Precision Plus to Implement New LED Lighting Systems
In our industry, we are constantly looking for improved manufacturing technology and techniques, and Precision Plus continues to make significant investments in our manufacturing and inspection equipment. It is also important to invest in improvements of buildings and facilities, and we realized our lighting systems, while once sufficient, have not kept pace. As new technologies in lighting have been introduced, there has been a huge learning curve: less talk about wattages and more about lumen output and light efficacy. Not only that, a business needs to guarantee a better return on investment (ROI) when making these major decisions.
Our current metal halide fixtures were installed when we built the new facility here in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, and from a user perspective, they have performed well. As new offerings in fluorescent lighting were introduced, it was worth taking a look at them. From an ROI perspective, the fluorescent solution was very attractive. Both the fixtures and bulbs have come down in price over the years, and the lower wattages have led to decreased power consumption. Due to the mercury levels in these bulbs, however, disposal of them is problematic. They need to be taken to a drop-off location for recycling, and if one happens to break, this causes other problems. Add to that the maintenance costs of replacing bulbs and ballasts, as well as the labor involved, and the ROI really deteriorates.
When light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were introduced, everyone was really excited for the new technology. LEDs use less energy, give off less heat, and they last a long time. However, the initial cost of the fixtures and bulbs scared a lot of people away. Over time, the technology has gotten better, and the costs have decreased, and we felt it was time to make that change. We needed an expert that could answer all of our questions, and as a proud American manufacturer, Precision Plus wanted to partner with another domestic manufacturer to further support American jobs and technology. We needed someone knowledgeable in the lighting industry that could help us determine the right solutions for our specific requirements. High quality and consistent light output were the primary objectives to illuminate the intricate details of the mission-critical components we machine for our clients and partners. Other important factors were the initial investment, continuing maintenance costs, and the reputation of the supplier.
Through our partnership with Gateway Technical College (GTC), we were introduced to Kenall Manufacturing (www.kenall.com), based in Kenosha, Wisconsin. We are pleased to announce that Kenall has been selected as our strategic partner to implement our new state of the art LED lighting systems. Kenall Manufacturing and president Jim Hawkins were supporters of the new Reader Precision Machining and Manufacturing (RPM) Center at GTC, where they donated much of the lighting for the center. Hawkins also delivered the commencement address to the graduating class this past spring. Key to our decision was finding a proven domestic manufacturer that was committed to providing great value, and Kenall has done this.
Precision Plus is committed to operational excellence in all that we do. This includes our commitment to energy efficiency with our solar array and now with our LED lighting systems. By consuming up to 70% less wattage than conventional fixtures and virtually eliminating maintenance costs for years to come, LED lighting and Kenall Manufacturing will help us become leaner and greener. Stay tuned for future updates as we implement the new lighting systems over the next several weeks.
