WATERLOO, Ontario (Oct. 23, 2007) -- Grote Electronics, a division of Grote Industries, officially dedicated its new 40,000-square-foot manufacturing facility today, marking the third time the electronics assembly plant has grown since it opened in 1991.

The state-of-the-art, high-volume manufacturing facility is where Grote's light emitting diode (LED) circuit boards and electronic-based specialty products are assembled. It also houses the Grote Electronics' team of experienced electrical, mechanical and manufacturing engineers who work closely with Grote's supply chain and end users to create viable, practical lighting solutions.

The division's growth, Grote Industries President and Chief Operating Officer Eric Morris explained, is due to the vision of Grote Industries Chairman and CEO Bill Grote, who anticipated the future of LED technology in the late 1980s.

"Bill Grote accurately predicted how LEDs, which are more energy efficient, last longer, and could better withstand vibration, would improve safety, worker productivity, and simply save money on the bottom line," Morris said.

"Grote is taking LED technology a step further. Our engineers add value by applying LEDs in practical applications," Morris added. "Grote Electronics' new capabilities in reliability and cost-effective manufacturing enable us to deliver the best performing

LED solution for the trucking industry

"This year alone, in fact, Grote Industries introduced a new line of

LED WhiteLight interior lamps, LED forward lighting products and a LED work lamp lighting line, all designed to enhance work place performance," said Grote Electronics General Manager Luigi Tavernese.

"Grote Electronics' expansion is meeting the demands of today's rapidly changing, lighting requirements, one of the most important being the effect on the bottom line," Tavernese added. "Grote LED products are engineered to produce significant savings in terms of worker productivity and safety, as well as product reliability. In today's competitive, global economy, savings mean not only survival, but success."

Using modern, linearized surface mount and through-hole assembly technology, the facility manufactures LED circuit board products for military, passenger car and heavy-duty trucking applications.

"The quality products delivered by our engineering and assembly teams are giving not only Grote, but our business partners a sharp competitive edge in the global marketplace," noted Dominic Grote, vice president of sales and marketing for Grote Industries.

Grote Electronics, an ISO/TS16949:2002 facility joins other Grote Industries' North American operations in the United States and Monterey, Mexico.