NORTHRIDGE, CA — Harman, which recently named Brian Friborg to lead U.S. sales, also announced that its integration of Martin Lighting in the U.S. has been completed. The company is closing the Martin office in Sunrise, FL but will maintain a sales and product support presence in the Fort Lauderdale area, led by Friborg. All staff from the closed Sunrise, FL facility have been offered positions within the Harman Professional organization.
More details from Harman (www.harman.com):
NORTHRIDGE, CA — Harman Professional Division announced the integration of Martin Professional U.S. operations into its organization, effective Oct. 15, 2013. The move provides Martin customers with access to Harman Professional’s deep resources, including the industry-leading product portfolio, unmatched R&D capabilities and depth, a world-class sales and support infrastructure, including a state-of-the art showroom in Northridge, California, and the financial strength to see additional lighting and video technologies added to the portfolio.
The combining of Harman and Martin will result in operational efficiencies, including the closure of Martin’s operations in Sunrise, Florida. The company will maintain a strong sales and product support presence in the Fort Lauderdale area and all staff from the facility have been offered positions within the Harman Professional organization.
“Today, we met with our team in Florida to announce our decision to integrate operations. This move will bring many long-term advantages to our customers and other stakeholders and will help sustain Martin’s position as the industry’s most innovative, best supported, best integrated lighting manufacturer,” Brian Friborg, Harman Professional USA Vice President of Sales, said Oct. 15.
The integration of Martin and Harman United States operations has already yielded an exciting array of sales and marketing initiatives — not least the new 10,000 sq. ft. Customer Experience Center in Northridge, California; a dedicated Martin roadshow truck that will visit customers and partners throughout the United States; several senior new hires to bolster customer resources and the increase to three fixed sales and service centers in the United States.
“The combined value of Harman and Martin is most certainly greater than the sum of the parts,” Friborg continued. “No other organization is better equipped or positioned to serve the production and installation lighting requirements of customers here in the United States. Now, by absorbing the experience and expertise of our Martin team within the Harman Professional organization and by sustaining a strong team in Florida, we are immediately smarter, swifter and better prepared to support our customers in the United States.”
As a world leader in dynamic lighting solutions, Martin lighting systems are used in the world’s most prestigious and demanding production and architectural projects and installations. Martin luminaires have also recently been used for live performances by rock acts such as The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and Coldplay as well as for the latest Broadway and West End musicals. Martin is in the process of launching new products across all of its product lines, including new models in the award-winning MAC Viper family, as well as new creative LED video products, innovative lighting control solutions, new atmospheric smoke solutions and more.
NOTE: This posting has been updated; a previous posting erroneously reported that Martin Lighting’s U.S. leadership would be West-Coast based. PLSN regrets the error. For a separate release on Brian Friborg’s appointment, CLICK HERE
