Grote Introduces LightForm, the World's First Flexible LED Lighting Film
at 2009 SEMA Show

Thinnest, Most Flexible LED Lighting Product on the Planet Enhances Creativity, Making Amazing Custom Lighting Schemes a Cool New Realitye

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (November 3, 2009) — Grote Industries introduced the first commercially available versions of its new LightForm flexible LED lighting film technology during a press conference at the 2009 SEMA Show today.

“At less than 1 millimeter thick, LightForm flexible LED lighting film enables users to quickly and easily install LED lighting in tight spaces that were previously inaccessible to vehicle lighting and can even be sewn into fabric,” said vice president of sales and marketing, John Grote. “Now customizers and restylers can achieve fantastic interior and exterior LED lighting effects that were simply unthinkable before today.”

Grote explained that the new commercialized LightForm flexible LED lighting film is ultra thin and ultra pliable, allowing users to bend lighting around corners, over contoured areas and into complicated shapes. He noted that LightForm can be folded, cut to fit while lit and can slide into the narrowest crevices and between panels and trim. LightForm also enables users to achieve edge lighting effects that are as bright at one end as they are at the other, and when used with light diffusing film, eliminates the hotspots and bright points of light that are so often associated with traditional edge lighting methods.

Members of the media had their first chance to see an illuminated sheet of the transparent, paper-thin LightForm, as samples were passed around the afternoon press conference. Examples of the newly commercialized LightForm strips were also examined by the audience.

LightForm flexible LED strips come in power strips and extension strips and each power strip can illuminate up to two extension strips.

Each LightForm flexible LED strip measures 10 inches (254 mm) long, 0.5 inches (12.7 mm) wide and is less than 1 millimeter thick. LightForm flexible LED strips are expandable; up to three, 10-inch segments can be connected, providing up to 30 inches (762 mm) of red, amber, green or blue LED lighting. The strips come with an easy peel-and-stick adhesive backing that sticks to virtually any clean surface.

“The marketplace is extremely receptive to this product concept and is ready to apply it to a wide variety of vehicles,” Grote said, citing a recent study of the restyling market conducted by Grote Industries. “A vast majority of restylers responded favorably or very favorably to the product, and marine, motorcycle and trucking uses were singled out in addition to automotive applications.” Grote said that virtually 99 percent of respondents thought that a significant market exists for LightForm.

Grote pointed out that, as a global leader in the vehicle and transportation lighting industry, Grote Industries understands the demands placed on both interior and exterior vehicle lighting products. He said that in preparing LightForm for exterior applications, Grote engineers subjected the product to a rigorous battery of stress tests including salt baths, extreme humidity, heat and cold.

Grote’s comments regarding the products ruggedness led to one of the more dramatic moments of the press conference, as he took a lit sample out of a container of water and after cutting it with a pair of scissors, began administering blows with a ball-pein hammer.

“LightForm flexible LED lighting film is manufactured in the United States,” Grote said. “The assembly process is based on patented technology that requires advanced, state-of-the-art engineering, equipment and manufacturing capabilities.”

“LightForm is the first branded product of its kind and is backed by over a century of Grote’s experience and integrity,” Grote added. “So, whether you’re putting LightForm on a car, boat, motorcycle, truck, RV or something more exotic, you can rest assured that Grote has engineered it for top performance.”

Editor’s Note:
Grote Industries is a family-owned company and is QS-9000, TS16949 and ISO 14001 certified. The leading manufacturer and marketer of vehicle safety systems products, Grote Industries engineers and manufactures LED, fluorescent and incandescent lamps, mirrors, wiring systems, turn signal switches, connection accessories and reflective accessories. For more than 108 years, Grote has provided state-of-the-art solutions for OEM and aftermarket customers worldwide. Headquartered in Madison, Indiana, USA, Grote also maintains locations in Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia.

Documents and/or Photos available for this release:

LightForm is a trademark of Grote Industries. Cut-To-Fit is a trademark of Grote Industries.

LightForm Images:

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The World's First Flexible Lighting “Film”: At less than 1 millimeter thick, LightForm™ is a highly advanced, thin-film, solid-state lighting device that enables users to put LED light in tight spaces and unique places that were previously inaccessible to lighting.

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LightForm™ flexible LED lighting film is ultra thin and ultra pliable and allows you to bend lighting around corners, over contoured areas and into complicated shapes.

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Now customizers and restylers can easily achieve dramatic new lighting effects because LightForm™ flexible LED lighting film can create luminous spaces, dazzling backlit focal points and razor-thin lighting that boggles the mind.

http://grote.com/images/mediaimages/LF-Mustange-FinalIndy.jpg Because LightForm™ flexible LED lighting film is water and weather resistant, you can install it on both the inside and outside of your vehicle.

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LightForm™ flexible LED lighting film is water and weather resistant.

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You can cut LightForm™ flexible LED lighting film to precise measurements even while it's lit, allowing you to quickly and easily modify effects during the installation process.

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So thin - you can fit LightForm™ flexible LED lighting film into crevices and between panels and trim to achieve edge lighting effects that are as bright at one end as they are at the other.

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As a highly flexible film of LED lighting, LightForm™ can be slid, tucked and squeezed into virtually any location; and its peel-and-stick adhesive backing allows semi-permanent installation on any clean, dry surface.

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