| 1874 |
Ludvig R. Poulsen sets up a wine importing business under the name Kjøbenhavns direkte Vin-Import-Kompagni (The Copenhagen Direct Wine Import Company). The firm closes down in 1878.
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| 1891 |
Denmark's first electric power station opens in Odense.
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| 1892 |
Denmark's second power station opens in central Copenhagen, and Ludvig R. Poulsen opens his second business, this time selling tools and electrical supplies.
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| 1896 |
Ludvig R. Poulsen hires his nephew, Louis Poulsen.
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| 1906 |
Ludvig R. Poulsen dies. His nephew Louis takes over the business and, two years later, moves it to Nyhavn 11, which is still the domicile of the company's headoffice today.
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| 1911 |
Sophus Kaastrup-Olsen becomes a partner in the firm, whose name is changed to Louis Poulsen & Co.
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| 1914 |
Louis Poulsen & Co. publishes its first catalogue - featuring machines and tools.
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| 1917 |
Sophus Kaastrup-Olsen buys Louis Poulsen's share in the firm for 10,000 Danish kroner and becomes the sole owner of Louis Poulsen & Co (Louis Poulsen).
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| 1918 |
The industrial and agricultural sectors are utilising electricity to an increasing degree: Louis Poulsen's turnover exceeds five million kroner.
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| 1924 |
| Designer Poul Henningsen begins working together with Louis Poulsen with a view to taking part in an international exhibition for decorative art to be held in Paris called "Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs & Industriels Modernes". A competition is held to find qualified participants: Henningsen is one of the winners. |
Poul Henningsen |
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| 1925 |
Poul Henningsen's lamps win a gold medal at the exhibition.
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| 1926 |
Louis Poulsen and Poul Henningsen are awarded a contract to provide lighting for the newly constructed Forum building in Copenhagen using the now-legendary PH lamp with three shades.
Louis Poulsen starts marketing light fittings, and its first lighting catalogue is published with descriptions in Danish, German, English and French.
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| 1929 |
Louis Poulsen distributes Henningsen's lamps through agents abroad in most of Europe and in North and South America, Africa and Asia.
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| 1933 |
The first wholesale electrical supplies business opens in Jutland (Denmark).
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| 1938 |
Sophus Kaastrup-Olsen dies and Emun Rager becomes managing director.
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| 1939 |
Louis Poulsen & Co. becomes a limited company: Louis Poulsen & Co. A/S.
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| 1941 |
Louis Poulsen & Co. A/S acquires the Laurits Henriksen metal goods factory in Copenhagen and becomes a manufacturer of lighting fittings.
The first issue of LP-NYT is published with Poul Henningsen as editor.
Henningsen designs a blackout lamp for the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen which allows the Gardens to stay open until midnight: the light from the lamps cannot be seen from aeroplanes flying over the city.
 Tivoli 1941
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| 1958 |
The PH5 lamp is launched: the 5 in its name refers to its 50 cm diameter.
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| 1959 |
Louis Poulsen's new building at Sluseholmen in Copenhagen is inaugurated. It will be used for fluorescent lamp assembly and as a warehouse for electrical supplies.
Jens Kaastrup-Olsen is appointed managing director.
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| 1962 |
The first lighting subsidiary outside Denmark is set up in Western Germany.
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| 1964 |
The wholesale sales division grows with the acquisition of A/S Classen-Smidth, who provides Louis Poulsen with branches in Odense and Vejle.
A lighting subsidiary is established in France.
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| 1965 |
The Laurits Henriksen metal goods factory changes its name to Elpefa A/S.
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| 1967 |
The partnership I/S El-Salg is founded.
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| 1969 |
Elpefa A/S moves to a new factory building at Sluseholmen and takes over all production and assembly of fixtures and fittings.
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| 1975 |
A lighting subsidiary is set up in Sweden.
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| 1976 |
Hans Cordes is appointed managing director after the death of Jens Kaastrup-Olsen.
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| 1977 |
The metal goods manufacturer Elpefa A/S merges with Louis Poulsen.
Louis Poulsen class B shares are quoted on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange for the first time.
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| 1978 |
The wholesale electrical supplies warehousing function moves from Sluseholmen to two new locations outside Copenhagen. The old warehouse building is converted for production use.
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| 1981 |
Louis Poulsen purchases the S.C. Sørensen company's wholesale electrical supplies division, thereby taking over eight wholesale electrical supplies outlets.
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| 1984 |
The trade and engineering firm Elpefa Handels- og Ingeniørfirma A/S is founded.
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| 1985 |
A lighting subsidiary in the USA, a wholesale electrical supplies business in the Faroe Islands, and JO-EL A/S are set up.
 Louis Poulsen Lighting, Inc.
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| 1987 |
A lighting subsidiary in Norway is established.
Louis Poulsen Group sales pass the 1 billion Danish kroner mark.
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| 1988 |
Lighting subsidiaries are set up in the Netherlands and Australia.
