Koehler BrightStar - The best intrinsically safe flashlight
Koehler and Bright Star were originally two separate companies, each founded 100 years ago. Now, operating together as Koehler BrightStar, LLC, the company’s commitment to safety is as steadfast now as its predecessors were a century ago. Bright Star was founded in 1909 as a battery manufacturer. In the 1930’s Bright Star developed and produced the first plastic safety certified flashlight for use in hazardous locations. Koehler has a long, accomplished tradition in the design and development of batteries and lamps for mine safety. Founded in 1912, Koehler manufactured the first naptha-burning safety light ever approved by the U.S. Bureau of Mines for explosive coal mining atmospheres. In 1918 Koehler developed the first electric, rechargeable cap lamp. Koehler went on to develop the world’s first Lithium Ion powered cap lamp, which continued to provide the most reliable light in the marketplace. Koehler Bright Star continues to develop and manufacture innovative lighting products for those who work underground, in manufacturing and power plants, on the water, and wherever they are needed to assist those in challenging environments. Located in Hanover Township, Pennsylvania, Koehler BrightStar is a member of the Marmon/Berkshire Hathaway Company; part of an international association of manufacturing and service companies which consists of over 150 autonomously run business units, located in 300 facilities in 22 countries with 17,000 employees.
