The best throwback photo. Power Gems in 1997
The Power Gems Los Angeles facility relocated from Van Nuys to Santa Clarita in April. As part of the move, we were going through old storage cases and found these photos of Power Gems from 1997.
In those days our American team were based in the industrious area of Los Angeles, Sun Valley. Mike Niehenke (shown below, centre) was our Vice President of Sales. He was well known and highly regarded in the industry, many of you will remember him fondly. In his youth Mike was a life guard on the Californian beaches – the original David Hasselhoff? Here he is with Karen Kaloust, Office Administrator and Jeremy Walsh, Service Engineer (now National Director, Rental Maintenance for William F White, Canada). There’s something about their expressions that makes you want to smile.
You can just about make out the old Power Gems logo on the glass. One feature you no longer see today is the ashtray; smoking was ubiquitous in the 90s.
Inside the unit, an EB1812P 18kW ballast dominates the foreground, while behind two workbenches are set up for repairs. In our eyes, it looks more 1950s than 1990s!
By comparison, Santa Clarita is bigger, brighter and ballast-fit-for-purpose. The workbenches even look neat and tidy. But then, doesn’t everywhere, when you’ve just moved in?
Dean and Carlos in the Power Gems facility at Santa Clarita
We’ve come a long way, and 25 years in business year is a significant accomplishment. The new office heralds the arrival of new technology as it gears up to receive our new range of LED power supplies.
