Innovative Lighting

About Innovative Lighting

Innovative Lighting is one of the most storied names in marine LED technology — a company that didn't just adopt LED innovation, it helped define it. Founded in 1993 by Jerry Handsaker in Algona, Iowa, the company got its start with a single breakthrough product: a revolutionary retractable stern light that signaled a new era in on-water illumination. From that one invention, Innovative Lighting has grown into a manufacturer of over 1,000 products serving boaters, truckers, trailer owners, and commercial operators across North America.

Headquartered in Story City, Iowa, with a sales division in Des Moines, Innovative Lighting operates squarely in the American heartland — and that Midwestern work ethic shows in its products. The company's "Made in Iowa" philosophy reflects a commitment to customization, consistent quality, and reliable manufacturing that overseas competitors simply can't match. Over its three decades in business, Innovative Lighting has been named to Inc.'s 500 Fastest-Growing Companies list four times, and founder Jerry Handsaker was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2004.

What sets Innovative Lighting apart in the marine space is the depth of its engineering. The company was among the first to bring LED technology to the 12-volt marine environment, recognizing early on that LED's low power draw was perfectly suited to the demands of life on the water. Today, their marine lineup spans everything from portable navigation lights that run on AA batteries and deliver 100,000 hours of LED service life, to permanently mounted docking lights built to withstand the shock, vibration, corrosion, and moisture that marine environments demand.

Safety and visibility are central to the brand's mission. Innovative Lighting's marine horns complement their lighting systems by providing audible signaling solutions alongside visual ones — a natural pairing for vessels that need to meet both COLREGS and ABYC safety standards. Below deck and around the cockpit, their courtesy lights add both functional illumination and subtle styling, while their compact step lights bring safety to boarding areas, stairs, and passageways without drawing down battery reserves.

Whether you're rigging a new build, upgrading aging incandescent fixtures, or replacing a single failed light, Innovative Lighting's broad catalog — built on over 30 years of LED expertise — offers solutions engineered specifically for the demands of life on the water.