Urbana manufacturer acquires new product line

Urbana office of Hughey & Phillips. CONTRIBUTED

Urbana office of Hughey & Phillips. CONTRIBUTED

Representatives of an Urbana firm that specializes in airfield and obstruction lighting technology say they have expanded their manufacturing capabilities after acquiring a new product line.

Hughey & Phillips purchased the airfield lighting product line from Astronics DME. Dale Jessick, vice president of Hughey & Phillips, said the deal will booster the number of products and services his company is able to offer nationwide as well as add another manufacturing facility to its portfolio.

LOCAL: Late cardiologist's wife gets 5 years prison for role in $2M health care fraud

The product line will offer LED technology that includes elevated, in-pavement and guidance lighting, and will connect the company to a built-in customer base across the country. Jessick said by incorporating the line, it gives the company a complete portfolio in terms of the airfield lighting market.

“It’s just a great strategic move for us. We are in the airfield lighting business. (This deal) gives us the full line of lighting fixtures needed to support (a wide range of airports, both large and small),” he said.

The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed to the public.

MORE: Tax cuts, education policy, health care key issues in state budget debate

The line, which features an array of LED lighting systems, is manufactured out of a facility in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and that is expected to continue, company officials said.

The company does not expect to add new jobs in Champaign County as result of the deal, Jessick said. However, he added as the company continues to grow it could mean new positions at its facilities, including those in Champaign and Richland Counties, in the future.

“We are in a position for growth and we want to see where it goes,” he added

About the Author