VIDEO: Ford plants worldwide to see LED lighting retrofits

Feb. 6, 2015 – Ford Motor Company says it is investing more than $25 million to install LED lighting at manufacturing facilities across the globe. The 25,000 new LED fixtures will replace traditional high-intensity discharge and fluorescent lights, and are expected to reduce Ford’s energy use at its plants by 56 million kWh annually.

That equates to an up to 70 per cent reduction in lighting energy consumption compared to traditional technologies, said the automaker. Annual energy costs are expected to be reduced by about $7 million. Ford predicts the need for maintenance will diminish with the LED lighting as well.

“We are extremely pleased to install this leading-edge technology in our manufacturing facilities worldwide,” said John Fleming, executive vice-president, global manufacturing and labour affairs. “This is a long-term investment in our future that highlights our aggressive approach to lead in environmental improvements and achieve operating efficiencies.”

In 2011, Ford embarked on a program to lower its energy use 25 percent per vehicle produced at its facilities by 2016. The company said it is well on its way toward meeting that goal, having achieved a 20 per cent energy efficiency already, explained George Andraos, director of energy and sustainability at Ford Land.

“Moving to LED gives us impressive efficiency improvement,” said Andraos. “Ford worked closely with its scientists and suppliers to investigate and closely follow the rapid development of LED lighting.

Work began at Michigan’s Dearborn truck plant last fall to replace worn and outdated overhead lighting. The LED replacement program will continue at 17 other Ford manufacturing facilities across the globe, including Oakville Assembly and Essex Engine in Oakville and Windsor, Ont., respectively.

Image and video courtesy Ford Motor Company