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| 1989 |
Louis Poulsen purchases Skandia Havemann's El A/S, thereby acquiring 16 wholesale electrical supplies outlets.
A lighting subsidiary is founded in Finland.
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| 1990 |
The subsidiary Lightmakers A/S and a lighting subsidiary in Switzerland are established.
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| 1991 |
Louis Poulsen founds its first wholesale electrical supplies subsidiary abroad: in Berlin, Germany.
A lighting subsidiary is set up in Japan.
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| 1994 |
Poul Henningsen would have turned 100 years old on 9 September of this year. Louis Poulsen & Co. A/S celebrates the occasion by publishing a book on the history of the PH lamp, by recreating the PH table lamp and TREPH pendant of the late 1920s, and by arranging an exhibition of old PH lamps at the Museum of Decorative Art (Kunstindustrimuseet) in Copenhagen.
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| 1995 |
The wholesale electrical supplies division sets up sales departments in Horsens and Herning, both in Denmark.
The wholesale electrical supplies division establishes Louis Poulsen Kommunikation and Louis Poulsen Datalinien. The Louis Poulsen factory at Sluseholmen introduces a quality management system which receives ISO 9001 certification.
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| 1997 |
In January 1997, Louis Poulsen Lighting Division became the first lighting business in Denmark and one of the first in Europe to receive environmental certification according to British Standard BS7750.
Louis Poulsen is winding up its wholesale operations in Berlin as of the end of April 1997.
Erik Holm has been appointed President.
In November, Louis Poulsen acquired the UK company Outdoor Lighting (OLS) Ltd. The OLS range af specialty floodlights, spotlights and recessed lighting will extend and supplement Louis Poulsen's outdoor lighting programme. The new company will be Louis Poulsen's platform for sales and marketing projects in the UK. |
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| 1998 |
The measuring instrument division of Elpefa A/S is established as an independent limited company under the name of ELMA A/S. The electrical supplies division is acquired by Norsk Elektroteknikk ASA and Nordisk Elektroteknik AB.
The PH 5 luminaire has now existed for 40 years - we celebrate this anniversary by launching a special anniversary model.
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| 1999 |
Louis Poulsen acquire the data electronics wholesalers MCOM in Sweden and Estonia.
The Louis Poulsen 125 jubilee is commemorated by an international design competition for architectural students as well as festivities for employees and business relations all over the world. To mark the occasion, for a limited period of time the company markets a chandelier designed by Poul Henningsen, the Bombardment Chandelier, originally found in the Louis Poulsen product range from the early 30s until the 60s. Within a period of two months, 10,000 Bombardment Chandeliers are sold. |
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| 2000 |
The previous class "A" shareholders and the new owners of the Louis Poulsen Group enter into an agreement regarding a new Danish light foundation, the Sophus Fund. Every year, the fund distributes DKK 500,000 in support of experimental and artistic lighting projects.
Louis Poulsen Lighting A/S marks the beginning of an entirely new retailing concept and the establishment of special stores - LPL centre - in the Danish department store Illums Bolighus and the Ingvard Christensen furniture stores in Vejle and Esbjerg, respectively. In addition, approximately 60 shop-in-shop stores were established at retail outlets across Denmark.
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| 2001 |
Louis Poulsen Lighting A/S sells its subsidiary in Sydney, Australia which then becomes one of Louis Poulsen Lighting's distributors. The innovative pendant, LP Charisma, developed by Louis Poulsen Lighting A/S in cooperation with PLH Design is awarded the Danish Design Award 2001 in the category »product design/building and the workplace«.
To mark the centenary of the birth of Arne Jacobsen, Fritz Hansen and Louis Poulsen Lighting A/S introduce a limited and numbered birthday package comprising 3 pieces black-lazured Ant chairs, 1 black-lazured egg-shaped table as well as the Stelling glass pendant. In total, 2,066 birthday packages were sold during the period 11 February until 21 May. |
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| 2002 |
With its head office in Hilden near Düsseldorf, Louis Poulsen & Co. GmbH celebrates its 40th anniversary. The subsidiary, Light Makers A/S takes over the marketing of Zumtobel Staff's products and discontinues the cooperation with the German lighting manufacturer ERCO.
The pendant, LP Charisma, receives a design award which is awarded by Chicago Athenaeum, Museum of Architecture and Design.
Louis Poulsen Lighting A/S receives »The Golden Nail«, which is awarded by the Danish National Association for Building and is motivated by Louis Poulsen Lighting's long-time work with functional lighting for indoor and outdoor use.
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| 2003 |
Louis Poulsen Lighting A/S signs a cooperation agreement with Martin Professional A/S, which gives Louis Poulsen Lighting A/S the sole rights to market Martin Professional A/S' architectural products in Scandinavia.
Louis Poulsen Lighting is awarded the »Copenhagen Environmental Network Diploma« by the EPA Copenhagen. The diploma is awarded to companies that achieve real environmental improvements.
