USE: ‘Germany has had a strange year with lighting regulation changes’

How’s business?
Growing healthily. Since the launch of Exposure Lights nearly a decade ago the company has gone through a number of major transitions. In the last four years the need for space has quadrupled which has now led to the completion of a new purpose- built factory six miles down the road to the foot of Bury Hill. This brings all the elements of the business back under one roof with a bigger improved machine shop at the heart of the company, offices and design studio overlooking production with views across the hills and updated assembly areas to ensure quality is easily maintained.

How big is the cycle side of the business compared to Marine?
Marine is in its infancy, but with Olympic medallists and World Champions racing with the lights there’s no better test bed to ensure they will continue the market leading achievements of Exposure Lights. The latest lights are embarking on the Volvo Ocean Race with the crew of the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing Team, among others.

How is the export business now?
The export business is looking good and soon to increase. There are a number of key markets in Europe and Asia that desire the British manufacturing and quality of USE hardware. Lighting continues to grow internationally with Australia and the USA being the biggest markets. Germany has had a strange year with regulation changes of cycle lighting, but it is now in a good place to exceed previous years.

What are the key new launches from USE that the trade should know about?
We’re just about to launch our EVO91, a lightweight seatpost that goes back to the original USE design from 1991. It’s undergone a lot of development, so is again at the forefront of seatpost design and it will soon be turned into a Shokpost.

And for Exposure?
Reflex Technology spreads even further into the range and there are new additions of OLED displays, Capacitive Switching and TAP mode change.

How can the trade get in touch?
info@use1.co.uk or 01798 839 300 and our new address is, Ultimate Sports Engineering Ltd, Bury Mill Farm, Bury, Pulborough,W. Sussex, RH20 1NN