About WLS Lighting Systems

In the early 1970’s, WLS was manufacturing steel poles and began providing lighting direct to auto dealers and shopping center developers. At the time, High Intensity Discharge lamps (like mercury vapor lamps) were much more energy efficient than all else. It was during that time that mercury vapor lamps begin their rise in popularity.

In the 1980’s lighting technology moved forward to Metal Halide lamps, which were a type of HID lighting with an increased efficiency. WLS Lighting’s projects included replacing mercury vapor with metal halide. Metal Halide (MH) lamps were very similar to mercury vapor but were able to produce a much better quality and higher output of white light.

In 1981, Dean Pritchard became a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Organization. Later that year, WLS would be exhibiting at the very first ICSC RECon Convention. Dean and a few colleagues dressed up in their best Western attire, cowboy hats and all, to bring the best of Texas to Las Vegas, Nevada. WLS Lighting’s first trip to Vegas was taken by car with everything for the booth packed up in tow.

Today, WLS Lighting will be exhibiting for the 38th year at ICSC RECon in Las Vegas. Needless to say, the convention is now one of the largest hosted at the Las Vegas Convention Center and sees over 35,000 attendees. After 38 years of exhibiting in Vegas, there are thousands of stories to tell, but what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!

In 1993, Dean officially rebranded WLS as a full-service commercial lighting systems manufacturer and designer. It was the beginning of introducing new technologies and a new way to do business. WLS was the first company to work closely with developers designing and selling lighting direct.

At this time, Metal Halide lamps still dominated the market and peaked in growth in 2005. In 2009, WLS created the first wireless controller and remote monitoring system for shopping centers called netLiNK Controls.

LED lighting technology had been around for decades, but LED Lighting was not yet widely accepted nor was it perfected for commercial uses. It wasn’t until 2010 when WLS would begin work on LED upgrades for the commercial real estate and shopping center industry. WLS finally saw the industry wide switch and acceptance to LED lighting in 2015.

Today, WLS works and designs almost exclusively with LED lighting products and systems. Over 6,500 shopping centers later, WLS is still family owned and growing every day. WLS Lighting Systems has been in the lighting industry for over 50 years and continues to be a leader in lighting and site lighting controls. netLiNK Controls now has over 500 installations nationwide.