Siemens’ Solar-Lighting Business Sold to Hong Kong Firm

Siemens Solar Industries, a Camarillo firm that for years has claimed to be the world’s leading supplier of solar-energy products, has sold its solar-lighting business to a Hong Kong company that formerly manufactured outdoor lights and other items for Siemens.

Terms of the sale weren’t disclosed, but a Siemens Solar spokeswoman said the Hong Kong firm, Alpan Products Ltd., has acquired about 10% of Siemens’ business. Alpan was joined by an unnamed Hong Kong investor in purchasing the rights to manufacture and market Siemens’ solar-lighting products. As part of the deal, Siemens Solar will supply solar cells that will be used to power Alpan’s products.

Alpan has established a U.S. subsidiary, Alpan Inc., that will operate the newly acquired unit. The new firm is headquartered on Constitution Avenue in Camarillo.

A Siemens Solar representative said no jobs will be lost as a result of the transaction. Siemens Solar is part of the international solar operations of Siemens AG, the German electronics giant. The Camarillo firm has about 325 employees, down from 400 several years ago.

The local Siemens unit, which in recent years has upgraded its production systems in an effort to improve profitability, will retain its core business--the production and worldwide marketing of solar cells and modules.

The ultra-thin units collect the sun’s energy to power outdoor lights, lanterns, security lighting systems and other consumer items. The units also are used in supplying power to communities worldwide that are not part of traditional grids.

Siemens prefers to concentrate on improving its cells and modules and on developing its solar-power delivery systems, said Siemens spokeswoman Susan Shaw.

In the past, Alpan manufactured some of Siemens’ lights and lanterns in factories in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and other Far East locations. Alpan also markets its own brand of solar-powered lights worldwide. Alpan has hired the managers and other employees of Siemens’ retail products group, including former Siemens sales manager Phil Lerch and former marketing executive Marilyn Palmer.

Palmer said she and her co-workers will conduct worldwide marketing and distribution of the former Siemens products from Camarillo. As part of the purchase, the Hong Kong company also acquired a Siemens warehouse in San Fernando, she reported.

“Since Alpan already was producing many of Siemens’ products, its factories will simply continue turning them out as they have in the past,” Palmer said.

Siemens purchased its Camarillo plant from Atlantic Richfield Co. in 1990. Less than three years later, Siemens filed a lawsuit charging that Arco had fraudulently misrepresented the operation’s commercial viability.

The lawsuit has not yet been resolved, Shaw said.