CURRENT ISSUE
| Cover Story |
| Columns |
| 'Labor of Love' |
| Print - Profile | |
| By Alan Dorich | |
| Sunday, 01 July 2007 | |
 UK INternational makes industrial lights, protective cases, and accessories used in difficult environments. Uke, whose hobby is scuba diving, started the company as Underwater Kinetics in 1971 to manufacture supplies for divers. With its high-end lights, he explains, the company branched out into manufacturing industrial lights used by workers in hazardous locations. The step from diving lights to industrial lights was a small one, Uke says. While its lights for scuba divers needed to work underwater and endure pressure, its industrial lights are used in extreme environments where regular lights “would be dangerous and wouldn’t work,” he says. According to the company, its waterproof lights have been the standards for fire fighters, utility workers, and health and safety personnel. In addition, many of its lights meet the standards set by the U.S. Military. In addition to being waterproof, the company says, its lights are dust-proof, non-corroding and electrically non-conductive, with such features as smooth illumination, side-by-side battery configurations and ergonomic shapes. Today, 80 percent of the company’s business comes from the sales of its high-performance lights. Uke adds that the company has manufactured and sold millions of lights, allowing it to earn millions of satisfied customers that anxiously await its new product offerings and continued innovation year after year. UK International has not given up on its scuba business. Instead, the company still makes scuba products, including diving lights and knives. “We make half of the world’s scuba diving lights,” he declares. Although its innovation and superior technology have positioned it as a leader in the dive and industrial lighting markets for 35 years, Uke says this success is allowing UK International to enter new markets. “One of the markets we’ve identified is the outdoor/sporting goods channel,” he says. "One of the new product segments to support this market will be a line of waterproof headlamps that offer unique, never-before-seen features,” Uke continues. “Look for exciting new lighting and case products to hit outdoor and sporting goods retail stores soon." Staying On Uke started UK International at the age of 18. Today, he divides his time between the company and charity work, including organizing the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum in San Diego. Uke says three of his children work at the company in such areas as marketing and human resources. “I hope to be running [UK International] for a little while still,” he says. According to Uke, UK International’s high-quality products are expensive, but provide a superior level of quality. “Our [product is] typically the leading-edge, new thing,” he says. Competitors make lower-cost versions of the same products, but he says UK International competes by providing reliable products. “[In] a lot of markets, that works very well,” Uke explains. “[Consumers will] pop up to get the better widget.” One example is its lights used by utility workers to change high-voltage fuses. These are capable of sustaining massive electrical charges. Exceptional Service UK International also earns loyalty through an exceptional customer service program, Uke says. Although the company does not receive many returned items, “We turn our repairs around within a day,” he says. “We basically repair everything indefinitely.” ‘On the Flip Side’ UK International does not view the transition from incandescent lights to light emitting diodes (LEDs) to be a challenge. “We were the leader in the old style,” Uke says. “[Now,] we’re making the transition to be the leader in the new style.” The company is in the process of converting its entire product line from incandescent to solid-state lights. Among their advantages, he says, the solid-state lights provide a longer life and stronger shock-resistance. “These are just plain tougher,” he says. “It’s impossible to break an LED.” Although incandescent products are still selling strongly, Uke predicts that LEDs eventually will replace them. “The new ones are taking over the market, and we’re trying to be on the flip side of that,” he says. “Major companies in lighting are going to be minor actors in the future, [because] they haven’t made that change. This is a good time for engineering companies, like us.” |
|
| < Previous Story | Next Story > |
|---|
