SCHOTT Announces Continued Investment In Southbridge Lighting And Imaging Facility

SOUTHBRIDGE, Mass. – SCHOTT, the international technology company, will commemorate a $750,000 renovation at its Lighting and Imaging division in Southbridge, Massachusetts, where SCHOTT is investing an additional $2 million over the next two years. The company is currently seeking to fill nearly two dozen skilled manufacturing and support roles in the region, with plans for additional hiring as expansion continues.

“Demand for lighting and imaging components is strong, and growing,” said Robert Brisard, operations manager for Lighting and Imaging SCHOTT North America. “We’ve been part of the Southbridge community for more than 30 years and our investments show we’re here to stay. But to meet customer needs, we’re putting out a call for skilled labor. To support this growth, SCHOTT added more than 30 new jobs in Southbridge in the last year, and currently has 23 new positions open.”

In addition to the $750,000 renovations, the company will invest over $2 million to improve production capabilities over the next two years, which includes purchasing new equipment from New England-based vendors. The new equipment will also provide SCHOTT the opportunity to streamline employee training as it will more closely align to the machines used in technical colleges and trade schools.

A member of the Southbridge community since 1986 when it acquired the former American Optical Fiber Optics Division, today SCHOTT operates two facilities in the area: Lighting and Imaging, and Electronic Packaging. Lighting and Imaging operates at the site acquired in 1986 and makes fiber optic components for the medical and defense industries. SCHOTT Electronic Packaging North America was established in 2009 and makes electronic components used in batteries, nuclear power plants, and a number of different industries. Jointly, the two sites are looking to fill 23new positions.

SCHOTT is a leading international technology group in the areas of specialty glass and glass-ceramics. The company has more than 130 years of outstanding development, materials and technology expertise and offers a broad portfolio of high-quality products and intelligent solutions. SCHOTT is an innovative enabler for many industries, including the home appliance, pharma, electronics, optics, life sciences, automotive and aviation industries. SCHOTT strives to play an important part of everyone’s life and is committed to innovation and sustainable success. The group maintains a global presence with production sites and sales offices in 33 countries. With its workforce of approximately 15,000 employees, sales of $2.26 billion were generated in fiscal year 2016/2017.