General Electric Light Bulbs: Where Are They Manufactured?

where are general electric light bulbs made

General Electric (GE) Lighting was a division of Savant Systems Inc., headquartered in Nela Park, East Cleveland, Ohio, United States. The company was founded in 1892 through a merger between Thomas Edison's company and a rival business. GE Lighting manufactured light bulbs in the US, including energy-efficient fluorescent light bulbs made at its plant in Bucyrus, Ohio. However, in 2020, GE Lighting was acquired by Savant Systems, and the new company announced that it would no longer produce or sell light bulbs, bringing an end to GE's nearly 130-year history in the lighting business.

Characteristics Values
Year GE Lighting was acquired by Savant Systems 1 July 2020
Headquarters of Savant Systems Hyannis, Massachusetts, United States
Location of GE Lighting's plant Bucyrus, Ohio
Type of light bulbs made High-efficiency, long-life "T8" linear fluorescent light bulbs
Uses of the light bulbs Factories, offices, hotels, schools, government buildings, and new construction
Parent company of GE Lighting Savant Systems Inc.
Headquarters of GE Lighting Nela Park, East Cleveland, Ohio, United States

shunzap

GE Lighting's plant in Bucyrus, Ohio

GE Lighting, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is a unit of Louisville, Kentucky-based GE Appliances & Lighting. The company traces its origins to Thomas Edison's work on lighting in the 19th century. In 2010, GE Lighting invested more than $60 million to expand its manufacturing plant in Bucyrus, Ohio. The plant in Bucyrus is GE Lighting's global center of excellence for the manufacture of energy-efficient linear fluorescent light bulbs.

The investment allowed the company to expand its manufacturing capabilities and offer customers some of the best energy-efficient solutions globally, while also creating new manufacturing jobs. GE Lighting's plant in Bucyrus, Ohio, is a leading provider of innovative lighting solutions, specializing in smart home LED products, grow lights, vintage lighting, and HD light options. Their product range includes a variety of shapes and features, such as dynamic effects, color-changing capabilities, and energy-efficient designs.

The company's focus on smart home integration aims to enhance the ambiance and functionality of any space through advanced lighting technology. The production plant in Bucyrus manufactures energy-efficient linear fluorescent light bulbs, which are sold to customers across the U.S. and in cities worldwide, including Singapore, Riyadh, Jeddah, and Santiago. The plant in Bucyrus was expected to nearly double its employment, adding more than 130 jobs over the next few years as it ramped up production to sell these made-in-Ohio fluorescent products in global markets.

In 2022, GE Lighting, a Savant company, announced its intent to cease plant operations in Bucyrus and Logan, Ohio, due to a double-digit decline in demand for its products. The Bucyrus plant had a long history of manufacturing light bulbs and was an integral part of the community, providing consistent employment for thousands of workers and their families. The decision to close the plant was met with disappointment from local officials and community leaders, who pledged their support in helping affected workers find new careers in the Bucyrus area.

shunzap

GE Lighting's history

GE Lighting traces its origins to Thomas Edison's work on lighting in the 19th century. In 1892, General Electric was founded through a merger between Thomas Edison's Edison General Electric Co., which created Edison's famous incandescent bulb, and a rival company. In 1911, General Electric acquired three-quarters of the National Electric Light Association, an association of lighting product companies through which GE had licensed its patented products. This trading arrangement was eventually dissolved due to an antitrust investigation.

Throughout the 20th century, GE continued to innovate in lighting technology, developing the fluorescent bulb, halogen bulb, and LED, among other lighting innovations. The company also acquired and consolidated several lighting product companies under its umbrella.

In more recent times, GE Lighting has focused on energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. Their plant in Bucyrus, Ohio, became a global center of excellence for the manufacture of high-efficiency, long-life "T8" linear fluorescent light bulbs. These bulbs are used in various settings, including factories, offices, hotels, schools, and government buildings, helping to conserve energy and reduce energy costs.

In July 2011, GE Lighting entered a licensing agreement with Nuventix for its LED cooling technology and invested $10 million in the company. They also announced plans to acquire Lightech and its LED and halogen power supplies.

However, in 2020, GE Lighting was sold to Savant Systems, a home automation company headquartered in Hyannis, Massachusetts. This marked the end of GE's nearly 130-year history of making and selling lightbulbs, as the lighting business was the company's last consumer-facing division.

shunzap

GE Lighting's acquisition by Savant Systems

GE Lighting, headquartered in Nela Park, East Cleveland, Ohio, was acquired by Savant Systems, a home automation company, on July 1, 2020. The acquisition was announced a little over a month earlier, on May 27, 2020. Savant Systems is headquartered in Hyannis, Massachusetts, and is an industry leader in the professional smart home space.

