Kenall - The Professionals Choice
About Kenall
Kenall Manufacturing Company was founded in 1963 by Ken Hawkins, a talented, self-made entrepreneur respected for his integrity and special abilities to design and effectively manufacture unique, high-quality specialized lighting products. During the period of rapid expansion of government and public facilities at the time, Kenall quickly found a niche in creating the industry’s first series of impact and vandal resistant lighting products. Today, the Kenall name is synonymous with high abuse and vandal resistant lighting.
Jim Hawkins, Ken’s son and current owner and CEO, has broadened the Company’s mission to include other specialized types of lighting. Today, Kenall has leadership positions in sealed lighting for containment or clean spaces, security lighting for detentions, and architectural high abuse for architecturally sensitive public structures. The Company has recently created and introduced product offerings for the specialized healthcare and transportation segments.
The Company develops its own products utilizing software for fixture and optical system design and is able to create photometric simulations for design feedback and optimum lighting performance. The facility includes a certified UL Test Lab with capabilities for thermal, electrical, photometric, impact, and ingress protection testing. Kenall owns the proprietary tooling and patents related to its innovative designs.
Kenall has emerged as one of the industry's most respected independent lighting manufacturers.
James Hawkins, President,
Kenall Manufacturing
Kenall headquarters are located together with its manufacturing facilities on an eight-acre site located in Gurnee, IL, convenient to Interstate access. Manufacturing is vertically integrated with fabrication departments for sheet and extruded metal and plastic. Incorporated within the plant is a finishing department, which incorporates both dry powder and wet enamel finishing. There is also a full circuit board design, testing, and assembly facility in the complex.
Throughout Kenall’s history, its mission has been to provide durable, sustainable solutions to complex and difficult lighting problems. It has achieved its leadership position by conducting business with honesty, integrity, and fairness, while respecting and satisfying the interests and needs of its esteemed customers and associates.
Owing to its strategic vision and the dedication of its team, Kenall has emerged as one of the industry’s most respected independent lighting manufacturers. The Company’s plan is to continue its growth by strengthening its leadership in existing product segments while continuing to find new opportunities in other specialized areas of the market for specification grade lighting products.