Calex

Overview

Calex is a Dutch lighting company specializing in decorative, functional, and smart lighting solutions. It pioneered filament and large LED lamps in Europe and has expanded into the smart home market with Wi-Fi enabled products powered by Tuya, sold in over 100,000 stores across Europe.¹⁷

History

Calex was founded in 1907 and is based in the Netherlands, with operations growing under Electro Cirkel Retail BV in Rotterdam.²⁷ It became the first to introduce filament lamps and big LED lamps in Europe, achieving double-digit revenue growth annually for the last five years as of recent reports.¹ The company entered the smart lighting market in 2015 with Bluetooth and Zigbee solutions, later pivoting to affordable Wi-Fi based products using Tuya platform.¹

Product Lines

Manufacturing

Manufacturing details are not specified in available sources; products are designed in the Netherlands with likely outsourcing for production given the focus on innovation and partnerships like Tuya.¹

Notable Products

• Filament LED Lamps - Pioneering large decorative LEDs introduced first in Europe.
• Smart Wi-Fi Bulbs - Affordable 10-Euro app-controlled lights powered by Tuya, no hub required.
• Bluetooth Smart Lights - Early 2015 smart lighting solution for basic control.
• Zigbee Smart Lights - Initial connected lighting before shift to Wi-Fi.

Reputation

Calex is recognized by professionals for its innovation in affordable smart lighting and leadership in European decorative LEDs, with strong distribution reach.¹ Enthusiasts appreciate the plug-and-play Wi-Fi setup without hubs and competitive pricing, 300% cheaper than some rivals.¹³⁶ Limited criticisms noted on early smart products' high prices and protocol choices before Tuya adoption.¹