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£500k investment boosts Middlesbrough lighting control business

Middlesbrough-based amBX (UK) has received a £500k boost from North East investors Tiger Corporate Finance (‘TCF’), to further develop and commercialise its digital lighting technology.

The company, which is a spin-out from multinational company Philips in Holland, has developed a patented software which allows intelligent and interactive control of coloured LED lighting.

The company owns, develops and delivers lighting control technology for clients worldwide, across a range of commercial sectors.

The growth of the business is being led by the senior team at amBX, comprising of Keith Taylor (Chairman), John Niebel (CEO), Neil MacDonald (COO), David Eves (CTO) and Richard Cole (Development Director), all of whom have vast experience within the sector.

TCF, advised by lawyers at Watson Burton, led the deal with Northstar Ventures co-investing from the Finance for Business North East Accelerator Fund. The syndicate also introduced new investors, The ESRG Group.

Led by ex-Rugby Union international Tony Copsey, The ESRG Group which is based in Hertfordshire, has completed one other investment deal in the North East and is working with TCF on another technology commercialisation opportunity.

John Niebel said: “Our relationship with Cisco, the leading player in Connected Lighting, is growing ever stronger. With Cisco’s Light as a Service (LaaS) project at the University of Strathclyde we were instrumental in the first true Power over Ethernet (PoE) Lighting system in Europe. The ‘no programming’ model of amBX used here will revolutionise the controls world when launched for use in large commercial buildings.”

The technology itself is protected by 46 associated design patents.

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