Electronics for Advertising
We power attention-grabbing, high-impact interactive displays with custom electronics that bring concepts to life.
Custom Electronics for Retail & Promotional Displays with Unforgettable Engagement
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We are a passionate, family-run business with over twenty years of experience supplying custom electronics for point-of-purchase (POP) and point-of-sale (POS) displays.
We specialise in designing and manufacturing the lights, sound, sensors and programmed electronic systems that integrate seamlessly into retail displays produced by our manufacturing and printing clients. We also focus on battery-powered solutions engineered for long campaign life, ensuring reliable performance and minimal maintenance in demanding retail environments.
Our Difference
The Active Light Edge
In a crowded retail landscape, your product needs more than a static display, it needs an interactive moment that captures attention. This is where the Active Light edge truly shines. While many suppliers offer basic off-the-shelf lighting or sound, we specialise in custom-built electronic circuits designed for real impact and long-lasting performance,all manufactured locally to ensure reliability, speed and consistent quality.
We design and manufacture our own bespoke circuits, tailored for each display’s unique requirements. From LED behaviour to sound triggers and programmed interactions, every element is built in-house to ensure reliable performance, long campaign life, and seamless integration into your final display.
Most of our work is built around efficient 3V–5V battery-powered circuits, designed to maximise battery life in real retail conditions. Through smart programming and optimised components, our displays run for extended periods without constant servicing or recharging, ideal for long campaigns.
We design, program, and assemble our circuits right here in South Africa, giving us full control over quality and timelines. Local manufacturing also means faster turnarounds, partial deliveries as production begins, and none of the delays or uncertainty that come with overseas suppliers. Proudly designed and manufactured in South Africa.
Active Light was founded by my parents and shaped by my father, Alastair Shand, a brilliant, quietly creative problem-solver remembered across the industry for his ingenuity, kindness and wild scientist hair. His legacy of making ideas come to life lives on in everything we do, from the circuits we design to the relationships we build.
Our Impact & Products
Let’s Create Attention-Grabbing Displays That Drive Impulse Purchases
Our work is focused on creating retail theatre and genuine shopper engagement. We supply the electronics that make displays interactive, from people sensors, push-button triggers and sound effects to sequential LED lighting and bespoke product illumination. These electronic elements help boost brand visibility, encourage product trials, and convert browsers into buyers at the key point of purchase.
When you collaborate with Active Light, you get reliable, campaign-ready circuits designed specifically for the demands of in-store retail.
Low-power LED flashers, faders and sequencers built for shelf strips, aisle fins, wobblers and category banners. Our circuits are designed with efficient components and thoughtful programming to run reliably for long periods with minimal battery use.
People or motion sensors that trigger light, sound or both as shoppers approach. These circuits offer simple interaction, effective brand reinforcement through familiar audio cues, and excellent battery efficiency because the unit activates only when required.
LED circuits designed to highlight bottles and premium products through soft glows, fades or simple sequences. We build both efficient battery-powered systems for long-running in-store campaigns and 12V plug-in setups for brighter, continuous illumination in bar or hospitality environments.
Compact displays that use light and optional sound for short-to-medium campaign periods. These units can run continuously or be activated with a push button. We offer AA or D-cell battery setups for practical use in retail and on-consumption environments, as well as rechargeable lithium options ideal for short-term events or activations.
Illuminated ice buckets, parade tools, bottle serves and mobile display units built around 5V or 12V rechargeable systems. These pieces use LED strip, silicone neon or custom LED layouts to create bright, high-impact visual moments. Ideal for bars, clubs and brand activations where staff or promoters can charge units overnight between events. We supply complete charging solutions, including chargers and leads.
Fully electronic prize-wheel systems using lights, sound and push-button activation to create simple, high-energy brand moments. Units can play generic or brand-specific audio, with win and lose cues and pseudo-random programmed outcomes. Powered by three AA batteries, these games are designed for both in-store activations and event environments where quick engagement is the goal.
Purpose-built presenter cases and reveal boxes for sales teams, brand activations and influencer campaigns. These units use custom electronics to trigger light, sound or both the moment the box is opened, activated by mechanical, magnetic or light-based sensors. From subtle illumination to dramatic, fully programmed on-camera sequences, these boxes are designed to create an immersive reveal moment that elevates product value and captures attention.
Custom electronics for portable lightboxes used at events, pop-ups, markets and mobile brand activations. We build low-power LED systems that run on D-cell batteries or rechargeable lithium packs. Units can be programmed to fade, pulse, run timed illumination cycles or activate only when a shopper approaches, ideal for maximising impact while conserving power.
We also offer 12V plug-in lightbox electronics for permanent displays and long-term retail installations.
Microprocessor-based control modules for brands and manufacturers who need more than basic static lighting or off-the-shelf RGB controllers. We design and programme custom circuits that drive up to eight independent LED channels, enabling sequenced effects, fades, timed behaviour and fully bespoke lighting patterns.
Ideal for 12V LED strip, silicone neon, LED modules or mixed lighting layouts, these controllers bring movement and storytelling into displays.
From Concept to Circuit
We help refine the electronic behaviour early on: lighting effects, sensor activation, sound options, and the most practical power solution for the display. This ensures the idea is achievable, cost-effective and suited to real retail conditions.
Once the concept is aligned, we develop a working electronic prototype. This includes custom programming, power optimisation, and sample lighting layouts so you can review and sign off before production.
We manufacture the final circuits, modules and programmed controllers in-house. Every unit is tested for reliability and consistency, whether the project uses coin cells, AA/D cells, rechargeable lithium batteries or 12V plug-in power.
We’re always available with practical guidance during production, offering wiring advice, assembly tips and best-use recommendations so your manufacturing team can install and run the electronics with confidence.
If you’re planning a new retail or promotional display, we’d love to help bring the electronics to life. Whether you’re a manufacturer, design agency or brand team, you’re welcome to get in touch to discuss ideas, timelines and practical options.
We work with clients across South Africa , offering straightforward, experience-driven support from first brief through to production electronics.