The acquisition of GE Lighting was a significant step in Savant Systems' mission to become the premier intelligent lighting company worldwide. GE Lighting has been at the forefront of major lighting innovations for nearly 130 years, and its acquisition by Savant Systems created a smart home and lighting industry leader in the professional installation and retailer channels.

GE Lighting's history can be traced back to Thomas Edison's work on lighting in the 19th century. In 1911, General Electric acquired three-quarters of the National Electric Light Association, an association of lighting product companies. This trading arrangement was later investigated for antitrust violations, leading to the association's dissolution. Subsequently, GE acquired several of the association's member companies, consolidating them with the Edison lamp division.

The financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed. However, as part of the transaction, GE Lighting entered into a long-term licensing agreement with Savant Systems, allowing it to continue using the GE brand on its products.

shunzap

GE Lighting's energy-efficient fluorescent light bulbs

GE Lighting is a division of Savant Systems Inc., which is headquartered in Nela Park, East Cleveland, Ohio, in the United States. GE Lighting traces its origins to Thomas Edison's work on lighting in the 19th century.

GE Lighting's plant in Bucyrus, Ohio, manufactures high-efficiency, long-life "T8" linear fluorescent light bulbs. These bulbs are used in factories, offices, hotels, schools, government buildings, and new construction projects. The Bucyrus plant is becoming a global center of excellence for GE Lighting, and the company plans to expand its operations there. Federal stimulus funding and incentives from the state of Ohio have supported this expansion, which is expected to create around 130 new jobs over several years.

GE's T8 energy-efficient fluorescent light bulbs are sold in the US and worldwide. GE Lighting's government sales manager, Vince Scarfo, highlights the benefits of these bulbs in terms of job creation and energy savings. He notes that using energy-efficient bulbs can significantly reduce CO2 emissions. For example, switching from standard fluorescent bulbs to Watt-Miser® fluorescent bulbs with the UltraMax® ballast in a large high-rise office building could avoid 24 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually.

GE Lighting offers a range of energy-efficient products, including compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. These CFL bulbs provide the same amount of light (lumens) as incandescent bulbs while consuming significantly less energy. For example, GE's Energy Smart™ Dimmable Spiral® CFLs replace 60-watt and 100-watt incandescent bulbs while using only 15 watts and 26 watts, respectively. GE's Energy Smart Daylight CFLs also offer a cool daylight colour and come in 10-watt, 15-watt, 20-watt, and 26-watt options. These CFL bulbs last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and are ENERGY STAR qualified, ensuring they meet strict energy efficiency guidelines.

shunzap

GE Lighting's LED cooling technology

GE Lighting is a division of Savant Systems Inc., which is headquartered in Nela Park, East Cleveland, Ohio, in the United States. The company has its origins in Thomas Edison's 19th-century work on lighting.

In July 2011, GE Lighting entered a licensing agreement with Nuventix for its LED cooling technology, investing $10 million in the company. This technology, developed with the University of Maryland, employs jet engine cooling methods to manage the heat produced by LEDs, reducing the number of LED chips required and lowering system costs.

GE's patented "dual cool jets" technology addresses thermal challenges, allowing for a lamp design that is half the size and weight of a standard 600-lumen LED downlight. This cooling technology also enables reductions in LED lamp size and weight, increasing the potential for improved lighting performance and efficiency.

The 1,500-lumen prototype LED bulb, developed with this technology, produces as much light as a 100-watt halogen bulb while using only a third of the energy. This achievement was announced during a symposium on the future of lighting, hosted by GE at its Global Research headquarters in Niskayuna, New York.

In addition to its LED innovations, GE Lighting manufactures energy-efficient fluorescent light bulbs at its plant in Bucyrus, Ohio. These bulbs are used in a variety of settings, including factories, offices, and government buildings, to conserve energy and reduce costs. GE Lighting's commitment to expanding its plant in Ohio has created and maintained jobs within the United States.

Frequently asked questions

GE Lighting is headquartered in Nela Park, East Cleveland, Ohio, United States. However, in 2020, GE Lighting was acquired by Savant Systems, a home automation company headquartered in Hyannis, Massachusetts. GE's plant in Bucyrus, Ohio, manufactures high-efficiency, long-life "T8" linear fluorescent light bulbs.

GE Lighting manufactures energy-efficient fluorescent light bulbs. They also make smart bulbs, light strips, and bendable neon lights.

GE light bulbs are sold in the United States and in countries around the world.

GE Lighting previously had production in Canada and Hungary, but it is unclear if these plants are still operational.

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment