Christoph Hess, CEO of the Hess Group, expects the cooperation to strengthen the position of his company significantly in the targeted markets. For many years, Thorn has been France's market leader for technical outdoor lighting, operating an extensive, superbly established sales organisation with close local contact to municipalities whom it provides with high quality consulting. Thorn is also one of the few globally active manufacturers of professional lighting to have excellent access to the dynamic markets of East and Southeast Europe as well as Russia and Turkey.

Martin Brandt, COO and member of the Zumtobel Group's executive board is responsible for Thorn brand products. He views Hess's high-quality decorative lighting and premium site furnishings as the perfect complement to Thorn's product portfolio. "The cooperation with Hess broadens our product platform in the areas of decorative street and architectural lighting, expanding our offering for our key target groups, such as municipalities, urban and landscape architects as well as lighting designers, who greatly appreciate the products offered by both companies. Our agreement to cooperate in marketing and sales distances us from our competition," explains Brandt.

Hess' sales office in Paris and other Hess sales representatives throughout France will be integrated into Thorn's sales force, enabling them to contribute their expertise and contacts. Hess is well known amongst French landscape architects and lighting designers, having cooperated closely with them for decades on many projects to beautify and upgrade cities and towns. As of 1 May, Thorn's sales organisation and distribution partners in East and Southeast Europe will market the Hess range of products. Both companies expect steadily increasing growth in the targeted markets. Besides the strong sales organisation and comprehensive product portfolio, the innovative LED solutions for street and architectural lighting are certain to play a significant role in the growth. Hess has been a driving force in the advance of LED technology use in outdoor lighting for years. In 2003, it introduced the world's first code-compliant LED streetlight. Thorn is also very much committed to innovation in its technical lighting, featuring the innovative LED street lighting products Dyana LED and StyLED.

Thorn and Hess have successfully cooperated for two years in Germany, where Hess' subsidiary Vulkan markets Thorn's complete outdoor lighting range.

Deborah Bestman,
Advertising and PR Manager,
Thorn Lighting,
Tel: + 44 (0)207 255 5003 (direct)
Mobile: + 44 (0)7779713688   
deborah.bestman@thornlighting.com