History:    1954    1960    1970    1980    1985    1990    1995    2000    2002

1963   BIRNS builds specialty lights for the US Man-In-The-Sea program. Subsequently, BIRNS makes lights for Sea Lab I, Sea Lab II, and the aborted Sea Lab III.

1968   BIRNS receives the largest contract for underwater lighting that the US Navy had ever awarded. Besides the US Navy's Pacific and Atlantic Fleets, BIRNS is today proud to have supplied lights for the navies of Canada, the United Kingdom, Israel, Chile, Sri Lanka, and Brazil.

1971   BIRNS begins to design and produce lights for the growing offshore oil and deep-sea exploration industry. These lights need to withstand ever-increasing depths, and in 1973 BIRNS develops the BIRNS DEEPIE, tested to an equivalent depth of 42,000 FSW (13 km)!

1979   BIRNS develops the self-contained underwater Magnetic Particle Inspection system, allowing a single diver to detect oil leaks and cracks or weld defects in underwater steel structures. In 1980, divers using the BLACKBIRN save the US Navy $180,000 in dry-docking costs - on a single job! Today, BIRNS is the world's primary supplier of underwater MPI and oil-detection systems.

1980   The BIRNS Nuclear Lighting Division is founded to serve BIRNS' rapid expansion into that field. Specialty products built for the nuclear industry include the Needle Light (a 500-watt light that fits inside 0.5" (12.5 mm) holes), and a lighting system for GE's AZTECH mobile low-level waste processing unit. Today, BIRNS lights are used by over 80% of the nuclear power stations in the USA; 54% of those in Western Europe; 75% of those in the Benelux countries; 50% of those in Scandinavia, and 25% of those in the Far East.

1985   The oldest shipwreck ever found (approximately 3,500 years old!) is excavated using BIRNS lights. Among other underwater archaeological finds illuminated by BIRNS lights are the Civil War Ironclad "Monitor", the "Hamilton", the "Scourge", the "Andrea Doria", and the "Titanic".

1987   Need for additional factory and office space prompts the move to Oxnard, California.

1988   After years of frustration trying to obtain consistently reliable connectors from existing manufacturers, BIRNS begins to manufacture underwater connectors for use with BIRNS lighting systems.

1990   The BIRNS Connector Division is founded in response to increasing customer demand for high-quality connectors, which leads to the development of several full ranges of high-performance connectors, penetrators, and cable assemblies.

1991   A major manufacturer of marine geophysical equipment standardizes on BIRNS electromechanical connectors for use on all their RU-30 multiplexed data acquisition streamers.

1993   BIRNS develops the world's first deep-submergence 575w HMI light. This amazing system, on the cutting edge of underwater lighting technology, is made entirely of titanium and produces 49,000 lumens (85 lumens/watt) with color rendering index of 90+, color temperature of 5600 K, 120/240 VAC (or 190-300 VDC) operation, hot-restrike, 60-second tool-free relamping, universal burning position, TTL compatible On/Off control, and dimming to 50%.

1994   BIRNS develops the world's most advanced seismically-qualified, nuclear-grade emergency light, and supplies 1,300 units to Korea (along with 336 BIRNS Kelvin nuclear fuel pool lights).

1995   BIRNS' Quality Assurance system is qualified to meet the requirements of ANSI/ASME NQA-2, "Quality Assurance Requirements for Nuclear Facility Applications."

1996   A major manufacturer of deep-ocean work-class ROV's standardizes on BIRNS high-density miniature metal shell connectors throughout its high-power work-class ROV systems, including on all subordinate systems (E.g. the tether-management system, cameras, thrusters, lights, etc).

1997   A US Navy detachment begins a 3-year program to replace all other underwater connectors on their unmanned vehicles with BIRNS Millennium connectors.

1998   BIRNS designs, builds and supplies a 186-conductor waterproof electromechanical cable assembly to withstand 3,000 pounds of load in any direction - in the high-radiation environment inside Chernobyl!

1999   The manufacturer of 85% of the world's commercial diving helmets standardizes on BIRNS underwater connectors. Other users include a high-performance oceanographic instrumentation system integrator, a manufacturer of 6km advanced-technology ROV's, and a US Navy prime contractor.

2000   BIRNS develops a unique double-ferrule electro-hydraulic connector adapter system for use with underwater electrical oil-filled cables, and supplies 5,000-volt oil-filled cable assemblies to a major US Navy prime contractor.

2000   BIRNS develops its DPT (Delamination Preclusion Technology), based on an effective NCC (Non-Conductive Coating) to obviate Cathodic Delamination. BIRNS supplies DPT-protected penetrators and cable assemblies for high-pressure manned submersibles, with testing witnessed by American Bureau of Shipping.

2001   BIRNS develops Class A 100-amp power connectors for deep-submergence manned submarines, to withstand high open-face pressure.

2001   BIRNS develops Class A high-performance 50Ω coaxial connectors, with polyethylene dielectrics, for use with GPS-frequency military submarine antennae, to withstand open face pressure to 2km depth.

2002   BIRNS develops expertise in molding Tefzel fluoropolymer and bonding it to stainless steel connectors and Tefzel-jacketed cables. BIRNS also perfects techniques for molding Hypalon (CSPE), further expanding BIRNS' high-performance molding and bonding repertoire.

2002   BIRNS produces Titanium-shell single-pin Class A connectors, to withstand open face pressure to 10km depth.

BIRNS looks to the future with eager anticipation. We hope to put our half century of experience to work for you, to solve your challenging lighting and connector problems. Contact us and make BIRNS a member of your team!