Presentation

THORN Airfield Lighting (THORN AFL) is the specialised division of the SAFEGATE Group for the design and manufacturing of Airfield Ground Lighting equipment to cover the needs of airports and heliports worldwide. THORN Airfield Lighting is able to provide a wide range of services to its customers, from the supply of equipment to turnkey projects.

Design, production, after-sale and distribution are ISO 9001 certified. Products not only comply with the latest standards and requirements (ICAO, FAA, IEC, STAC, STANAG, CENELEC, CAP168, MAK), they go beyond to offer more safety and user friendly solutions.

THORN Airfield Lighting solutions include :

     - Airfield Ground Lighting

     - Guidance Signs

     - Airfield Power Equipment and Accessories

     - Control and Monitoring Systems

     - Heliport and Helipad Lighting

     - Obstruction Lighting

     - Monitoring Systems for ASMGCS

     - Docking Systems

THORN Airfield Lighting is a member of the SAFEGATE Group, world leader in :

     - Docking Guidance Systems (DGCS),

     - Advanced Surface Movement Guidance Control Systems (ASMGCS),

     - AFL Control & Monitoring Systems (CMS) and equipments.

History

1920 : HOLOPHANE, a company specialised in glass production is born.

1930 : HOLOPHANE starts to produce complete luminaires.

1953 : HOLOPHANE designs and produces its first airfield lighting inset fitting the “F 3”.

1965 : HOLOPHANE proposes a complete set of AFL inset fitting in aluminium casting.

1968 : Opening of a new factory in LES ANDELYS dedicated to production of luminaires.

1984 : Creation of EUROPHANE, part of HOLOPHANE, specialised in luminaires.

1988 : THORN EMI  buys EUROPHANE and creates THORN-EUROPHANE.

1989 : Design and production of airfield lighting are concentrated in LES ANDELYS factory.

1989 : THORN produces a dichroic-coated reflector lamp dedicated to airfield lighting.

1989 : Design of the first AFL light fitting equipped with a reflector lamp.

1991 : THORN buys MAZDA-PHILIPS airfield lighting activity.

1994 : Design of a new “low projection” range for runway and taxiway (IN family).

1998 : Design of a new “very low projection” rangef for runway (INL family).

2002 : Design of a new “very low projection” range for taxiway (ILP family).

2002 : FAA Certification of THORN Fittings.

2003 : Design of a new taxiway range using LED.

2006 : MAK certification of THORN Fittings.

2006 : THORN Airfield Lighting division is acquired by the SAFEGATE Group.

2007 : Launch of the first intelligent LED taxiway light (SafeLED IQ).

2009 : SAFEGATE Group acquires Idman AFL.

Thorn Airfield Lighting technical staff members have been trained and recruited from the aviation industry, and therefore have an in-depth knowledge of the airfield lighting industry. They are familiar with current rules and recommendations, ICAO, FAA, and  NATO specifications standards, as well as relevant national standards. With their knowledge and experience they can assist your organisation to deliver the standard or work required by the aviation industry.

Where appropriate we can supply project management, qualified experience tradesmen and engineering services to support airfield lighting facilities.