Blog
Adrian Rawlinson departs MARL after 47 years
Likening MARL to a train journey and describing the stops along the way, Adrian Rawlinson has announced his departure as Managing Director of MARL International Ltd, alongside his wife Aida as Company Administrator, as the company is acquired by Glamox AG.
MARL was founded by Brian Ainley at his home at the time of Marl Park in 1973.
“Boarding the train” in 1977, Adrian joined the company just as MARL had moved to its second premises of The Ellers (Ulverston). At the time, MARL was primarily involved in making safety equipment for the pharmaceutical industry.
Image: The Early Days: Adrian with MARL founder Brian Ainley in 1982 (Featuring Cuthbert the crocodile!)
Image: Marl Park
Image: The Ellers
By 1978, his role was to promote and sell an LED range which at the time was just a small set of samples on a single bench top. Realising the increasing demand for LEDs from the telecoms, defence, rail and power generation industries, Adrian helped to rapidly grow MARL’s LED assembly operation.
Adrian explained how, as LED technology began to explode in popularity, MARL outgrew The Ellers and moved to Stone Cross Mansion in 1986, a spectacular setting - although acknowledged in hindsight as not the most practical! MARL’s strength has always been in adaptability and as such the business still managed to adapt to its latest premises and continue to grow.
Image: Stone Cross
In 1996 the world’s first white LED was launched, kick-starting the LED lighting revolution. No journey is without its bumps – Adrian commented how, not having been in the position of ownership at the time, he faced frustration as MARL missed out on the potential for rapid expansion that presented itself and instead came under significant pressure if it were to not be derailed.
Despite this, the company grew enough to buy the old Ashley Accessories manufacturing site in 2001, which became MARL Business Park, where it remains today.
Image: MARL Business Park
The first major turnaround came in 2008 when Adrian led a Management Buy Out and took full ownership of the company, enabling his vision of a new era of professionalisation, planning and investment. This era started to see some great successes such as the first intelligent train lighting system (“Sci-Light”), the roller light project and some stunning architectural and colour outdoor lighting such as Alnwick Gardens and the local Sir John Barrow Monument (known locally as The Hoad after its location on Hoad Hill).
The second and much bigger turnaround came in 2016, when MARL began to work on the bid for the UK’s innovative T26 frigate lighting. This marked a period of learning, growth and transformation, as Adrian led the company from one of demand-based components activity, to that of systems designer and manufacturer. Whilst MARL is active in several markets (many others of which demand the utmost quality and reliability such as medial applications and film & broadcast), prioritising the marine lighting market was a strategy that turned out to be highly successful and built a great deal of upward momentum for MARL.
Image: Adrian and Aida Rawlinson
It is however at this point, in August 2024, that MARL “changes trains” and that the journey for Adrian and Aida comes to an end. Adrian remarked on his desire to depart while the company’s performance is on a steady upward trajectory, confident that the handover of ownership to the Norwegian company Glamox will leave MARL International in safe hands, great shape, and on track to continue its journey.
Adrian commented:
"We hope you continue to enjoy the journey, it can be as long as you desire, the destination hasn’t changed.
The MARL Team would like to thank Adrian for his many years of service and leadership, and wish Adrian & Aida the very best for the future.
