21 June 2011

Obama tours Cree's Durham plant

Last week, US President Barack Obama visited LED maker Cree Inc of Durham, NC, USA, touring its manufacturing facilities and speaking with staff and other guests. During his visit, Obama met with his Jobs and Competitiveness Council (in which Cree’s CEO Chuck Swoboda participated) to discuss initiatives and policies to spur economic growth, promote job creation and accelerate hiring across the USA.

Obama made remarks to a crowd that included Senator Kay Hagan, Representatives David Price, Brad Miller, G.K. Butterfield and other local and state leaders as well as hundreds of Cree employees. “Today the small business that a group of N.C. State engineering students founded almost 25 years ago is a global company,” commented Obama. “Next month, your new production line will begin running 24/7. So you're helping to lead a clean energy revolution,” he added. “You’re helping lead the comeback of American manufacturing.” 

Cree currently has more than 5000 staff globally. Most recently, it has added LED fixture manufacturing lines in Durham. Obama joined Swoboda on a tour of the new production lines, which manufacture what are claimed to be the world’s most efficient troffers (the CR series). These new lights are designed to replace fluorescent troffer lighting commonly seen in office and other commercial buildings, delivering higher-quality light and increased efficiency at prices comparable to their fluorescent counterparts.

President Obama’s visit highlighted topics critical to the success of the LED lighting revolution, including workforce training and education, commented Swoboda.

Tags: Cree LEDs

Visit: www.cree.com