Ruud Lighting expanding Racine facility by 220,000 square feet

Ruud Lighting expanding Racine facility by 220,000 square feet

Racine-based Ruud Lighting has started work on a 220,000 square foot addition to its approximate 500,000 square foot headquarters and production facility. The project, expected to be completed later this year, will be used for the company’s distribution center.

The space that is now used for distribution will be converted for expanded production, said Christopher Ruud, president.

The company is expanding because of the increasing demand for its commercial and industrial lighting products, especially its BetaLED line of LED lights. In 2010, Ruud Lighting had record sales levels, which it anticipates continuing this year, largely because of the continued demand for LED products.

“When we’re adding assembly lines, it’s on the LED front,” Ruud said.

Some of BetaLED’s most prominent selling products have been its street light fixtures, which are in place in Los Angeles, Boston, Anchorage, Alaska, and several other communities in California. The city of Ouray, Colo., has converted all of its street lights to the company’s LED fixtures.

“We have the most installed LED street lights in the U.S. (of any manufacturer),” Ruud said.