The Development History of Littelfuse Brand

The Development History of Littelfuse Brand
As a leading enterprise in the global circuit protection field, Littelfuse's development history is an evolutionary history that integrates technological innovation, market expansion, and strategic mergers and acquisitions. Since its establishment in 1927, Lite On has always focused on "protection, control, and sensing" as its core. Through continuous product iteration and business extension, it has built an industrial map covering multiple fields such as industry, automotive, and electronics.
1、 Brand Origin and Technological Foundation (1927-1960s)
Early stage of entrepreneurship
In 1927, Edward V. Sundt founded Littelfuse in Chicago, USA and invented the first small fast melting fuse, which solved the overload protection problem of sensitive testers. This innovation not only laid the foundation for Lite On in the field of circuit protection, but also pioneered the technical concept of "achieving efficient protection with small size".
Breakthrough in the Aerospace Field
In the 1960s, Lite developed small fuses for NASA, which became a key component of the Apollo space program. The reliability of its products in extreme environments has earned Lite Technology authoritative recognition.
2、 Deep cultivation in the automotive and industrial fields (1970s-1980s)
Pioneer of Automotive Electronics
1976: Lite On developed Autofuse for General Motors ® Fast melting fuses will be popularized in vehicles worldwide within 8 years, establishing a leading position in the field of automotive circuit protection.
In 1986, the revolutionary MINI was launched ® Automotive fuses, with their compact design, are adapted to the trend of automotive electronics and promote the optimization of industry space.
Promoting industrial standardization
Lite has strengthened production standardization through quality certification systems such as ISO 9002. In 1992, its US factory became one of the first circuit protection companies to obtain ISO 9002 certification.
3、 Globalization Layout and Product Diversification (1990-2000s)
Expanding into the Asian market
In 2002, Lite On Semiconductor (Wuxi) Co., Ltd. was established to produce transient voltage suppression diodes and other components, marking its deep layout in the Chinese market.
In 2010, the 508 series 6.3x32mm fuses (1000V AC/DC) and PLED5 LED open circuit protectors were launched to adapt to the trends of new energy and LED lighting.
Building a technological ecosystem
By acquiring brands such as Teccor, Wickmann, Pudenz, and integrating power semiconductor, sensor, and other technologies, Lite On has formed a nine core technology matrix covering fuses, semiconductors, and polymers.
4、 Strategic Mergers and Business Transformation (2010s present)
Power Semiconductor Strategy
In 2017, IXYS was acquired for $750 million to strengthen its high-voltage power control semiconductor business. IXYS' customer base in the industrial and medical fields complements the Lite On automotive market, driving annual revenue to $1.5 billion.
In the same year, we invested in silicon carbide (SiC) technology, launched SiC diodes and MOSFETs, and entered high growth markets such as electric vehicles and solar energy.
Expansion of terminal market
2022: Acquired C&K Switches for $540 million, entering the field of electromechanical switches and interconnect solutions, covering multiple scenarios such as industry, transportation, aerospace, etc. This acquisition expands the product portfolio of Lite On to include interactive components such as switches and buttons.
5、 Market Position and Future Vision
Industry Leadership
As of 2025, Lite On's business covers more than 50 countries, with approximately 18000 employees and serving over 100000 end customers. Its products are widely used in automotive electronics (such as LED headlights, battery management), industrial control (such as 5G base stations, intelligent manufacturing), and consumer electronics (such as home appliances, IoT devices).
Technological innovation direction
New Energy and Power Semiconductors: Continuously investing in SiC/GaN wide bandgap semiconductors to improve the charging efficiency of electric vehicles and the performance of photovoltaic inverters.
Intelligent sensing and the Internet of Things: Developing temperature and humidity sensors and 5G base station protection devices suitable for smart homes, strengthening data security and energy management.
Sustainable Strategy: Promote the green lifecycle of electronic products through lightweight design and environmentally friendly materials.
conclusion
The brand development history of Lite is a technological evolution history that starts with protection and extends to control and sensing. From the initial fuse manufacturer to today's full chain solution provider covering power semiconductors, sensors, and switches, the secret to its success lies in:
Technological foresight: From aerospace grade components to SiC semiconductors, always leading industry trends;
Merger and acquisition integration power: Quickly enter new markets through strategic acquisitions and achieve technological synergy;
Global perspective: Deeply cultivating regional demand through localized production (such as the Wuxi factory) and building a global supply chain network.
In the future, with the explosion of new energy and the Internet of Things, Lite On is transforming from a passive component supplier to an active safety system partner with a "circuit protection+" strategy, continuously empowering the safety and efficiency of the intelligent world.