US Lighting Group pivots to futuristic technologies across markets

US Lighting Group is used to rolling with change, carefully moving from LED lighting to vehicle electronics to its latest deep dive into molded fiberglass campers, prefabricated homes and high-performance boats.

"There's only so many vintage after-market parts you can create for cars, but after looking at the multibillion-dollar RV industry, we said let's shift gears," said Anthony Corpora, CEO and president of US Lighting, the holding company for subsidiaries Cortes Campers, Futuro Houses and Fusion X Marine. "Instead of making electronics, we can make the vehicles ourselves."

Motivated by a pandemic-driven boom where more than 11 million households own a recreational vehicle, per RV Industry Association figures, US Lighting recognized a marketplace where it could still make a significant impact.

In 2021, the Euclid, Ohio-based company built out distribution for "composite products and structures for the outdoor, active lifestyle," it said in a statement at the time. Work began at its 28,000-square-foot manufacturing facility on a 17-foot Cortes Campers travel trailer made from lightweight fiberglass.

The subsidiary sent its first camper to a dealership in Idaho early last year, representing a year's worth of research and development from a staff knowledgeable about fiberglass construction.

"The beauty is our lead engineer had previous boat-building experience that got us into this molded fiberglass space," said Corpora. "You can build a camper like you do a boat. It was a seamless transition for us."

Growth was flat for US Lighting for part of 2022, which Corpora ascribes to time spent in R&D instead of sales. The company did enjoy a million dollars in growth over the second half of last year, with Corpora expecting an additional upswing as 2023 kicks off.

Matthew Gerzeny, a Cortes Campers dealer with three locations in Florida, received his first high-tech travel trailer in November. Gerzeny lauds the product's marine-grade fiberglass construction, with an axle-less suspension system that further separates it from the market. Campers also come with full kitchens, wet baths and built-in appliances — consumers can pick up a fully loaded model at a retail price of $59,500.

"Part of my interest with this product was how it's built," Gerzeny said. "A typical RV will have seams all the way around the roof. This is just two molds put together, which eliminates any water leaks. Plus there's no wood, so that eliminates rot."

Lightweight construction also means not needing a pickup truck to haul the camper down the highway. Combining all these factors has Gerzeny excited for 2023.

"We want to grow with [Cortes Campers], because not many products can compete with what they're doing," Gerzeny said. "They came into the RV industry with the right product at the right time."

Along with the 17-foot camper, the US Lighting Group subsidiary is readying a 22-foot trailer for mass production, noted CEO Corpora. Meanwhile, the company's two additional subsidiaries are developing fiberglass houses as well as speedboats and personal watercraft.

On the housing side are UFO-shaped prefab homes from Futuro Houses. Previously popular in the 1960s, the tiny domiciles are enjoying a revival as demand for off-grid living continues to grow. Homes can be easily assembled on-site, complete with water collection and energy systems.

Futuro Houses is currently preparing 259 dealerships nationwide, while developing a larger distribution network that will see its UFO houses transported in standard shipping containers worldwide. The company is now preparing a model for display at the Great Big Home + Garden Show at Cleveland's I-X Center in early March.

"This is a huge market trend that will grow $3-$4 billion over the next few years," said Corpora. "People want to rent these houses out on Airbnb and Vrbo. We'll be using our lamination technology from our campers to use in the houses."

Fiberglass watercraft are waiting in the wings as US Lighting prioritizes the camper and housing markets, Corpora added. Expected growth has the enterprise seeking marketing and managerial talent alongside workers skilled in boat mechanics and fiberglass lamination. The company is also emerging from supply chain slowdowns spurred by the virus crisis.

"It was hard to get supplies a couple of years ago when nobody knew us, but getting our story to the public helped us latch on to distributors," Corpora said. "A lot of it is about planning, strategy and knowing lead times to get product in. We made those adjustments, and even with the RV space leveling off, our market is not."

Inspired by innovators like Elon Musk, Corpora said moving on from the company's LED lighting and vehicle electronics roots is all about leadership and learning from past mistakes.

"We're getting our story out to the public with press releases, and we have a great team," Corpora said. "Strong leadership can move into any space, as long as you surround yourself with the right teammates."