History that gave us light

This year, Philips company celebrated 125 years. On this occasion, we tell Neskuchniy company's history: from coal bulb to smart lighting. Why Philips almost closed, the Dutch Peter conquered and what awaits us in the future - in our article.

How it all began

In the yard in 1891. After the commercial introduction of electricity, people needed a lot of light bulbs. Then an enterprising inventor Gerard Philips has decided to establish a company named after himself for the production of tubes with a carbon filament. Under the department adapted the small building, brought the necessary equipment and started production. At first stars in the sky is not enough: in the factory were employed a dozen people, is available in a day, about 200 lamps. About a large profit out of the question, but Gerard believed in his cause.

But things could be different

However, three years later it sunk pougas. The company turned out to be unprofitable, and Gerard decided to get rid of it. I found a single buyer, who offered a meager price that offended Gerard Philips abandoned the sale. He decided to show all that capable, expanded production and risked Philips bring to the world market.

And he succeeded. Over the next ten years the production of Phillips grew 20 times and picked up to an impressive four million. In many respects this success he owes to his younger brother Anton Philips.

Adventure Dutch in Russia

To conquer the world entrusted to his younger brother Gerard Anton Philips. The guy just turned 21, but he coped with the global expansion. In 1898, Anton arrived in St. Petersburg, where he miraculously got a contract for 50 thousand coal lamps for the Winter Palace. How it happened? Why did you choose an unknown young man from the provinces of the Dutch, not German suppliers with factories and steamboats, is unclear. But it was the first victory of Philips in the global arena.

With this contract, it not only managed to get a huge profit, but also great opportunities. In 1914 the company opened its representative office on Nevsky Prospect, right next door at the Admiralty. In Russia, selling over two million lamps a year.

1906. It's time to tungsten lamps

There was a low carbon lamps light output, so Philips has decided to replace them with tungsten. In a tungsten filament, a higher melting point, and therefore, it can be heated to higher temperatures (your CEP). This feature is allowed to increase the light output.

1912. Corporation Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken

Gerard and Anton combine their factory in a corporation with an unpronounceable name Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken, which translated means "The company for the production of incandescent light bulbs Philips». Short and original. The company is actively expanding and by April 1922 had more than 5500 employees.

1914. Give a large selection

Tungsten lamps in demand, but it was not enough. So we think in Philips, and established a research laboratory in the walls of which had to figure out how to expand the line. So there were mismatched lamps for lighting houses, streets and cars.

1919. The biggest lamp in the world

Philips creates a king-lamp capacity of 25,000 watts and a diameter of about one meter. Hulk installed on the lighthouse and give an appropriate name - "Goliath."

1923. Dawn of neon advertisement

Philips took up the outdoor advertising. The company introduced the neon tube - flexible colored lamps, from which you can make the letters, and the letters to form words.

1980. Represented fluorescent lamp

Represented fluorescent lamp - the most energy-efficient solution for home at the time. And after 10 years, will start the production of recycled fluorescent lamps with low mercury content.

1999. The era of light-emitting diodes

The world saw the first LED lamp. No filament yarns and gas, the light is obtained at the expense of the flow of charged particles through the semiconductor device. In addition, LED bulbs are not as voracious. To date, Philips is leading the development of LED technology.

2007. Dress mood

"Why not put LEDs in clothing?" - once thought to Philips. It so happened Bubelle dress that changes color and pattern depending on the mood. All thanks to a bunch of biometric sensors and LEDs fixed on the dress.

year 2009. Developed OLED lamp

The next step was the development of organic light-emitting diode lamps (OLED). They provide uniform illumination, have a very fine structure and can take the very unusual shape. All this gives almost unlimited possibilities for use.

2011. Smart Light from Philips

It's time intelligent light. Philips has created an integrated lighting system (connected lighting). They can be programmed for a variety of lighting scenarios and control color. In addition, the innovative system was introduced City Touch, which can be used to control the lighting in the entire city with a single remote.

2011. interactive wall

In the same year, Philips showed Luminous Textile - we can say, smart wallpaper. It is a system of light panels, penetrated programmable LEDs. The panels are made of fabric and is passed extraneous sounds. But most importantly, that they can broadcast content. I would not give up such a system at home.

year 2012. Intelligent light bulbs Philips Hue

Philips continues to develop the idea of ​​an intelligent light, presenting popular bulbs Philips Hue. They are able to reproduce the full spectrum of colors and all shades of white. Bulb can be networked, customized with different color schemes. All of these can be controlled by devices on Android, iOS, or even Apple Watch.

year 2013. Light air will improve

Philips took part in an interesting experiment. Koningstunnel tunnel in The Hague was painted with special paint, cleaning the air. This effect occurs due to fluorescent light, which provided Philips. As a result, all automotive emissions are neutralized, and the air is cleaner.

year 2014. LED carpet will not get lost

The company has developed a smart pad Luminous Carpet. It integrated LEDs that can be programmed for different purposes. For example, use them to convey information or to use for navigation in the buildings, why not.

2016. The infinity and beyond

Now Philips in conjunction with the University of Arizona develops energy-efficient ways to grow plants on Mars and the Moon. Studies have already bore fruit: it was found that sodium-vapor lamp with water cooling great influence on leaf lettuce. And energy is consumed slightly.

Here is a rich history of the company, which is more than a century gives light to the world. Her inventions make our lives more comfortable and lighter. The time has come Internet of thingsAnd the integration of light with this system will allow us to completely different to interact with the surrounding world.