Blog
Value Added Manufacturing
A key aspect of MARL’s manufactured products is adding value to transform the simple into the sophisticated.
On its own, an LED is a remarkable and yet physically simple device comprising a light emitting material, anode, cathode and (in the case of white) a coating, enclosed in a protective polymer. LED manufacturers have a great deal of experience in optimising this process to give ever greater efficiency, light intensity and colour rendering accuracy. Rather than manufacture our own LEDs, MARL selects LEDs from the best in the business and puts them into practice with value added products.
Image: The MARL 525 Series, an RGB indicator (here illuminated in hot pink) with a nickel plated brass housing and flying leads fitted.
Perhaps our most famous and longstanding examples are the panel indicator range, which typically adds a resistor for operating at a specific constant voltage, reverse protection diode for safety (or bridge rectifier for bi-polar and AC operation), different lenses and housing materials, designs for various panel mounting holes, adds potting for vibration resistance, seals them to IP67 specifications, provides a range of termination options and finally puts them through rigorous testing procedures.
Other examples are the PCB mounting LED range which packages discrete LEDs into flame retardant UL94 V-0 housings in various formats for placement onto PCBs, the bulb replacement range which adds resistors and diodes (or bridge rectifiers) and adds various bulb base fittings for direct replacement of old filament-based indicator bulbs, and last but far from least is our highly diverse range of lighting products for general or specialist lighting applications.
Image: The MARL 255 Series Bulb Replacement, which features current regulation and bridge rectification to provide what we dubbed “SOLO” (Stock One LED Only) technology, allowing 8-48V operation at AC or DC in any orientation with consistent brightness.
Added value doesn’t stop there. As we mentioned in greater detail our April blog, “Custom Panel Indicator? There’s a MARL for that”, MARL can work directly with customers to create custom and semi-custom products, providing a specific combination of voltages and colours or adding other customisations like flying leads, laser etching and much more.
For more information contact [email protected].
