LÁMPARAS Especiales was founded in Barcelona in 1959 by José María Sierra Ruiz.
Since then, it has maintained constant growth and a productive and innovative vocation, becoming an unquestionable benchmark in the lighting sector.
From our origins as incandescent lamp manufacturers to our current position as a company dedicated to marketing a wide range of lighting products, we have always been characterized by our commitment to customer service and quality, supported by the ISO 9001 certification obtained in 1998.
Our company boasts modern facilities spanning over 5000m2, equipped with the most advanced technologies for product quality control, as well as an intelligent warehouse that enables us to provide rapid responses to our clients. All operations are managed by a highly professional and experienced team.
LÁMPARAS Especiales markets its products in over 20 countries, offering an extensive range of lamps and incorporating the latest new products for lighting.
We pay tribute to the memory of Vicente Sierra Rueda and Doña Francisca Ruiz Monente, who taught us to love light.
They met at the beginning of the last century in a lamp factory. They formed a family and showed us the path we should follow.
This tribute extends to all individuals who have contributed to the expansion of this profession: illuminating the world.
In 1959, LAES was founded in a small basement at Calle Julio Verne, 3, Barcelona.
Starting with small manual machines, the company began manufacturing Sofito lamps and metallizing reflector bulbs.
In 1971, the company relocated to Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona. There, the brand solidified its position with the initiation of manufacturing the GLOBE lamp, which marked a significant expansion for the company and the beginning of its international market presence.
In 1988, the raw materials warehouse at LÁMPARAS Especiales S.A. was expanded to a total area of 1,500m2, bringing the total premises area to approximately 7,000m2.
In 1989, the sister company LÁMPARAS HALÓGENAS S.A. was established, and with a small pilot plant, the manufacturing of Dichroic lamps began at the premises of LÁMPARAS Especiales S.A.
LÁMPARAS HALÓGENAS S.A. inaugurated its new manufacturing plant in a modern building and launched a centering line for dichroic lamps, one of the fastest in the world. This quickly allowed the company to achieve a significant position in the global market for this type of lamp.
In 1995, a fully automatic production line of 90 mm diameter reflector bulbs was set up for the Spanish market.
In 1995, a production line for manufacturing halogen capsules to be assembled into dichroic lamps was also launched.
These lamps, of extraordinary quality, are produced on a fully automatic line, making the LAES dichroic lamp one of the best lamps available at the time.
This was also the year LAES built a high-speed, fully automatic machine for centering dichroic halogen lamps for GENERAL ELECTRIC.
Delivery was made on August 8th after an acceptance test supervised by Mr. Rees.
In 1997, the LÁMPARAS HALÓGENAS S.A. building was expanded with two new storage warehouses, resulting in a total area of 3,700m2.
In the same year, spacious new offices were inaugurated, which allowed us to enhance our work environment with a modern and functional image.
Additionally, a new finished product warehouse was commissioned.
In 2001 LAES started up a new fully automatic line for the manufacture of 80mm and 95mm diameter bulbs Globe .
LAES AND SPORTS
LAES sponsored Julio Martínez, a renowned rower and undisputed champion of the famous Sella River Descent in Asturias.
He was the overall champion in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2009.
CHANGES IN LIGHTING REGULATIONS
The European Commission regulation announced the cessation of manufacturing and subsequent marketing of incandescent lamps, setting September 1, 2009, as the deadline, in accordance with ErP Directive 244/2009.
Subsequently, halogen lamps were phased out in 2013, and their manufacturing ceased.
LAST MANUFACTURED LAMPS
The last incandescent bulbs to leave our production lines were in 2009, and the manufacturing of halogen lamps progressively ceased until 2013, when our production fully concluded.
QUALITY CONTROL
LAES has ceased manufacturing, but the quality control department continues its operations. All products sold undergo the necessary inspections as if they had been manufactured in-house, as of 2014.
FACILITY RELOCATION
LÁMPARAS Especiales relocated from the warehouses on Ctra. de Molins de Rei a Rubí Km 8.2 to its current location at Calle Roma nº20 in the Cova Solera industrial estate.
LAES, “Beyond Lamp Supply”
In early 2018, we celebrated our 60th anniversary in the market, and our CEO, Jose Maria Sierra, son of the founder, true to LAES's philosophy and prestige, announced that the company's evolution would shift from selling products to offering lighting solutions.
After two years of testing to find the right product, prescribing our brand, and offering our engineering services, we can now affirm that LAES is no longer just a leading company in bulb sales, but rather one of the leading companies in lighting solutions.
Since then, our progress has been unstoppable; we offer comprehensive lighting solutions (project design, luminaires, integration of light into architecture, and control systems, programming, and commissioning).
The transformation into LAES is now a reality.
PASSING OF THE FOUNDER
On September 26, 2019, José María Sierra Ruiz, the founder and soul of the company, passed away.
NEW LAES IMAGE
After overcoming the pandemic and recovering our sales levels, LAES is refreshing its brand image, updating its catalog, website, and logo.
Since 2018, with our new strategy of transitioning from selling products to providing complete lighting solutions, our progress has been unstoppable.
The transformation of LAES has become a reality!