About Us
Established in 1908 by William Shuttleworth, Grandfather of the present Managing Director, to service the marine industryThe Humber Electrical Engineering Company remains a family run business largely associated with shipbuilding industry and is currently involved in the build of luxury super yachts and naval vessels. Over the years the business has developed a number of trading divisions undertaking marine electrical system design, installation and repair, the design and manufacture of marine and industrial switchboards and consoles, land based commercial and industrial electrical contracting, electric motor rewinding and the design and manufacture of commercial, industrial and special purpose light fittings as undertaken by Sondia Lighting.
Sondia Lighting Ltd was established in 1965 to manufacture marine light fittings which were being sold to shipyards and marine electrical engineers based in the UK with the occasional export contract to supply complete ships lighting packages. The business was originally a subsidiary of Humber Electrical’ but was amalgamated as a trading division of Humber Electrical’ in 1996.
In the mid-eighties, at the request of a local sign manufacturer that had won a contract to supply signage to MFI, Sondia Lighting use its experience in the marine market to develop a weatherproof sign illuminating fitting. MFI liked the product and specified the fitting for use on all their stores and as they used a number of sign manufacturers throughout the country this provided nationwide exposure of the product which was eventually used on commercial and industrial premises of other major companies throughout the UK.
In the late eighties with the marine market in decline and shipyards around the country closing the Directors of Sondia lighting sought diversification, firstly undertaking general sub-contract sheet metalwork and secondly the design, manufacture of standard and bespoke light fittings to other established lighting companies. The diversification proved successful and in the early nineties Sondia Lighting invested heavily in the country’s leading CADCAM system and CNC machinery.
Due to the experience gained in designing robust, well engineered light fittings for the marine and sign industries whilst more recently manufacturing fittings for a variety of applications as a sub-contractor Sondia Lighting has develop its own range of catalogued products and currently employs over twenty staff.
We recognised the Global Market presents a new challenge and we remain determined to take the business forward by increasing our customer base and diversification into other markets.