October 17, 2022
Principal LED Acquires SloanLED
Two formidable players in LED signage combine; 5 brands, multiple categories and channels
Texas-based Principal Industries, parent to the Principal LED brand, has acquired Ventura, California-based The Sloan Company, known in lighting circles as SloanLED. Both companies are significant players in the LED signage market while SloanLED also has an extensive product offering in commercial/industrial indoor and outdoor categories.
Each company goes to market through specialty graphics, lighting and signage distributors – while SloanLED also utilizes commercial and industrial lighting agents in the U.S. and Canada to help drive its general lighting products for indoor and outdoor applications. SloanLED also has a vertical market focus on retail, hospitality, and petroleum markets.
According to a joint announcement made by both companies, this acquisition is expected to strengthen and diversify Principal’s product portfolio in new and existing end markets while expanding its footprint in and outside North America.
Steve Shotwell, President & COO of SloanLED, said, “I look forward to combining the strengths of two market leaders and providing our customers with the best and most innovative product solutions, services, and support, across all of our business segments around the world.”
The two companies have not only been competitors in the LED signage space, but they were also legal adversaries in recent years as Principal LED filed a 2018 patent infringement lawsuit against SloanLED. The legal matter was resolved relatively swiftly as SloanLED agreed to redesign the extrusion for its PrismBEAM product and also agreed to license Principal LED’s technology relating to a retrofit lighting mount.
Accompanying the acquisition announcement were graphics and taglines citing “Better Together” and “5 Brands. 1 Mission” messaging. SloanLED joins Principal’s four existing brands, Principal LED, Principal Services, Ventex Technology, and LED Wizard.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
