May 7, 2024
Cooper Lighting Solutions to Close Mississippi Factory
After decades, Vicksburg production will soon cease, shifting to undisclosed factories
Cooper Lighting Solutions, a North American leader in lighting fixture manufacturing, has announced the closure of its longstanding Vicksburg, Mississippi facility. Established in 1987, the Vicksburg plant has been instrumental in producing products of several notable Cooper Lighting brands, including Streetworks, Invue, McGraw-Edison, Shaper, Fail-Safe, Lumark, and Cooper Poles. The company states that the decision to close the facility is part of a strategic realignment aimed at enhancing production efficiencies across its operations.
Production from the Vicksburg site will be transferred to other undisclosed Cooper Lighting Solutions manufacturing locations. Additionally, operations concerning pole production will shift to regional pole suppliers and other company facilities. This closure also involves a currently undisclosed number of employee layoffs which will occur in phases as product lines are moved to the other factories.
Despite the closure of this facility, Cooper Lighting Solutions affirms its capacity to meet the Build America / Buy America (BABA) requirements, important for the manufacture of streetlights and poles on certain government funded projects. The company maintains multiple U.S. manufacturing facilities, which will enable ongoing compliance with federal mandates. Cooper Lighting did not disclose to Inside Lighting where the BABA-compliant product orders would be assembled, but the company has numerous factory locations in the U.S. and Mexico, including Americus, Georgia, and Aurora, Colorado.
This closure follows a previous disclosure in 2020 when Cooper Lighting informed the State of Mississippi about a reduction in force of 300 jobs at the Vicksburg plant. Cooper Lighting Solutions ensures that the transition will not interrupt customer service.
This decision to close the Vicksburg, Mississippi plant, follows a February announcement by Cooper Lighting’s parent company, Signify, to shut down another U.S. factory in San Marcos, Texas, which is also known for its outdoor product production. The San Marcos facility, a key part of Signify's (formerly Philips Lighting) operations, is in the process of shifting its production to locations in Camargo, Mexico, and Littlestown, Pennsylvania, impacting several major brands with roots at the site.
Below is the official statement that Cooper Lighting Solutions distributed earlier today:
May 7, 2024
Cooper Lighting Solutions announces the closure of its Vicksburg, Mississippi Facility and product transfer to other existing facilities.
At Cooper Lighting Solutions, we continuously evaluate all aspects of our businesses and operations in response to the changes in the lighting industry and marketplace. We are committed to driving further improvements consistent with our current manufacturing strategy, to remain competitive, drive better efficiencies and continue to provide our customers with the service and quality that they expect from us.
Cooper Lighting Solutions has announced it is closing its Vicksburg, Mississippi plant and will begin transitioning the lighting fixture manufacturing handled at the Vicksburg facility to other Cooper Lighting Solutions manufacturing locations. The poles operations will transition to regional pole suppliers and company locations. We expect to have no interruption to our service to customers during this transition.
This is a strategic move that allows us to broaden our product offerings and elevate the customer experience. We will continue to deliver industry leading service levels from the initial inquiry to final product delivery. Our customers and partners can have complete confidence that business continuity is a top priority during this transition.
This change has affected our workforce in our Vicksburg facility, and we regret the impact to employees. This is always a difficult decision, and we are committed to managing all matters related to the employees affected in a respectful and professional manner. The company has ensured timely notification of employees in compliance with all local and federal laws. Employees will remain with Cooper Lighting Solutions in phases until the lighting products are transferred, per the project transfer of work plan. Employees will have the option to apply for any open positions at other Cooper Lighting Solutions facilities for which they are qualified.
