Ashington manufacturer Raytec upbeat about future following sales growth

The Wansbeck Business Park firm has issued new accounts showing its performance

Industrial lighting maker Raytec says the outlook looks “extremely positive” amid an increase in turnover.

The Ashington-based manufacturer, which employs close to 100 people in the town, says there is increasing global demand of its low-energy and low-maintenance LED lighting systems. New accounts for the Japanese-owned business, which specialises in lighting for hazardous areas, lighting for video surveillance, lighting for the transport sector and heavy industrial lighting, show sales grew 8.3% to £18.7m, from £17.3m in 2025.

Operating profits fell slightly from £2.8m to £2.6m as pre-tax profits grew from £3.05m to £3.2m. Ordinary dividends of £1.89m were paid during the year.

Raytec describes itself as a world leader in LED lighting for security and safety, with a focus on smart and connected lighting products fed by ongoing research and development efforts. It supplies products to international markets through a network of distributors, a US subsidiary and directly to other manufacturers with exports accounting for about 67% of sales.

Its main markets are Europe (52%), the Middle East (6%), America (19%) Oceania (11%) and the Far East (12%). The firm said it had grown its product portfolio during 2025 through investment, which is expected to benefit 2026 sales.

In November last year, it was announced Raytec had acquired Finnish portable lighting specialist Atexor. The Espoo-based business brought 21 staff to Raytec’s operation and strengthened its position, with Raytec bosses saying at the time that the move brought enhanced research and development capabilities and a wider support network.

Atexor, which was founded in the early 1980s, provides products used across the oil and gas, petrochemical and manufacturing sectors. It continues to operate as an independent company and brand following the acquisition.

Writing in the 2025 Raytec Limited accounts, managing director David Lambert said: “The company’s sales increased by 8.3% year-on-year and the long-term business outlook remaining extremely positive, with increasing global demand for high performance, low energy, low maintenance LED illuminators across the specialist niche markets in which the business operates.

“Year-on-year, sales have increased to £18.7m (2024: £17.3m) generating profit before tax of £3.2m (2024: £3m). The company has continued to strengthen its product portfolio through 2025 through investment in research and development and expects new products to contribute significantly to sales in 2026.”