Canto USA innovative lighting has been guided by customer feedback since our founding. Sometimes the next product change starts with a customer pointing out that a retrofit will not seat correctly in a particular fixture or that a dimming setup needs more attention. That gives the Canto USA team a specific problem to take back, test, and improve.
Founded in 2013 in Marietta, Georgia, Canto USA provides professional lighting products for theatrical, architectural, television, studio, and entertainment applications. We design and distribute solutions that prioritize performance, serviceability, and practical installation considerations.
Our Mission and Approach
Our approach combines product development with hands-on customer service. We focus on practical, cost-effective lighting solutions that are easy to maintain and straightforward to integrate into existing systems. When off-the-shelf products do not meet a project’s needs, we work with customers to develop custom configurations and adaptations.
Staying connected to changing technology and the needs of the lighting industry helps us continue improving both our products and our support. For insight on how product development timelines work and why careful testing matters, see our related post on why research and development can take time: Why Does R&D Take So Long?
What We Make and Support
Our product lines focus on practical lighting solutions, including LED retrofit systems, followspots, and other fixtures used in theatrical and architectural settings. We emphasize energy-efficient retrofits and options designed for serviceability—so maintenance and replacement are less disruptive for venues.
One example of our product focus is the RETRO series of LED retrofit solutions. For acoustically sensitive spaces seeking fanless designs, review our RETRO-Passive® information to learn more about fanless retrofit options and real-world installations: RETRO-Passive® silent LED retrofit.
Top 5 Facts About Canto USA
- Canto USA was founded in 2013 in Marietta, Georgia, to provide the professional lighting industry with quality products and dependable service.
- We manufacture and distribute professional lighting products used in venues across the United States and beyond.
- Our product lines focus on practical lighting solutions, including LED retrofit systems, followspots, and other products for theatrical and architectural applications.
- Customer feedback plays an important role in product development. Many of our products and custom options have grown from needs identified by dealers, installers, facility managers, and end users.
- Service remains a major part of what we do. Our team works with customers before, during, and after a project to help with product selection, installation questions, troubleshooting, and custom applications.
Meet the Canto USA Team
John Luhrs — General Manager
John Luhrs brings more than 25 years of lighting-industry experience to Canto USA. As General Manager, he works closely with customers, dealers, and the Canto team on product development and lighting solutions for a wide range of applications.
Shawn Harmon — North American Sales Manager
Shawn Harmon began working in theatrical lighting while in high school and earned a BFA in Lighting Design from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in 2004. Shawn joined Canto USA in 2016 after working in lighting design, television production, and systems integration. Today, as North American Sales Manager, he works across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Michael Claypool — Vice President of Production
Mike Claypool joined Canto USA in 2014 and worked his way from Technician to Warehouse Manager and eventually Vice President of Production. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Mike earned a degree in Business Finance and Economics from the University of Memphis and is a U.S. Army veteran. His hands-on experience remains an important part of Canto USA’s production operations.
Service, Custom Work, and How to Reach Us
Service is central to our work. Our team supports customers before, during, and after installation—helping with product selection, installation questions, troubleshooting, and custom applications. If you need direct help or advice on a project, our customer service post explains who to contact and how we handle common service scenarios: Canto USA Customer Service — Who Ya Gonna Call?
Have a lighting project, custom application, or product question? Contact Canto USA to talk with our team.