April 23, 2010

SELUX Announces New NYSERDA Contract for Solar-Powered Lighting at Ribbon Cutting to Celebrate the Expansion of its Highland NY Manufacturing Facility

With Five Awards in 12 Years, NYSERDA Funding of $523,887 Has Helped Selux Grow in Hudson Valley

Highland, April 23, 2010 — At a celebration today to celebrate the expansion of its Highland manufacturing facility, Selux Corporation announced a $191,000 award from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to help Selux develop an innovative solar lighting system for parking lots and bike paths.  Selux is a manufacturer of high-quality, architectural, energy-efficient lighting products located in New York’s Hudson Valley.

In the past 12 years, Selux has established itself as a premier clean technology manufacturer, employing  130 employees who design, manufacture and ship advanced lighting fixtures for the USA market from its state-of-the-art Highland facility.  Over that time, Selux   has been awarded a total of $523,887 in NYSERDA funding.   These funds have helped enhance the company’s position as a leading manufacturer of exterior and interior lighting systems that employ the latest solar and lamp technologies, including CFL, metal halide and LEDs.

"Today’s expansion marks an important milestone for a company that has a long history of innovation in lighting,” said Francis J. Murray, president and CEO of NYSERDA.  “For years, Selux’s New York headquarters has been key partner in building New York’s clean energy economy.  We congratulate Selux on its 27 years of growth in New York State, and we look forward to a bright future ahead.”

Selux President Veit Mueller said:  “We have grown to become very well known in our markets for both our interior and exterior products. Thanks to many of the people here, the support of the lighting design and specification community, the hard work of many our representatives and our employees, we have been able to enjoy an average growth upwards of 20% per year over these last (13) years.  All of which has made it necessary to expand our facilities now for the third time, to service our continued sales growth.    Indeed,  we hold NYSERDA partly responsible for our growth and creating the need for a larger facility!   We began with fewer than ten employees in the early 1980s and today we employ  more than 130 design, manufacturing and shipping employees at our Highland design and manufacturing facility.”

The funding announced today will support the design and commercialization of twelve-foot tall solar-powered, light-emitting diode (LED).  This technology lasts approximately 17 years without replacing bulbs.  LEDs allow more precise control of light distribution, resulting in more uniform lighting where needed and minimizing stray light pollution.  The LEDs are an ideal choice for integration with occupancy and photo sensors and emergency lighting for exit areas.  Installation costs for the LED fixtures are also minimized as no trenching and no connection to the power grid are required for solar-powered lighting products.

Selux’s previous new product development projects with NYSERDA have all resulted in commercialization activities and include the M Series T5 high-efficiency fluorescent fixture that now represents a large portion of its US sales.  The new LED product line at Selux has the potential to create additional engineering sales and manufacturing jobs in Highland, Ulster County.

Contact:
Jeffrey Gordon, NYSERDA
518-862-1090 ext. 3544
jrg@nyserda.ny.gov