Robotics investment, switch to LEDs saves light plant jobs
ST. MARYS (AP) – A Pennsylvania company that’s been making Sylvania light bulbs for 110 years is retaining 200 jobs and adding 20 more by adding state-of-the-art robotics technology to fuel its switch to LED light manufacturing.
Ledvance, based in St. Marys, says LED bulbs are the future of lighting even had the federal government not mandated the switch from incandescent bulbs.
Chief Executive Officer Jes Hansen says LED bulbs “can last up to 22 years and only use a tenth of the electricity old light bulbs used.”
Hansen says the plant about 110 miles (177 kilometers) northeast of Pittsburgh is “the first to manufacture LEDs in this volume in the United States.”
The production boost is being supported by Wal-Mart, which has agreed to sell the new LED bulbs at its stores nationwide.