Leading independent European lighting manufacturer Fitzgerald Lighting marks 30 years in business this year.

Over the past three decades, this UK-based firm has expanded its market to cover an almost worldwide export arena. Its products are sought globally, and are being shipped to the markets of the Middle East, Hong Kong, China, Mauritius, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Egypt, many East and West African countries, Europe, North America, West Indies, Scandinavia and Eire, to name a few.

The company manufactures and distributes a wide range of quality and competitively-priced lighting products for domestic, commercial and industrial applications.

Its comprehensive range of products includes fluorescent batten fittings with various attachments, lo-bay, hi-bay, weatherpack, compact fluorescent luminaires, emergency lighting, recessed and surface modular luminaires, display and low-voltage fittings, floodlighting, amenity lighting and energy-saving intelligent luminaires as well as stand-alone dimming systems.

Additionally, it offers a complementary lighting design service and provides software and training to support its products. Continuing research and development provides a flow of new products utilising leading-edge lamp and control gear technology.

Fitzgerald's offer a complete design, manufacture and delivery service, totally under its own control.

''The company is fully assessed to ISO 9001, all products are 100 per cent tested prior to despatch and are produced in compliance with relevant British standards. Furthermore, many that have additional third-party approvals, including VDE, ICEL, and Kitemark,'' says a spokesman for the company. ''Every effort is made to ensure that all manufacturing processes are fully assessed for their environmental impact, participating fully with many recycling initiatives."

The Fitzgerald Lighting Export Office was set up in the 1970s and the first markets to be penetrated were the Far East and Nigeria. Due to the success of the department, an office has been opened in Dubai, to serve Middle East customers.

Among the recent projects in the Gulf was the supply of its industrial-based products to a project in Bahrain - the Chrysler/ Rolls Royce showrooms in the kingdom feature its hi-bay luminaires.

''The hi-bay luminaire is ideal for areas with heights of 7 m and above, and features a robust yet stylish steel control gear housing and a polished anodised aluminium spun reflector or attractive crystal effect acrylic reflexor, and is available in various lamp types,'' says the spokesman.

Fitzgerald's products have featured in many prestigious projects in the commercial sector. These include the Bank of Cyprus headquarters and branch refurbishment over the past 10 years, utilising recessed modular luminaires - the Fremod range.

''The Fremod range is designed to suit most exposed T bar ceilings, and is fitted with a high-frequency ballast for improved energy efficiency, flicker-free operation and instant start. Other requested features such as air-handling slots were used to ensure the luminaires were utilised to their maximum efficiency,'' he explains.

The latest addition to the range of modular recessed luminaires is the Universal Module which is described as being ideal for commercial applications where a high-quality appearance is required, and complies with the latest energy requirements stipulated by building regulations, particularly in the UK, says the spokesman.

''A major benefit is the ease of installation and re-lamping, as the Semi-Specular Miro 5 category 2 louvre attachment hinges to the body of the luminaire, and is secured by shoot bolts when in position,'' he says. ''The luminaire can also be supplied complete with plugged modular mains cable assembly to assist with installation time and flexibility.''

Part of the same project, the Hellenic Bank, Cyprus, chose the Eclipse, an attractive luminaire creating a subtle lighting effect utilising an involute reflector system, which allows the combination of direct and indirect lighting. This luminaire combines fluorescent economy with stylish design, he says.

A very recent project to be won by the Fitzgerald Export Office used the Elite. The project was part of the extensive Alpha Nova Offices programme, again in Cyprus.

''The Elite is an ultra-modern pendant-mounted luminaire for indirect and direct lighting effects, and offers a unique package of energy efficiency and style.

''The luminaire features a simple suspension wire installation, allowing a multitude of possibilities in modern commercial environments.

''The luminaire body is produced in quality aluminium extrusion, finished in grey epoxy coating. Available with joints and bends for the creation of lighting systems, the Elite is obtainable in T8 or T5 twin lamp configurations,'' he says.

Fitzgerald Lighting, having already endorsed T5 lamp technology with the Sigma, Quasar and Elite luminaires, has now made additions to the Miniature Lightpack selection, with the new T5 Batten series.

Available in 14 W, 21 W, 28 W and 35 W variants, this new range provides high-frequency energy-efficient illumination, in a compact and refined, batten style luminaire. The T5 batten series, which is ideal for unobtrusive display lighting, is also available with an attractive prismatic controller, or opal diffuser attachment.

Fitzgerald Lighting continues to be approved and specified in the Gulf region, as it has done for many years now, particularly with the continued support of excellent appointed stockists and distributors in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Yemen, the spokesman adds.

''With continued investment and development, Fitzgerald's future export market - although challenging - looks very promising,'' he comments.