The fixture Q, designed by Seedorf Design is nominated for the »red dot design « which is awarded by Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen.
In Paris, the Moser pendant receives the French design prize, »Coup de Coeur«.
Amongst 200 participants, Louis Poulsen El-teknik A/S achieves 2nd place in the year's e-trade award.
On 26 October, Louis Poulsen Lighting launches the pendant Enigma, designed by the Japanese designer Shoichi Uchiyama. Before the end of 2003, approximately 2300 units of the new pendant are sold.
Enigma wins the iF (International Forum Design) award among 1,630 submissions from companies in 32 countries.
Danish design connection sees the light of day - a cooperation between some of the heavyweights in the Danish design sector and The Danish Cultural Institute in Germany. »connection« used in this context, stands for the joint cultural consciousness about design and architecture that exists in Denmark.
In November, Louis Poulsen Lighting launches a Louis Poulsen Collection product, PH 2/1 Stem Fitting - a type of lamp that was in production in the 1930's where it was available with a varied number of lamps and levels. 9000 units of the numbered PH 2/1 Stem Fittings, manufactured in burnished brass, were sold within the two-month offer period. In autumn 2005, the PH Stem Fitting will be launched as a standard product manufactured in chrome-plated brass. |
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| 2004 |
Louis Poulsen Lighting, Fritz Hansen, Royal Copenhagen and B&O cooperate on an exhibition in Tokyo on the occasion of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe's official visit to Japan in November. The exhibition titled »Styling Danish Life« is created by the world-famous architect Tadao Ando.
Enigma 425 is awarded the design prize iF Design 2004 in Germany.
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| 2005 |
Louis Poulsen Lighting informs both internally and externally that the company's production in Copenhagen is moving to Vejen in Jutland. The relocation will take place in stages and must be completed by the end of 2005. The relocation means the dismissal of 180 employees but all of them will be offered re-employment at the new factory. The reason for the relocation is that the plans for the development of the local area around the factory at Sluseholmen do not make the renovations and adjustments to the old factory realistic so that the demands and needs for rational and profitable production of lamps in the future can be accommodated.
Louis Poulsen Lighting participates in Expo 2005 in Aichi, Japan. »Northern Light« is exhibited in the Nordic Pavilion - a lighting installation in cooperation with Peter Bysted Design. Furthermore, the pavilion is illuminated by a number of light fittings from Louis Poulsen Lighting's standard range.
On 10 March, the Campbell pendant, designed by Louise Campbell receives the iF Product Gold Design Award which is awarded once a year at the Hanover Trade Fair in Germany.
Peter Thorsen is appointed CEO of Louis Poulsen Lighting A/S.
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| 2006 |
Louis Poulsen gathers its activities at one address, Gammel Strand 28, on Zealand, which, following a major rebuilding is opened as the company’s new head quarters. The house boasts a showroom and a light studio.
Enigma 825 is awarded the design prize iF Design 2007 in Germany. Enigma 825 is exhibited at the 2007 iF Design Exhibition in Hannover.
The inground fixture IPR14 wins first prize for lighting design at the FX Awards 2006, established by British design magazine FX.
Louis Poulsen USA co-organises the Scandinavian design exhibition in Los Angeles.
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| 2007 |
Louis Poulsen exhibits for the first time at Euroluce in Milan.
Louis Poulsen launches the LP Hint post designed by Helena Tatjana Eliason, the downlight fixture Teherani designed by Hadi Teherani, the spotlight fixture Transair designed by Ross Lovegrove and the Flindt series designed by Christian Flindt.
Louis Poulsen, Fritz Hansen, Royal Copenhagen, Bang & Olufsen and Georg Jensen co-organise the exhibition IKON at the Storefront gallery in New York. Exhibition curator is Jonas Harz. The exhibition is part of the export campaign Creative Nation.
Louis Poulsen Lighting is acquired by Italian lighting company Targetti Sankey SpA headquartered in Florence.
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| 2008 |
The IKON exhibition wins silver at the Creative Circle Award in the design category Corporate Identity.
Three PH fixtures celebrate their 50th anniversary – PH Artichoke, PH Louvre and PH5. To celebrate this, Louis Poulsen includes PH Artichoke in sand-blasted glass in its standard product range.
Peter Thorsen resigns his position at Louis Poulsen Lighting. Lorenzo Targetti becomes new CEO. Managers Hans Lindeberg, Kurt Carstensen and Søren Schølhammer become responsible for day-to-day management.
Louis Poulsen exhibits at Light + Building in Frankfurt. The exhibition marks the official start of the new partnership with Targetti.
At Light + Building, Louis Poulsen introduces the F+P 550 pendant designed by Foster+Partners, Snow Floor designed by Louise Campbell and the Aeros pendant designed by Ross Lovegrove.
Two Louis Poulsen fixtures receive the ADEX award in the US. Enigma 825 receives the Platinum award and the Collage pendant receives the Gold award. The ADEX awards are awarded for superior design in interior decoration and building materials.
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