of the world. From the beginning, we were truly a global company, even if we didn’t fully realize it then.
“From the beginning, we were truly a global company, even if we didn’t fully realize it then.“
Our patent portfolio became another defining element of our story. We discovered that other companies were infringing on our patents, which led to a strategic decision that would change our trajectory. We sold our intellectual property to Rambus, a California-based patent licensing company. This partnership allowed Rambus to collect royalties from patent infringers while enabling us to monetize our innovations more effectively.
As our company grew, our operational structure evolved significantly. Initially, our CEO was based here in the US, and we had plans to go public on the NASDAQ. However, as we expanded globally, it became clear that this approach didn’t make sense for our business model. Our customer base was more prevalent in Asia, so we built an R&D facility there to better serve them.
Through this growth, most of our headquarters and operations shifted to Asia, where many of our people and factories were located. Our board chair took over operations as CEO, and our CFO also relocated from the US to Taiwan. This was more than a geographic shift. It represented a fundamental evolution in how we approached our global operations.
Innovation Beyond Optical Patterns
While our optical patterns and their associated patents were key innovations, what put GLT on the map was our manufacturing evolution. We started with injection molding, which served us well initially but came with limitations in size and thickness. The breakthrough came when we developed technology that allowed us to emboss optical structures directly onto panels instead of using them as mold inserts.
“While our optical patterns and their associated patents were key innovations, what put GLT on the map was our manufacturing evolution.“
This advancement led us to move from internal injection molding to extrusion processes. Today, I’d say the majority of our work involves extruded parts rather than injection-molded ones—a substantial change in our manufacturing approach that opened up entirely new markets and applications.
We also expanded beyond being solely a light guide company. Today, we provide assembly and contract manufacturing services for customers while supplying them with the parts they need. This strategic shift has allowed us to become a more comprehensive customer partner.
Embracing Advanced Technology
Staying ahead of industry changes has always been crucial to our success. We’ve embraced AI and advanced manufacturing techniques as they’ve become available. Our manufacturing capabilities have evolved from standard injection molding to compression molding, which allowed us to produce thinner parts, and then to embossing and extrusion processes.
“Staying ahead of industry changes has always been crucial to our success.“
Currently, we use vision systems and AI to help identify defective parts during production. We have an entire team in Taiwan dedicated to AI development and implementation. This technological advancement has been essential in maintaining our competitive edge and ensuring consistent quality across our global operations.
Culture and Collaboration
One of the most significant changes over our 25-year history has been the evolution of our collaborative culture. When we first started, the US team handled all innovation and design while our Asian team focused solely on manufacturing, operating more like a contract manufacturer. Today, there’s tremendous collaboration between our teams across continents.
We work closely with our factories and coworkers in Taiwan on design projects. When we’re working on a new design, we send it to the factory, and they provide feedback and suggest changes that will improve manufacturability. This collaborative approach has made us more efficient and innovative than if we worked in silos.
“One of the most significant changes over our 25-year history has been the evolution of our collaborative culture.“
Despite all the changes and growth, some things have remained constant. We’ve always tried to maintain a happy and fun energy within our company culture. Whether it’s our cookouts, trips to Top Golf, or our Christmas parties here in the US, or the holiday celebrations our teams organize in Taiwan and China, we’ve always believed that work should be enjoyable. The company has always been run with this philosophy, and it’s something that has remained constant throughout our growth.
Learning from Challenges
Our 25-year journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, we faced significant difficulties during the economic downturn when the automotive industry struggled. The US government stepped in with loans to try to keep auto companies in business; however, because so many went bankrupt, the substantial work we were doing in the industry went unpaid.
We also experienced market shifts that affected our business model. We used to sell many parts for cell phone and keyboard displays, as well as touch screens for HVAC machines. As these industries matured, aesthetics became less important to manufacturers, impacting our market position.
These challenges taught us valuable lessons about decision-making and adaptability. We learned to react to challenges more thoughtfully, evaluating what happened before making decisions. Rather than rushing into reactive measures, we observe what’s happening, understand where disruptions occur, and then make the best decisions we can.
“We learned to react to challenges more thoughtfully, evaluating what happened before making decisions.“
This approach served us well recently with tariff changes under the second Trump administration. While many companies rushed to move volumes around, we chose to let the situation play out so we could make better strategic long-term decisions.
Looking Toward the Future
What excites me most about the next chapter of our story is the innovative technology that continues to emerge. Many OEMs are moving away from LCDs due to cost considerations and gravitating towards using light to communicate.
This trend started years ago with products like the Amazon Echo speakers, which use a distinctive ring of light at the top for interactions. I see lighting increasingly used as a communication method, combined with touch sensors that change colors to confirm that instructions have been received. This represents a fundamental shift in how people interact with technology.
“What excites me most about the next chapter of our story is the innovative technology that continues to emerge.“
We’re also expanding into medical products as the medical industry adopts more consumer electronics. We’ve seen this same pattern in automotive, where the industry moved toward implementing more consumer electronics, and now the same is true for healthcare.
I’m personally excited about our new Vietnam facility. It represents our continued global expansion and our commitment to serving customers wherever they are.
Our Legacy and Impact
When I think about what I hope people remember about our first 25 years, I’m realistic about our market visibility. It’s interesting to be responsible for a technology crucial for dozens of massively influential brands, yet the public is largely unaware of us. That’s okay with us because we’ve always focused more on enabling our customers’ success than our own company’s recognition.
What I’m most proud of is how our customers remember us. I still talk to people today who worked with us 20 years ago, and it’s always amazing to me how much our customers appreciate the solutions we offer. We’re not just a supplier to them. We’re a partner they come to when they have a problem and need a solution they can’t develop in-house.
“We’re not just a supplier to them. We’re a partner they come to when they have a problem and need a solution they can’t develop in-house.“
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with startups creating first-of-its-kind technology. These companies often have difficulty finding partners to work with them and their budgets. We’ve always been willing to take those risks on projects that might initially be low volume but where we can see the upside potential. When those startups become big companies, we get to share in their success.
A Quarter-Century of Growth
As I reflect on these 25 years, I’m struck by how GLT has remained true to its core mission while continuously evolving to meet changing market needs. We’ve grown from a small US-based R&D company to a global operation with facilities spanning continents. We’ve evolved from a purely technical organization to one that emphasizes collaboration, partnership, and cultural connection across diverse teams.
Our technology has advanced from basic injection molding to sophisticated AI-powered manufacturing processes. Our market focus has expanded from LCD backlighting to communication lighting, medical devices, and emerging technologies we haven’t even imagined yet.
We’ve maintained our commitment to innovation, quality, and partnership through economic downturns, industry shifts, global pandemics, and technological revolutions. We’ve learned that success isn’t just about having great technology, but rather about relationships, adaptation, and thoughtful risks taken on the next big thing.
As we look toward the future, I’m confident that the next 25 years will bring even more exciting developments. The lighting industry continues to evolve, new applications for our technology emerge regularly, and our global team grows stronger and more collaborative each year.
Global Lighting Technologies may not be a household name, but we’ve made a lasting impact on the customers we serve and the innovations we enable. That’s the legacy I’m most proud of as we celebrate this milestone and look forward to the bright future ahead.