has given them a pass. I have no idea why Congress agreed to this. Colleagues at Specialized [the bicycle manufacturer] showed me a kid’s bike helmet that had multiple chemicals in it that are illegal in the US, including lead and cadmium (highly toxic) that they bought on the internet and had shipped to their doorstep. No US brand could ever put such a product on the market but consumers can buy them. In the light business, a ‘cost effective’ product bought from China that burns down your house will leave you with no recourse. Good luck trying to sue some nameless business in Asia.” Ever the innovator, Emerson has


turned challenges into opportunities. He understands that higher labour costs can be offset by faster design cycles and smarter fluid assembly and manufacturing procedures. With everything handled in one location, they can have more control over the quality control process and craftsmanship. “Keeping our operations under


one roof,” he adds, “enables us to build superior products - products with integrity. There is a segment of customers who appreciate our thoughtful approach and support us and our products. They make it possible for us to swim upstream against the flood of imports.”


and temperature during use. We also adhere to the international standards established by the UN for batteries in products. One battery- driven injury is one too many. One of the often overlooked design constraints we follow is that our cell packs are designed into the product, so that the user cannot tamper with them or remove them except during service intervals. This is the safest way to work with Lithium batteries. Products that allow users to remove batteries and carry them around loose invite issues, including damage that can cause fires and explosions. In our bike business some of the biggest distributors refuse to handle any products that have removable Lithium ion batteries because they have determined that the liability is just too great. Phones and laptops stopped allowing user removable batteries for a reason and that


reason is safety. Light batteries are bigger and more powerful than laptop batteries and therefore potentially more dangerous.”


Remaining Competitive Well-engineered and controlled manufacturing often comes with higher costs, and remaining competitive in a global marketplace can be nearly impossible. The US free trade agreement has left US borders more open than many others. Emerson says, “The latest trade


deal passed by Congress will allow Chinese manufacturers to ship any product that costs less than $800 direct to an American doorstep, circumventing US customs. These products can be laced with lead paint, have dangerous batteries, and so on. It does not need to meet any of the environmental safeguards our products meet because Congress


Top: Jill Heinerth, Daniel Emmerson and Heidi Hall


at DEMA. Left: Emmerson


addresses the troops. Above: The testing tank


California Attitude Like most of the crew at Light & Motion, Emerson still rides his bike in the hills around his Marina, California business and grins with enthusiasm when sharing Monterrey Bay with new visitors. It’s clear that he loves his work and the team he works with. His dedication to sustainability is obvious. The L & M workplace has to be sustainable and rewarding for employees. The products have to satisfy the core needs and expectations of the consumer, and the manufacturing activity itself must work to conserve and protect the treasured environment. Light and Motion has been


described as offering “Japanese quality with a California attitude,” but what is clear to me is that when you have a genuine love for what you do and what you make, great things follow. On this day, Emerson may be locked up in an office on the west coast, but he can rest assured that his lights are illuminating stunning underwater environments all over the world.


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