Touché Lighting Controls, a product line of ESI Ventures, plans to expand its operations at its existing facility. Touché Controls has developed an automated lighting control system targeted at new and retrofitted commercial construction. The focus of this system is energy savings, ease of installation and integration. The company will invest $1.5 million over the next three years to provide a level of integrated automation that is not currently available in the marketplace.
Touché Controls currently employs eight employees, seven full-time and one part-time. By the end of 2013 the company will add 16 full-time and five part-time employees. The Alliance met with Touché Controls and connected the innovative company to Elevate Ventures, which operates one of its three regional branches in the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center. Elevate Ventures develops high-potential businesses into high-performing, Indiana-based companies.
“Touché Controls has been working with Elevate Ventures to allow the company to continue expanding its presence in the marketplace,” says Robert Clark, entrepreneur-in-residence of Elevate Ventures. “Additionally, we hope that our experienced staff will help Touché complete a national marketing strategy.”
Engineered Systems Inc. established Touché Controls and ESI Ventures three years ago.
Engineered Systems specializes in commercial and industrial electrical construction.
“We would not have been able to accomplish what we have without the talented and dedicated individuals that have worked on this project,” says Michael Picco, president of Touché Controls. “This proves that Hoosiers can design, develop, manufacture and market, on a national scale, a highly technical product that adds great benefit to our national infrastructure, namely commercial and industrial facilities.”
Co-owners Michael Picco and Ronald Laux formed Touché to develop a commercial lighting control system that was focused on addressing the shortcomings of systems already in the marketplace.
“Touché Lighting Controls is a valued member of the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce,” says Mike Landram, president/CEO of the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce. “We are proud to see it expand within the community. This partnership will showcase Touché’s creativity and innovation in a way that will benefit customers.”
