A New Twist on CFL Manufacturing Reshapes Energy Efficient Lighting Industry
TCP, Inc. introduces first automated CFL bending machine
Aurora, OH (May 22, 2008) – Energy efficient lighting innovator TCP, Inc. is revolutionizing the compact fluorescent lighting market with the introduction of the first automated machine to bend compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) into their familiar spring shape. This innovation will streamline the CFL manufacturing process, allowing the company to dramatically increase capacity to meet the growing global demand for energy efficient lighting.
TCP currently manufactures 1.4 million CFLs per day, accounting for a majority of the CFLs on the U.S. market and an annual reduction of 118 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.
Each automated bending machine can produce an additional 5,500 CFLs per day, which is nearly five times as many as produced by the company’s manual bending process.
“As more countries move to phase out incandescent light bulbs, the question becomes ‘will there be enough CFLs to supply the market?’,” said Ellis Yan, CEO, TCP, Inc. “We have made a significant investment in automated technology and are confident that this development will allow us to keep up with increased consumer demand. CFL capacity will not be an issue.”
TCP is the only lighting company to control all aspects of the manufacturing process, ensuring a higher quality and longer lasting product. Unlike other manufacturers, TCP owns its glass and circuit board factories. The company produces lead free glass to improve the lumen maintenance over the life of the bulb and also manufactures lead-free solders used in the ballasts of its CFLs.
As another step toward making CFLs the best lighting choice for the environment, TCP is the first manufacturer to use 100% amalgam, a solid form of mercury and other elements. This guarantees that only the minimum amount of mercury is placed in the CFL. Other manufacturers use liquid mercury, which is less expensive and more difficult to accurately dose.
TCP, Inc. is the global leader in energy efficient lighting innovations dedicated to creating high-quality products that are brighter, longer lasting and better for the environment. Headquartered outside Cleveland, Ohio, TCP is the largest manufacturer of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), manufacturing nearly 1.4 million energy saving CFLs every day, accounting for an annual reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of more than 118 million pounds. The company markets a variety of energy efficient lighting products for professional, specifier and consumer markets under several brands including n:vision at The Home Depot, SpringLight, and ecoVations. TCP’s extensive product line extends beyond CFLs and includes LED lamps and fixtures, cold cathode lamps, exit and emergency lighting, HID, decorative and outdoor fixtures, as well as the first ever linear lamp, ballast and fixture offering. TCP is a privately held company, employing more than 15,000 people globally and totaled more than $300 million in sales in 2007, a more than fivefold increase since 2000. For more information, visit us at www.tcpi.com or call (800) 324-1496.