Cree, a provider of mercury-free, energy-efficient LED lighting bulbs, fixtures, chips, RF and power-switching semiconductor products has announced that its subsidiary Ruud Lighting performed a groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of its manufacturing facility. The company has invested $24.5 million for the 208,000 sq. ft expansion.
Ruud initiated the expansion to address the increasing demand for LED lighting products. Over the next four years, the facility expansion is anticipated to create 469 new, full-time jobs. Most of these jobs will be related to assembly positions and the increasing demand will lead to other opportunities.
The $24.5 million investment will also be used for acquiring the necessary equipment for the manufacturing expansion. The product and component storage capacity will be increased as part of the expansion. New manufacturing lines will also be set up for the existing as well as new LED lighting products.
Ruud Lighting’s president, Christopher Ruud, stated that in addition to the company’s perseverance to improve LED lighting technology, the expansion was a long-term investment in the Racine community’s manufacturing base and for the dwellers in the Racine County.
Cree will receive incentives and funds totaling over $8 million from the Racine County Economic Development Corporation, the Racine County, the Village of Sturtevant and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. These funds will help offset the company’s investment.
The need for expansion was fuelled by the increase in market demand for the newest LED technology, marked by the 500,000th LED luminaire shipment at this facility, stated Cree’s chairman and CEO, Chuck Swoboda.
Source: http://www.ruudlighting.com/